Manual Lens Focus Direction

[Remo Nonaz]

I have a number of manual lenses. Some focus in one direction and some focus in the other. It would be really nice if they all focused the same way as it would simplify improving my manual focus skills. If I wanted to try and purchase lenses that all matched in their 'direction-ness'...

- What is the correct terminology for which way they focus: clockwise/counter-clockwise or left-hand/right-hand, or something else?

- Is there any consistency between brands, i.e. Nikons focus left-handed, Canons focus right-handed?

[Morgan_Moore]

It is basically Nikon VS 'Everything Else'

Most lenses focus the Canon way

Over the years some lenses have been made by third parties to focus the Nikon way but not that many

This brings up a 'problem' in that nikon make some of the most versatile and best value used manual glass

Some follow focuses (for filming) have a reverse gear to allow you to sort this out

S

[Remo Nonaz]

My Nikon vs. Canon example was just a shot in the dark, but it seems that is the big distinction. I found this post, http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/archive/index.php/t-247621.html on another forum that seems to explain it well.

Nikon and Pentax focus infinity<--->close and nearly every one else the other way. I guess as far as giving them a name, the proper terms are; The Nikon Way and The Other Way. 

[Morgan_Moore]

Pentax focus the nikon way!

You sure? That opens some interesting options to me

S

[Robert Roaldi]

Olympus lets you set the direction on one of the menu options. It would be hard to do that with manual focus lenses, of course.

[Petrus]

Focus and aperture rings turning the opposite ways was a big problem in the manual days for us who changed systems form Canon to Nikon or vv. Relearning to focus without thinking took about 3 months. Now it does not matter much anymore with great AF, and the camera body control dials can be customized as wished.

[Stan A]

I didn't know there was any other way than the Nikon way