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Versatility and High
Performance |
© Bjørn Rørslett/N | |
The AF 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6 ED Micro-Nikkor has a pitiful tripod collar with a far too small leg protruding under it. To complete the misery, the foot is cantilevered almost if were it designed for making the mount perfectly vibration-prone. The inadequate tripod mount prevents the lens from showing its superb optical quality. In the picture exhibited above, the lens is already modified, but there is hardly any visible indication of the alterations. However, people familiar with the 70-180 Micro may notice the improved and enlarged locking screw for the tripod collar. |
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| The real
solution for the 70-180 Micro is simplicity itself. Two
bolts of stainless steel, 25 mm long, were sunk through
the Arca-type mounting plate below and into the foot of
the tripod collar (indicated by arrows on the picture
above). The bolts extend the whole length of the foot to
give it vastly improved stability and rigidity. Do not
use overly long bolts because you won't have them chafing
into the lens barrel itself. You have to tap drill the mounting holes very precisely because the structure is quite thin and there is little or no room for misjudgement here. After cutting threads in these holes, the bolts are screwed into position and secured by Loctite. A solid brass screw passing through the Arca plate and going into the ordinary hole of the mount gives a 3-point support and completes the task. With the appropriate equipment you can carry out the modification in 30 minutes, but do wait with that cup of coffee until after the job is done. |
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