Nikkor 18-105mm focusing to infinity

[kgreen]

Most of the time I can find something bright enough to focus on in auto mode, then switch to manual. Like getting shots of the moon. But I've been trying to take some pictures of the night sky/stars. And i'm having trouble trying to get sharp focus on the stars. My lens doesn't have the infinity marking. And when I dial all the way to the right there is a slight bump/resistance. Then it keeps turning. Can I focus on something far away while there's still daylight and then switch to manual? If I don't touch the focus ring, will I still have sharp focus when it gets dark outside?

 

[AkTomboy]

I don't have a Nikon but when I shoot the Northern lights I have two ways of making me know where everything is in focus.

1. take a sliver sharpie or other pen and find my infinity in daylight and mark it so I can use a small flash light to find and line up those marks at night

2. Painters tape the focus ring, it will remove without any residue and holds the focus

Hope that might help some

 

[Pixel Dust]

Most modern lenses don't have a hard stop at infinity and may go slightly beyond. (To infinity and beyond?) There are very rare situations where the lens may need to focus beyond infinity, atmospheric, ambient temperature, altitude. Honestly, I think manufacturers are just lazy.

On the newer Nikon lenses with the "silent wave motor" (SWM) focusing system, the focusing ring can keep turning beyond the focusing range with a bit more resistance. It is an inherent part of the design, so that when the camera focuses automatically, the outer focusing ring doesn't spin while you are holding the lens. But you can spin it at any time to focus manually.

Marking the focusing ring won't really help, since it can spin all the way around and doesn't rotate when it auto focuses. Focusing on something far away, then switching to manual should help. Also, use a smaller aperture.

 

[kgreen]

Okay, thank you both! If I were taking pictures of stars, then I could focus when there was still light. And then use the tape method. Then I should have good focus when it gets dark. Thanks for your help. Much appreciated!

 

[hakepb]

Most modern lenses don't have a hard stop at infinity and may go slightly beyond. (To infinity and beyond?) There are very rare situations where the lens may need to focus beyond infinity, atmospheric, ambient temperature, altitude. Honestly, I think manufacturers are just lazy.
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That was my first thought when reading the thread title