joel_matherson Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 It appears that there has been a redesign of the Nokton 40mm f1.4 lenses. If you look at the rear compared to Huw Finney's relube article http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Ai8p you will see that there is no longer 3 black screws on the cam. This is part of a redesign that seems to address the stiff focus of the earlier lenses and loosening of the front part of the lens. Thought some may have been interested. Take care<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_marshall1 Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Thanks, Joel. It's very impressive that Cosina would respond so quickly to this issue . . . although obviously not so impressive that the problem would be there in the first place. Do I understand you to be saying that in using this lens, focus is smooth & not stiff? Thanks, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_matherson Posted April 8, 2005 Author Share Posted April 8, 2005 Yes the 2nd type wasnt stiff out of the box like the first type. I actually have had both. The first type did loosen up by working the focus back and forth for a while but then the front section of the lens developed play in it so it was replaced by the new type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_marshall1 Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Thanks, Joel. I'll reconsider this lens then. The optics certainly seem to be interesting for those of us who like 40mm lenses. BTW, do you know if thre's any way to distinguis betwee the two versions . . .serial numbers or whatever? Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_matherson Posted April 8, 2005 Author Share Posted April 8, 2005 No serial numbers no, its not been mentioned to my knowledge by the factory, its was just something I noticed as soon the second lens arrived. Its easy to tell though, take of thr rear cap and if you notice 3 black screws on the cam its the early type. If it has no screws on the cam its the new type. This is not to suggest that the first type is unusuable. I would think they can be tightened but not overly tight like they left the factory as Huw has already shown possible. Im sure the optics havent changed at all and the long term reliability of either lens has yet to be determined, just a couple of glitches with the first batch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deed Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 > Do I understand you to be saying that in using this lens, focus is > smooth & not stiff? Bill Stiff focus rings can be found on some CV lenses from time to time. I think it does mainly not depend on the type of lens, but on factory manufacturing tolerances. I had a 2.5/35 Pancake II (from the auction site), which was stiff and focused over infinity. I resold it. Others reported the same problem with that lens, as well as others had no issue with it. OTOH I have absolutely no problems with my CV 4.5/15, 3.5/28 and 1.7/35 which all focus smoothly. But this does not mean the 1.4/40 Nokton has not been redesigned by Cosina. Didier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_matherson Posted April 8, 2005 Author Share Posted April 8, 2005 I think it can depend on lens type bcause the Pancake 2 and the Nokton were both known for their stiff focusing over their other lenses. Both of hese lenses were the latest generation with the chrome bayonette hood mounting rings at the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_wilder1 Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Were you ever able to locate a Rollei 40/2.8 Sonnar as either M mount or as a 35S/SE to test in comparison to the 40/1.4 Nokton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_matherson Posted April 8, 2005 Author Share Posted April 8, 2005 I didnt buy a RF 40mm Sonnar as they only seem to have chrome ones left. I have several Rollei 35's so thats what was used. My concern there was that the latest RF verion may have surpassed the ones in the Rollei 35's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_wilder1 Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 How then did the Nokton compare to the Sonnar on your Rollei 35S/SE? I honestly don't think the RF version will be significantly different than the Rollei 35 vesion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_matherson Posted April 9, 2005 Author Share Posted April 9, 2005 Alan, My main focus was actually a comparison with the 40mm Summicron and by the time I started comparing several of he 40mm lenses together was when the Nokton developed play in it and took a couple of months for its replacement. So I am going to start again to ensure consistancy with the group test. Keep in mind that the Nokton at 2.8 is 2 stops in compared to being wide open with the Sonnar so you can kind of guess how the first batch of tests went. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_marshall1 Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 Joel, would you like to borrow a Sonnar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_matherson Posted April 10, 2005 Author Share Posted April 10, 2005 Yes that would be great, I have tried to seek someone who stocks one locally to borrow but unfortunately no one has one. Also unfortunately is that most good folk on the forum are in the USA so I wouldnt be able to meet up and sample the lenses together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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