What does long throw mean?

justtakingpics · 04-23-2011, 09:29 AM

I was looking at a thread about a lens on here and it said the lens had "long throw of the focus ring." It was about the tamron 90 being suitable for indoor sports.

What does long throw mean?

**boriscleto** · 04-23-2011, 09:32 AM

What is focus throw? - Photography - Stack Exchange

Pentaxor · 04-23-2011, 09:40 AM

it means the number or degrees of focus rotation a lens does inorder to achieve a certain focus of a distance. for example a certain lens only take a 90 degree turn to achieve infinity focus and another lens needs to take 360 turn to achieve such distance. therefore the second lens has a longer focus throw.

having a short and a long focus throw have it's own pros and cons. short throw would enable you to focus much faster (crucial for fast moving subjects) while a long throw will enable you to focus more accurately and intricately in the smallest possible way (getting the best possible focused image).

**manishved** · 04-23-2011, 09:52 AM

Long throw is desirable for manual focus.

sterretje · 04-23-2011, 11:06 AM

Originally posted by manishved

Long throw is desirable for manual focus.

In general yes, but over 630 degrees like on a M42 Vivitar 55/2.8 macro is a bit much when you have been shooting macro and after that want to do something at infinity

**Just1MoreDave** · 04-23-2011, 12:54 PM

Originally posted by sterretje

In general yes, but over 630 degrees like on a M42 Vivitar 55/2.8 macro is a bit much when you have been shooting macro and after that want to do something at infinity

The macro lenses that I use most often also turn the "wrong" way - the opposite direction of a Pentax lens. That adds to the problem. The Adaptall-2 Tamron 90/2.5 only turns about 270 degrees, similar to the K55/1.8, and it has a very nice feel, though it does go the "wrong" direction.

**Lowell Goudge** · 04-23-2011, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by sterretje

In general yes, but over 630 degrees like on a M42 Vivitar 55/2.8 macro is a bit much when you have been shooting macro and after that want to do something at infinity

All it takes is a little forethought. I don't have any issue with my tak 200f3.5 and 330 degree throw. You just set it before hand to the range you want

justtakingpics · 04-23-2011, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

it means the number or degrees of focus rotation a lens does inorder to achieve a certain focus of a distance. for example a certain lens only take a 90 degree turn to achieve infinity focus and another lens needs to take 360 turn to achieve such distance. therefore the second lens has a longer focus throw.

having a short and a long focus throw have it's own pros and cons. short throw would enable you to focus much faster (crucial for fast moving subjects) while a long throw will enable you to focus more accurately and intricately in the smallest possible way (getting the best possible focused image).

Is the focus throw in the specs of most lenses?

Pentaxor · 04-23-2011, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by justtakingpics

Is the focus throw in the specs of most lenses?

they should be. having said that, macro lenses in general like the 90mm and other macros have long focus throws.

aleonx3 · 04-23-2011, 08:24 PM

Originally posted by justtakingpics

Is the focus throw in the specs of most lenses?

Usually you can get from the markings on the focus ring... for example, I have the vivitar 200mm f3.5 manual focus lens... from the closest marking of 8.5 feet to infinity takes more than 3/4 of the ring. The longer the throw, the more precision focus can be adjusted.

sterretje · 04-23-2011, 10:34 PM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

All it takes is a little forethought. I don't have any issue with my tak 200f3.5 and 330 degree throw. You just set it before hand to the range you want

Oh, I know. But it's the presetting from nearby to about 1 meter that always drives me up the wall; that already takes 540 degrees or so.

Maybe we must swap lenses

04-23-2011, 09:29 AM	#1
justtakingpics Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 288	What does long throw mean? I was looking at a thread about a lens on here and it said the lens had "long throw of the focus ring." It was about the tamron 90 being suitable for indoor sports. What does long throw mean?

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04-23-2011, 09:32 AM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	What is focus throw? - Photography - Stack Exchange

04-23-2011, 09:40 AM	#3
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	it means the number or degrees of focus rotation a lens does inorder to achieve a certain focus of a distance. for example a certain lens only take a 90 degree turn to achieve infinity focus and another lens needs to take 360 turn to achieve such distance. therefore the second lens has a longer focus throw. having a short and a long focus throw have it's own pros and cons. short throw would enable you to focus much faster (crucial for fast moving subjects) while a long throw will enable you to focus more accurately and intricately in the smallest possible way (getting the best possible focused image).

04-23-2011, 09:52 AM	#4
manishved Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N. Calif Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,652	Long throw is desirable for manual focus.

04-23-2011, 11:06 AM	#5
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by manishved Long throw is desirable for manual focus. In general yes, but over 630 degrees like on a M42 Vivitar 55/2.8 macro is a bit much when you have been shooting macro and after that want to do something at infinity

04-23-2011, 12:54 PM	#6
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by sterretje In general yes, but over 630 degrees like on a M42 Vivitar 55/2.8 macro is a bit much when you have been shooting macro and after that want to do something at infinity The macro lenses that I use most often also turn the "wrong" way - the opposite direction of a Pentax lens. That adds to the problem. The Adaptall-2 Tamron 90/2.5 only turns about 270 degrees, similar to the K55/1.8, and it has a very nice feel, though it does go the "wrong" direction.

04-23-2011, 02:08 PM	#7
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by sterretje In general yes, but over 630 degrees like on a M42 Vivitar 55/2.8 macro is a bit much when you have been shooting macro and after that want to do something at infinity All it takes is a little forethought. I don't have any issue with my tak 200f3.5 and 330 degree throw. You just set it before hand to the range you want

04-23-2011, 03:42 PM	#8
justtakingpics Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 288 Original Poster	Originally posted by Pentaxor it means the number or degrees of focus rotation a lens does inorder to achieve a certain focus of a distance. for example a certain lens only take a 90 degree turn to achieve infinity focus and another lens needs to take 360 turn to achieve such distance. therefore the second lens has a longer focus throw. having a short and a long focus throw have it's own pros and cons. short throw would enable you to focus much faster (crucial for fast moving subjects) while a long throw will enable you to focus more accurately and intricately in the smallest possible way (getting the best possible focused image). Is the focus throw in the specs of most lenses?

04-23-2011, 05:55 PM	#9
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by justtakingpics Is the focus throw in the specs of most lenses? they should be. having said that, macro lenses in general like the 90mm and other macros have long focus throws.

04-23-2011, 08:24 PM	#10
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by justtakingpics Is the focus throw in the specs of most lenses? Usually you can get from the markings on the focus ring... for example, I have the vivitar 200mm f3.5 manual focus lens... from the closest marking of 8.5 feet to infinity takes more than 3/4 of the ring. The longer the throw, the more precision focus can be adjusted.

04-23-2011, 10:34 PM	#11
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge All it takes is a little forethought. I don't have any issue with my tak 200f3.5 and 330 degree throw. You just set it before hand to the range you want Oh, I know. But it's the presetting from nearby to about 1 meter that always drives me up the wall; that already takes 540 degrees or so. Maybe we must swap lenses