Zoom Ring Location

[Luke_Miller]

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Back in the olden days the standard location for the zoom ring was closest to the body.  That seems to still be the case for mid-range zooms.  Then the Japanese lens makers started to put the zoom ring furthest from the body on the telephoto zooms.  That now seems to be the standard.  Zooms have been my bread-and-butter lenses for a long time and a typical set up for events is two bodies with a mid-range zoom on one and a telephoto zoom on the other.  My muscle memory puts my support hand where the zoom ring is on a mid-range zoom and now, where the focus ring is on many telephoto zooms.  Of course, any movement of the focus ring kicks the camera out of autofocus.  My solution is to position the lens foot at the bottom of the lens and support the lens with lens foot in the palm of my hand. That way I can support the lens normally and reach the zoom ring without touching the focus ring.  Not particularly comfortable, but it works.  While we now have many good L-mount zoom lens options, I have come to appreciate that the Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL zooms manufactured in Germany have kept the zoom ring location closest to the body.  

Edited September 5, 2024 by Luke_Miller

[jaapv]

Not the 70-200 or 100-400. I think Leica just started to follow the Japanese layout.

[jaapv]

BTW I like the lens hold you describe I find I can easily finetune the AF by using my thumb on the focus ring and using focus peaking. 

[LocalHero1953]

3 hours ago, jaapv said:

Not the 70-200 or 100-400. I think Leica just started to follow the Japanese layout.

I don't think that would have been a deliberate choice - they are based on the Sigma equivalents, and it would probably be impractical to swap focus and zoom. The focus is just fly-by-wire and could move, but the zoom remains a direct mechanical action. 

[jaapv]

Probably. I admit it destroys continuity between Leica lenses but I like the Sigma arrangement. I correct AF focus regularly and zoom is just once for framing. 

[Luke_Miller]

For events I'm either changing between mid-range and telephoto zooms or using two bodies with those lenses mounted.  I find having a common interface helps reduce the missed shots.  

[Babylonia]

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And what about the function of the zoom rings itself?
Turning  clockwise  versus  counter clockwise  to go from wider angle tot tele end.
One or the other lens L-mount brand lenses do have opposite directions.

Starting myself with a Panasonic  24-105mm / 4.0  as my first L-mount lens.
When adding an ultra wide zoom later, one of my considerations was this zoom turning function.
I decided to go with a Panasonic 16-35mm / 4.0  instead of a choice to go by the Sigma brand.
To have no confusions working by one or the other zoom,  by these discrepancies.

Maybe when starting with a Sigma zoom lens, could be a reason to make a choice later to another Sigma zoom as well ??
(And/or a choice of Leica lenses, or meanwhile other third party brand options with an L-mount).