If there’s one factor that just about all mirrorless filmmakers agree on, it’s that focus by wire lenses completely suck in terms of manually focusing. And just about all mirrorless lenses as of late are focus by wire as a substitute of mechanical focus. It has its benefits, after all, however for filmmakers, it’s horrible.
Nikon has launched new firmware updates for 3 of its extra well-liked Z mount lenses, although the 50mm f/1.2 S, 24-70mm f/2.8 S and 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro, so as to add a Linear Focus mode for the main focus ring. It’s nonetheless basically centered by wire as a result of there’s no mechanical interplay, however now the quantity you spin the main focus ring ought to be instantly proportional to the main focus distance change, whatever the sped at which you rotate it.
When you’re not acquainted, focus by wire is a means for producers to chop down on the dimensions and weight of lenses. Whenever you rotate the ring, as a substitute of instantly focusing the lense, you’re sending a sign to the digicam’s processor and it’s sending indicators to a motor. The slower you spin the ring, the slower the motor adjusts the main focus. The sooner you spin the ring, the sooner the motor adjusts the main focus.
This mainly implies that rotating the ring a selected distance doesn’t essentially regulate your focus by the identical quantity. Rotate it slowly and the main focus shifts just a little bit. Rotate it shortly and it shifts quite a bit. That is nice for photographers who need to change from close to to far focusing shortly or actually dial within the deal with static topics, however not so nice for filmmakers who must rack focus from one particular level to a different.
The brand new firmware updates are basically an identical for all three lenses and does require your digicam be working sure firmware variations so as to have the ability to utilise the brand new Linear Focus mode function:
NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S lens firmware model 1.10:
- Added help for linear focus ring rotation throughout handbook focus: when an possibility aside from [Non-linear] is chosen for [Focus ring rotation range] * within the digicam [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU], rotating the ring the chosen quantity takes focus from the minimal distance to infinity no matter rotation velocity.
- Added help for [Switch focus/control ring roles] * within the digicam [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S lens firmware model 1.20:
- Added help for linear focus ring rotation throughout handbook focus: when an possibility aside from [Non-linear] is chosen for [Focus ring rotation range] * within the digicam [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU], rotating the ring the chosen quantity takes focus from the minimal distance to infinity no matter rotation velocity.
- Added help for [Switch focus/control ring roles] * within the digicam [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S lens firmware model 1.10:
- Added help for linear focus ring rotation throughout handbook focus: when an possibility aside from [Non-linear] is chosen for [Focus ring rotation range] * within the digicam [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU], rotating the ring the chosen quantity takes focus from the minimal distance to infinity no matter rotation velocity.
- Added help for [Switch focus/control ring roles] * within the digicam [CUSTOM SETTINGS MENU].
* As of August 2022, this function is accessible with the Z 9 (from digicam “C” firmware model 2.00), the Z 7II (from digicam “C” firmware model 1.40), and the Z 6II (from digicam “C” firmware model 1.40).
Hopefully, we’ll begin to see extra producers including this functionality to their lenses as a result of while you need to use a observe focus unit for taking pictures video, it’s just about not possible with customary focus by wire modes. This could make them helpful.
[via Nikon Rumors]
