Zoom lenses with two barrels: I am considering purchasing a Nikon Z lens 24-120. The zoom lens uses two concentric barrels, presumably necessary to extend over the full range. My...

grahamfourth

I am considering purchasing a Nikon Z lens 24-120. The zoom lens uses two concentric barrels, presumably necessary to extend over the full range. My concern is whether, over time, this two-barrel extension will droop or become loose enough such that the alignment of the optics inside will diminish. Does anyone have experience with such a system and its concentricity over time?

Thank you in advance

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The slide may loosen/become easier to move over time (or even initially), but the lens elements are not mounted to the slide mechanism itself.
Element alignments is not affected.

I have a 18-200 (12 years old next week) where, unless I lock it, if I walk around with the lens facing down, the inner barrel creeps out.

I'm not worried in the slightest about it.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

grahamfourth wrote:

I am considering purchasing a Nikon Z lens 24-120. The zoom lens uses two concentric barrels, presumably necessary to extend over the full range. My concern is whether, over time, this two-barrel extension will droop or become loose enough such that the alignment of the optics inside will diminish. Does anyone have experience with such a system and its concentricity over time?

Thank you in advance

I have used the 24-120 ƒ4 lens on my D810s, D850s, and now the Z mount version on my Z8s. I have never had any problem with gravity dependent extension of the barrel. The same cannot be said for the Nikkor Z 24-200 lens that I once had.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

I'm using a 10 year old 24-120 f4 on my D750. I'm the second owner and it was the only lens used on the D750 for the first 24,000 clicks and the lens has no creep. Can't comment of course if the Z version performs the same.
I also had the 18-200 many years ago but returned it due to the 'creep' under warranty. The replacement they gave me was okay for about a year then it too developed an aversion to gravity.

User ID

grahamfourth wrote:

I am considering purchasing a Nikon Z lens 24-120. The zoom lens uses two concentric barrels, presumably necessary to extend over the full range. My concern is whether, over time, this two-barrel extension will droop or become loose enough such that the alignment of the optics inside will diminish. Does anyone have experience with such a system and its concentricity over time?

Thank you in advance

Yes, they age and wear. So do you, and me.
Your pix will be just fine. No hey problemo.

FWIW, if a single barrel had to deliver all that much motion it would also wear noticeably.

If you expect near perfection in your toys, its simply a matter of money, lots of it, and even at higher $$, youll get only very conservative specs. The 24-120 is a rather modestly priced convenience lens, not a classic Swiss watch. I never worry about mine. It came bundled (by Nikon) in a D750 kit package at under $200.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Longshadow wrote:

The slide may loosen/become easier to move over time (or even initially), but the lens elements are not mounted to the slide mechanism itself.
Element alignments is not affected.

I have a 18-200 (12 years old next week) where, unless I lock it, if I walk around with the lens facing down, the inner barrel creeps out.

I'm not worried in the slightest about it.

The 18-200 was famous for creep. I fixed it by putting a rubber band around the barrel to make it harder for the adjustment ring to turn. It was still easy enough to turn it by hand but gravity didn't do the job. You can find the right size rubber bands in the produce section of your grocery store, holding stems of various vegetables together.

The lens creep was apparent right when I bought it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DirtFarmer wrote:

The 18-200 was famous for creep. I fixed it by putting a rubber band around the barrel to make it harder for the adjustment ring to turn. It was still easy enough to turn it by hand but gravity didn't do the job. You can find the right size rubber bands in the produce section of your grocery store, holding stems of various vegetables together.

The lens creep was apparent right when I bought it.

I believe mine was also.
I just lock it when it's hanging on my person. The lock slide is right next to my thumb when I hold the camera.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Guys...the OP is NOT asking about zoom creep. He wants to know if this sort of design will wear faster than a simpler mechanical design.

And NO, he is not asking about the F-Mount version, just the Z.

Spencer at Photography Life (a trusted source) reports:

"It’s not a surprising design for this type of lens, but even so, a dual telescoping barrel (as opposed to just one extending barrel, or an internal zoom) can be weaker in the long run. If it suffers a hard bump or a small drop when the barrel is extended, the 24-120mm f/4 S stands a higher risk of decentering compared to some lenses. I always make sure to zoom it back to 24mm when traveling.

The good news is that the dual telescoping barrel on the Z 24-120mm f/4 S seems built to tight tolerances. I don’t notice any wobble at 120mm, even when I try to wiggle it around. That’s far from a given on lenses like this."

grahamfourth

So I gather from everyone’s responses (thank you!) that no wiggle developed either? That is the lens barrels didn’t become worn to the point where they were loose with respect to each other?

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

grahamfourth wrote:

So I gather from everyone’s responses (thank you!) that no wiggle developed either? That is the lens barrels didn’t become worn to the point where they were loose with respect to each other?

I have never used a lens THAT much.
I have probably taken 500K (rough hand-waving estimate) photos but they were distributed through about 12 lenses.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

Longshadow wrote:

I believe mine was also.
I just lock it when it's hanging on my person. The lock slide is right next to my thumb when I hold the camera.

I bought the VF model and there is no lens creep at all...this was an issue that Nikon corrected in this model.

(Download)

User ID

SX2002 wrote:

I bought the VF model and there is no lens creep at all...this was an issue that Nikon corrected in this model.

Wrong lens .......

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

User ID wrote:

Wrong lens .......

Perhaps you should read all the posts before commenting...

I am considering purchasing a Nikon Z lens 24-120. The zoom lens uses two concentric barrels, presumably necessary to extend over the full range. My concern is whether, over time, this two-barrel extension will droop or become loose enough such that the alignment of the optics inside will diminish. Does anyone have experience (with such a system) and its concentricity over time?

With such a system...!!

(Download)

User ID

SX2002 wrote:

Perhaps you should read all the posts before comme... (show quote)

Maybe you should read. I answered that from my experience, in post number four.

FWIW the 24-120 is not my only example, but I do favor it to the point of having two of them. Theyre cheap enuf.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

User ID wrote:

Maybe you should read. I answered that on page one.

Yes, I did read but nothing was mentioned about the 18-200VR model which is what I was explaining, different to what others mentioned...Ho hum...
And it's about the system, NOT the particular lens...