Calling all 31mm 1.8 limited owners!

1banger · 01-21-2011, 04:53 PM

Question for all 31mm 1.8 limited owners.

Current and former.

I love this lens that I recently acquired, but I have question on the build.
The front lens shade/element section has a slight wobble or play to it. If you hold
the lens in your hand, you can move this front section back and forth across the plane of the lens a small amount.

I this the normal lash for the front lens element? This lens is otherwise sharp as
a tack at all apertures, and takes great pics.

I ordered another one from B&H just to see if it had the same movement or play.
Well, it does!

I am assuming this is a normal characteristic for the 31 ltd?

Last edited by 1banger; 01-21-2011 at 05:35 PM.

scorpioh · 01-21-2011, 06:12 PM

Mine is tight.

wlachan · 01-21-2011, 06:13 PM

I have come across at least 4 MIJ samples and they all showed this characteristic. Just the way the lens was put together. Nothing to worry.

Parallax · 01-21-2011, 06:15 PM

Mine has very slight movement as you describe. No problem.

Matt Miller · 01-21-2011, 08:04 PM

mine has the slight movement, especially noticeable when removing the tight lens cap. It has no effect on image quality as far as I've seen. This lens is probably the best I've used.

aleonx3 · 01-21-2011, 08:17 PM

mine is tight and rigid, no movement.

henryjing · 01-21-2011, 08:19 PM

My previous AIV version is just like you said, no big deal. Now I own a MIJ silver version, and it is tight.

**germar** · 01-21-2011, 09:11 PM

I have a new 31mm, MIV and it shows the slight movement.

I don't care.

Killer lens.

Whew.

Pentaxor · 01-21-2011, 10:14 PM

seems like that's that difference between AIV and MIJ.

I don't think that the only difference is plant location, but has also a difference when it comes to quality standards. although I'm not clearly dismissing that there might occur some few duds from the MIJ version but I believe the quality standards as much stricter in Japan.

Hound Tooth · 01-21-2011, 10:33 PM

nah, I have a silver MIJ version and it has a very slight wobble of the front barrel too. Never affected anything image quality-wise.

It could be an assembly thing, or it could have occurred through use. I bought mine used.

taurus9 · 01-21-2011, 10:55 PM

I have an MIJ version, and there is the slightest movement if you move the built in lens hood a certain way.

sjwaldron · 01-21-2011, 11:00 PM

Very slight wobble with my new-ish assembled in Vietnam one.

**hyyz** · 01-21-2011, 11:08 PM

Mine is tight. No wobble. MIJ version.

Spock · 01-21-2011, 11:23 PM

It can't be as bad as my DA18-55WR. The front element of that lens wobbles so much, you can see it moving and yet it gives amazingly sharp pictures - even when compared to my prime lenses.

sjwaldron · 01-21-2011, 11:44 PM

Originally posted by Spock

It can't be as bad as my DA18-55WR. The front element of that lens wobbles so much, you can see it moving and yet it gives amazingly sharp pictures - even when compared to my prime lenses.

No it (the 31mm) doesn't. However my assembled in japan FA 50mm does shift when doing AF enough that I can see it.

01-21-2011, 04:53 PM	#1
1banger New Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: USA Posts: 11	Question for all 31mm 1.8 limited owners Question for all 31mm 1.8 limited owners. Current and former. I love this lens that I recently acquired, but I have question on the build. The front lens shade/element section has a slight wobble or play to it. If you hold the lens in your hand, you can move this front section back and forth across the plane of the lens a small amount. I this the normal lash for the front lens element? This lens is otherwise sharp as a tack at all apertures, and takes great pics. I ordered another one from B&H just to see if it had the same movement or play. Well, it does! I am assuming this is a normal characteristic for the 31 ltd? Last edited by 1banger; 01-21-2011 at 05:35 PM.

01-21-2011, 06:13 PM	#3
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	I have come across at least 4 MIJ samples and they all showed this characteristic. Just the way the lens was put together. Nothing to worry. Last edited by wlachan; 01-21-2011 at 11:30 PM.

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01-21-2011, 06:12 PM	#2
scorpioh Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 182	Mine is tight.

01-21-2011, 06:15 PM	#4
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Mine has very slight movement as you describe. No problem.

01-21-2011, 08:04 PM	#5
Matt Miller Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cambridge, Iowa Photos: Gallery Posts: 339	mine has the slight movement, especially noticeable when removing the tight lens cap. It has no effect on image quality as far as I've seen. This lens is probably the best I've used.

01-21-2011, 08:17 PM	#6
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	mine is tight and rigid, no movement.

01-21-2011, 08:19 PM	#7
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	My previous AIV version is just like you said, no big deal. Now I own a MIJ silver version, and it is tight.

01-21-2011, 09:11 PM	#8
germar Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Palm Beach, Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 728	I have a new 31mm, MIV and it shows the slight movement. I don't care. Killer lens. Whew.

01-21-2011, 10:14 PM	#9
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	seems like that's that difference between AIV and MIJ. I don't think that the only difference is plant location, but has also a difference when it comes to quality standards. although I'm not clearly dismissing that there might occur some few duds from the MIJ version but I believe the quality standards as much stricter in Japan.

01-21-2011, 10:33 PM	#10
Hound Tooth Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Williston, VT Posts: 268	nah, I have a silver MIJ version and it has a very slight wobble of the front barrel too. Never affected anything image quality-wise. It could be an assembly thing, or it could have occurred through use. I bought mine used.

01-21-2011, 10:55 PM	#11
taurus9 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: British Columbia Posts: 120	I have an MIJ version, and there is the slightest movement if you move the built in lens hood a certain way.

01-21-2011, 11:00 PM	#12
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Very slight wobble with my new-ish assembled in Vietnam one.

01-21-2011, 11:08 PM	#13
hyyz Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 478	Mine is tight. No wobble. MIJ version.

01-21-2011, 11:23 PM	#14
Spock Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 674	It can't be as bad as my DA18-55WR. The front element of that lens wobbles so much, you can see it moving and yet it gives amazingly sharp pictures - even when compared to my prime lenses.

01-21-2011, 11:44 PM	#15
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Originally posted by Spock It can't be as bad as my DA18-55WR. The front element of that lens wobbles so much, you can see it moving and yet it gives amazingly sharp pictures - even when compared to my prime lenses. No it (the 31mm) doesn't. However my assembled in japan FA 50mm does shift when doing AF enough that I can see it.