lubricate lens rings? I have received my new 85mm f/1.8 MANUAL focus lens and find that the rings (distance & focal) seems to be very tight and hard to turn. Do I need to "break them...

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

I have received my new 85mm f/1.8 MANUAL focus lens and find that the rings (distance & focal) seems to be very tight and hard to turn. Do I need to "break them in" by rotating the rings till they feel looser? Do I put some DW 40 lubricating oil on the rings very sparingly? I am sure there are plenty members with this kind of experience. Thanks in advance! P.S. especially the ring one turns to set focus numbers for aperture--i.e. (1.8, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4.5, 6, 10, 22)

Fat Gregory Loc: Southern New Jersey

No lube

thephotoman Loc: Rochester, NY

I would hesitate to use any lubricant as it would capture dirt and compound the problem down the road. If you bought it new I would go back and ask the store about it. If you bought it used you could take it to a photo store and have them give you their opinion. Also check with the lens manufacture. I hope this helps.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

I would suggest that you contact the people that you purchased the lens from and ask about the rings being tight. Remove from your mind lubing a lens.

J. R.

Kuzano

ballsafire wrote:

I have received my new 85mm f/1.8 MANUAL focus lens and find that the rings (distance & focal) seems to be very tight and hard to turn. Do I need to "break them in" by rotating the rings till they feel looser? Do I put some DW 40 lubricating oil on the rings very sparingly? I am sure there are plenty members with this kind of experience. Thanks in advance! P.S. especially the ring one turns to set focus numbers for aperture--i.e. (1.8, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4.5, 6, 10, 22)

STOP RIGHT THERE!!!

WD40 is NOT a lubricating oil. The purpose of WD40 is to penetrate and wash out all lubricants and free rust from joints.

If you use WD40 on any joint, ultimately the joint will have no lubricant, original or otherwise. What little lube there is in WD40 does not stay in the joint as a lubricant.

It is called a penetrating fluid by those who use it properly. No matter what it says on the can.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

I recently picked up a 210 Tamron and the rotating between mm readings was extremly tight and stiff... Sooo- I just started to keep twisting it till now its probably back to normal... Lack of use I believe is the culprit...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Fat Gregory wrote:

No lube

Never.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Don't talk it, don't think it.

Bad do!

J. R.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Don't lube - you don't want to risk having that stuff penetrate all the way to the optics!!! (you would never get it clean again!!!)

In 1984 I bought my second Pentax SLR, which was kitted with a Pentax-A (aperture ring has an A position which enables the camera to set the aperture) 50mm f/1.7 lens. The aperture ring was kind of tight, so I momentarily considered going back to the Pentax-M (no A position) 50mm f/2 lens which had been kitted with my previous camera. However, the newer lens was obviously better, so I tolerated the tightness, and it did improve over the 11 years I used that camera.

Hopefully your lens will also improve with time.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

ballsafire wrote:

I have received my new 85mm f/1.8 MANUAL focus lens and find that the rings (distance & focal) seems to be very tight and hard to turn. Do I need to "break them in" by rotating the rings till they feel looser? Do I put some DW 40 lubricating oil on the rings very sparingly? I am sure there are plenty members with this kind of experience. Thanks in advance! P.S. especially the ring one turns to set focus numbers for aperture--i.e. (1.8, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4.5, 6, 10, 22)

Adding lubricant would destroy the lens very quickly.

Send it back for a replacement if it bothers you.

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Now I know for certain that I do not want to put DW40 or gun oil or anything else to make the wheels turn "better". Since I exercised the wheels last night and this morning they are turning MUCH better. Yes, it is brand new and I have tried it yesterday and I'm proud to say that I got a great deal - really good for portraits,etc.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Which lens is this? Brand?

J. R.

ballsafire Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

The brand is: Opteka 85mm f/1.8 MANUAL focus Aspherical medium Telephoto lens for CANON (my camera, T1i) is listed plus many other digital SLR cameras; for example Nikon, Panasonic Micro four thirds, Fuji X, Olympus Micro four thirds and Sony E. I spent plenty of time doing my research and I came up with this manual lens for under $100 -- Canon wants $369 for this same lens except that it has Auto Focus with USM. I felt that I could focus the lens myself. A used one (canon) on Ebay goes for $260 but I have seen some going for a lot more! Then even the nifty fifty by YONGNUO goes for $56.99 also made in China. I do know that the Opteka I bought is made in China and will give Canon a run for our money. At one time these companies were not gaining the confidence of the general photographic crowd. Reminds me of when the Toyota first mame out lol. I just love to find bargains - it is a challenge. I will keep my fingers crossed. There are many other advantages - look this up if you are curious.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

Kuzano wrote:

STOP RIGHT THERE!!!

WD40 is NOT a lubricating oil. The purpose of WD40 is to penetrate and wash out all lubricants and free rust from joints.

If you use WD40 on any joint, ultimately the joint will have no lubricant, original or otherwise. What little lube there is in WD40 does not stay in the joint as a lubricant.

It is called a penetrating fluid by those who use it properly. No matter what it says on the can.

Mostly true, WD = Water Displacement. As stated on the Can. Was also once rumored to cure arthritis if you believe the Mid Night Enquirer.

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Well have fun! Creative creative focal length and f stop. I have the Canon 85 1.8 that I bought used. One of the sharpest pieces I have. I have a 14mm Samyang/Rocinon manual focus that is interesting. the field of view opened wide can be very narrow on the 85. Really great for creativity.

J. R.

ballsafire wrote:

The brand is: Opteka 85mm f/1.8 MANUAL focus Asphe... (show quote)