topic Canon 200 f/2 manual focus in EF & RF Lenses

Canon 200 f/2 manual focus

sbogar — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:31:39 GMT

Hi all,

This question is related to the Canon 200mm f/2.0 lens.

Does focusing work by moving the black rubber focusing ring

if the lens is in manual focus mode AND IF there is no

canon body attached to the end of the lens (i.e. it is not

under current/power)?

Say I want to project a source in an optical lab with this lens onto a detector,

and want to use it in fully manual focus mode.

This did not work with the Canon 200 f/1.8 AF lenses.

Regards,

Bogar

Re: Canon 200 f/2 manual focus

ebiggs1 — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:59:09 GMT

On external focusing Canon lens, the focus works when set to MF whether it is attached to the camera or not. On internal focusing lenses, it is not readily apparent. Because they don't change their length. I would guess they will, however, since the MF just connects the focus ring to the lens mechanically.

Re: Canon 200 f/2 manual focus

sbogar — Sat, 11 May 2013 16:04:51 GMT

Hello ebiggs,

Thanks for your response.

You say "on external focusing Canon lens" the focus works when set to MF.

The Canon 200 f/2 counts as an "external focusing lens"?

I am asking this, because the manual focusing definitely does not work

on the older Canon 200 f/1.8L USM lens, even when turned to MF mode, but

without a Canon camera attached. So I guess with your definition the 200/1.8 is

not an external focusing lens. When a Canon body is attached to the 200/1.8,

then the MF works fine, but one needs to power up the lens and its CPU so that

it converts the motion of the rubber ring into electronics, and ultimately motion

of internal lens elements.

I understand that this is not a standard use of the lens, so hoping that

Canon afficionados will know this. Clearly, the lens does not change

its outer dimensions while focusing. But one can see the focus changes

when projecting e.g. a landscape on a piece of white paper.

Best regards,

Bogar

Re: Canon 200 f/2 manual focus

ebiggs1 — Sun, 12 May 2013 12:56:01 GMT

I do not have this lens but I have a photographer buddy that does, so I asked him. Here is what he said;

The internal-focusing lens does not extend and does not rotate the front element as most fixed focal length lenses do not extend. It has FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing.

But he did not know whether it worked without the camera attached.

Re: Canon 200 f/2 manual focus

David — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:08:39 GMT

The Canon EF 200mm f/1.8 was a 'focus-by-wire' lens (just like the current Ef 85mm f/1.2) and can only be manual focused when connected to an EOS body. The EF 200mm f/2 lens does not share this feature and can be manual focused just like a normal lens.

Re: Canon 200 f/2 manual focus

sbogar — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:50:05 GMT

Thanks for the solution! When I get one of these lenses, I will report

back to confirm that this is indeed the case!

Regards, Bogar