XCD 21 - loose focus ring

[isarus]

I recently got my XCD 21 after a long wait and realized that the focus ring seems to be loose - kind of. As I pull the ring along the lens there is a sound ("pop")! Is that normal for this lens anyone? None of my other XCD-lenses behaves like that. Or - is this a return to Hasselblad and some more weeks to wait? If its normal I'm rather keep the lens and use it as is due to the very long wait for warranty repair.
Kindest
Kent

[sepiareverb]

My 21 has a very loose focus ring as well. I've not heard the pop you reference. I've owned many lenses from many different makers and I can only think of an early AF Nikkor that was anywhere near this "slippery" in the ring. Seems like way too much of a way to thin grease if this was a manual focus lens.

It is in NJ right now. I sent it in, but was told it was within specs. I've asked if it can be "snugged up" and am waiting to hear if they can do anything about it. I use the camera in MF mode, and drive focus with the button, then recompose - years of working with the Contax G2 and that 21 have made this pretty second nature. But the ring is so loose that just moving the camera makes the ring move often. I guess I will have to just work in AF if they can't fix it.

[alistairm]

The focus ring on my 21 also turns much more easily than any of my other lenses.

[sepiareverb]

My 21 returns home today, there is no way to dampen the action of the focus ring.

Certainly not a huge issue with a lens this wide, but on a long lens I would run into a lot of errors with this type of action in the focus ring.

[fotophil]

I would think that a sloppy focus ring wold be bad news of a super wide angle lens. It is hard to believe that the lens construction is such that such a sloppy focus ring can not be corrected on a $3500 lens. Many of us are still waiting to handle the 21mm lens - is the sloppy focus ring true of all copies or is only a few unfortunate owners that are stuck with them? After the disaster that the 120 mm macro lens caused during release I would hope that Hasselblad would have tighten their manufacturing  and.or inspection operations.

[sepiareverb]

I was told the lens felt just like the one they have in the service dept. for comparisons in NJ.

I too find it hard to understand why this can't be adjusted. I've been having this sort of thing adjusted on lenses for years and years. Granted I've not shot a ton of autofocus lenses, but still, this seems like a basic thing. Apparently not.

[MGrayson]

FWIW, my 21 focus ring is *slightly* looser than the 30, 45, and 90. They're all too loose for my taste. So far, AF has worked well, and the few times I've gone to magnified LV, the MF has worked well enough. I prefer the more damped focus ring feel, but /shrug.

[jwillson]

My 21mm also has a much "lighter" touch than my other XCD lenses.  However, for those concerned about buying one, it is not any more or less precise than the other XCD lenses.  Because it is focus-by-wire, there is no slop or slack that needs to be taken up just because it has less damping.  In other words, it works just fine.  Personally, I'd rather it be consistent across the lineup of lenses just so I could develop a feel for the lenses.  Electronic focusing is already bad enough just from the variable speed.  Having a different feel in different lenses makes it harder to adapt.  That's about it, though.  It still works, and it is no more or less precise than any of the other lenses.  At least that's my experience.  I haven't noticed any strange sounds as described by the original poster.