14n and VR 24-120

[Gordon_A_Aitken]

Perhaps this is just as much a question for a Nikon lens forum, but I know that many of you are using the Nikon VR 24-120 lens on 14n with mixed success.

To the question. I have just purchased the said lens and have experienced a problem immediatly and am not sure if its the nature of the beast. While taking studio shots using flash, I am occasionaly getting motion blur. Shutter speed is set to 125th, but I doubt if I could get motion blur at much slower speeds with other lenses. Is this just the nature of VR technology of have I got myself a duff lens?

Any opinions from owners of this camera/lens combination would be appreciated!

Gordon

[jono_slack]

Hi There
A couple of things to try:
1. in The CSM menu, under Meter Off Time, change it to 'never'
2. Don't use VR when you know you can hand hold it steady.
3. Never use VR on a tripod.

This problem is not restricted to the 24-120, I'm not sure whether it's lens related, but I've had the problem on the 14n with all the VR lenses I've tried. The conclusion I've come to is that VR is a wonderful tool, but it's only about 70% effective, and when it doesn't work, it's worse than nothing. When it does work however, it's almost miraculous (I've got hand held shots at 1/10th second at 200mm taken in a church in Florence which are perfectly sharp).

Remember that the VR needs time to 'settle' after you've half pressed the shutter - when it's worked properly you can hear it 'click' off about 1/2 second after you've taken the shot.

As far as this lens goes, I've had mine for some time - I always thought it pretty useless on the D100 and D1X, but I've found it a fabulous lens on the 14n, General concensus is that this is due to the lack of an AA filter on the Kodak camera. Obviously it's not as sharp as a prime, or even one of the higher spec (and smaller range) zoom lenses, but it's sharp enough, and I've had great results. It's invaluable when you don't want to carry around a bag full of lenses. Of course, on a full frame camera the focal length range is so much more useful than on a 1.5 crop camera.

Keep with it, and learn the times when the VR is useful, and when it isn't, and I think you'll be very happy.

I have two 14N's (actually one is an NX) and today I just ordered the 2nd 24-120 VR lens. As Juno said, do not have the VR on when the camera is on a tripod. Secondly, let the lens settle a bit when using the VR hand-held. It takes between a half second and a second for the little thud to occur in the lens. When you hear it its OK to squeeze the shutter. I said squeeze, not press the shutter. Blurry photos may be camera shake by a forceful depressing of the shutter.

[jono_slack]

Hi Larry
I'm sure you have a vision of some curvy lady, but actually I'm a bloke, and rather past my sell by date. I don't mind feeding everyone's fantasies, but actually the name is Jono

Incidentally, and more to the point, how are you feeling about your 14nx upgrade?

[David_Clark]

Gordon

I've always wanted to do this on a board...


... RTFM !!!!!

It does say this on the 80-200VR that I have - and can assume that it is in the 24-120 manual

David
(it's O.K. folks - I really am a friend of his - he wont be offended too much!!!)

Sorry Jono, I really wasn't envisioning a person when I misspelled your name. I am just a sloppy reader. About the NX, Kodak notified me (after I bitched and sent in sample photos from the new 14N) that my sensor was bad and needed to be replaced. I figured since it was going in why not upgrade. I really have not seen much difference between our good 14N and our NX. We do primarilly studio and event photography at lower ISO's. However, my son is the wedding photographer and I have been after him to photograph these digitally. Now that we have the NX with better noise handling at higher ISO's I think I can get him to go film less. In the studio and on location I am very pleased at the images with the NX.

[David_Clark]

Interested to hear you have both versions of the camera.

Here in the UK just now Calumet are selling off the original 14n's for £1600 and the new ones for £2999.

I have been using 760's since they came out - and also the 720x for low light, and just tried the new camera the other day....

Since there is $2000 difference between the costs of the two cameras I am wondering if it would be as good for me to go for the cheaper camera.

The main reasons I have for buying are hopefully more detail in larger groups - usually shot with flash or good daylight. I would also use for school portraits (the usual head & shoulder) set to 6 meg.

What are your opinions - any chance of doing a head & shoulders photo with each camera and emailing or ftp the files to me.....

Regards
David
(oops the www.canibuymyphoto.com site is offline for maintenance just now)