Are longer lenses generally harder to turn? (Contax C/Y lenses)

[Qiuhong]

Hi, I use contax C/Y system and the planar 50mm 1.4 and distagon 28mm 2.8 both have super smooth and fast focus rings. I acquired another two lenses, third party 95mm 2.5 macro and contax planar 85mm 1.4 (dream lens), I found these 2 longer lenses hard to turn and zoom especially on the third party one, i have to use a lot of force, though it doesn't feel clunky or sandy, it's more like having vasaline inside.

I'm wondering are longer film lenses generally harder to turn? or did I just get a bad copy of the planar 85mm 1.4?

Thank you!

 

[removedacct3]

The focus ring on some lenses is stiffer than others. I do not own a C/Y system, but I do own a Hasselblad Carl Zeiss CF 100mm lens. By design the focus ring of that lens requires significantly more force than its neighbors the 80mm and the 120mm. Never heard or read anything that Carl Zeiss, not to be confused with Carl Zeiss Jena, used inferior lubricants for their modern lenses. I suspect that the 85mm has a stiffer focus ring by design. It is only a suspicion, hopefully another CZ 85mm owner will chime in. Regarding the third party zoom? That might be a completely different story.

 

[Qiuhong]

The focus ring on some lenses is stiffer than others. I do not own a C/Y system, but I do own a Hasselblad Carl Zeiss CF 100mm lens. By design the focus ring of that lens requires significantly more force than its neighbors the 80mm and the 120mm. Never heard or read anything that Carl Zeiss, not to be confused with Carl Zeiss Jena, used inferior lubricants for their modern lenses. I suspect that the 85mm has a stiffer focus ring by design. It is only a suspicion, hopefully another CZ 85mm owner will chime in. Regarding the third party zoom? That might be a completely different story.

Thank you! I was kind of guessing that too, maybe at F1.4 nailing the focus would be difficult that's why they made it tighter so it doesn't move too much?

 

[benjiboy]

Hi, I use contax C/Y system and the planar 50mm 1.4 and distagon 28mm 2.8 both have super smooth and fast focus rings. I acquired another two lenses, third party 95mm 2.5 macro and contax planar 85mm 1.4 (dream lens), I found these 2 longer lenses hard to turn and zoom especially on the third party one, i have to use a lot of force, though it doesn't feel clunky or sandy, it's more like having vasaline inside.

I'm wondering are longer film lenses generally harder to turn? or did I just get a bad copy of the planar 85mm 1.4?

Thank you!

Any competent camera repairer can clean, re - lubricate, and adjust the focusing mechanism of your Planar 85 mm f1.4 lens until its as smooth as silk. All lenses no matter what the focal length that need excessive force to focus them are ," bad copies".

 

[neilt3]

Sometimes 40 or 50 year gear needs a CLA .
This sounds like it's time !
The focus ring should turn freely , just sufficiently dampened so it's not sloppy .
Yours sounds like it greese is a bit dried up .

 

[Sirius Glass]

Time for a CLA [Clean, Lubricate & Adjust]. The investment will be well worth it.

 

[Sean Mac]

I have a 85mm F1.4 Planar that was made in Germany.

It has a very smooth and easy focusing action.

Sadly it's kind of a shelf queen and I should really move it on.....