Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

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Archive 2012 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

gugs
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p.1 #1 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

I found this one in my neighborhood, an amazing discovery:
this lens is now a kind of collector's item.
The 200mm 5.6 is a very special concept: included modelling lamps and ring flash, with everything mechanical on the lens: select ISO, magnification factor (in combination with close up lenses), and aperture (fixed depending on the other choices, flash intensity being constant). There is no focus ring, focus is achieved by moving back and forth (a technique I am already using with classical macro lenses).

nikonmed-1 by gugs, on Flickr

for more details, you can have a look at my mini review:
http://www.techniphoto.com/wiki/index.php?title=200mm_5.6_Medical_Nikkor

Guy

Jan 23, 2012 at 09:58 PM

j.liam
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p.1 #2 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

From the ever acerbic Bjørn Rørslett on the 200 Medical Nikkor:
"Image quality cannot match modern close-focusing designs, though. You only have fixed reproduction rates which are achieved by combining members of a set of dedicated close-up lenses. The lens itself has no means of focusing."

Doesn't sound like a great deal of fun. He adds that he uses it to photograph ants that emit noxious chemicals because of the distance it affords.

An ant lens!

Jan 23, 2012 at 11:28 PM

Elan II
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p.1 #3 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Excellent find! The most perfect and complete set I've seen so far. Don't be detracted by unflattering reviews. I remember a discussion of this lens on another forum and the images were quite good. Btw, you can overcome the impossibly low ISO settings at low magnification by diffusing the flash.

Jan 24, 2012 at 06:07 AM

fusiongt
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p.1 #4 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Seriously you're going to make us ask for pictures from it? Come on! =)

Jan 24, 2012 at 11:32 AM

Kingfishphoto
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p.1 #5 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

I have seen then at antique camera trade shows, and most of the time they are in-complete, missing power supply/electric items. Nice find Guy.
Harry Palmer

Jan 24, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Uzay
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p.1 #6 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

fusiongt wrote:
Seriously you're going to make us ask for pictures from it? Come on! =)

+1

i'm curous to see the results

Jan 24, 2012 at 11:40 AM

j.liam
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p.1 #7 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Seems more of an historical curiosity and collectible than anything else, quite frankly.

Jan 24, 2012 at 02:15 PM

Nijay
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p.1 #8 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Woah, it prints the mag factor on the picture. That's kinda neat.

Jan 24, 2012 at 04:47 PM

gugs
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p.1 #9 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

as requested, a few quick test pics:
(the magnification factor is printed on the picture)
I underexposed by two stops @LO1 (ISO100) on the D3 to get a virtual ISO 25 to be able to avoid closing down completely.

med-1 by gugs, on Flickr

med-3 by gugs, on Flickr

a 100% crop

med-2 by gugs, on Flickr

med-4 by gugs, on Flickr

Guy

Jan 24, 2012 at 08:26 PM

nolaguy
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p.1 #10 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

The stamp has a few molecules out of alignment on the lower right, but that's just a nit.

Jan 24, 2012 at 10:17 PM

Rodolfo Paiz
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p.1 #11 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

I don't care what anyone says, that's DAMN good image quality.

A historical curiosity indeed. I didn't know that lens existed. Thanks!

Jan 25, 2012 at 12:14 AM

Andre Labonte
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p.1 #12 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Looks pretty darn good to me. Maybe Bjorn got a bad copy.

Jan 25, 2012 at 01:25 AM

LLondon
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p.1 #13 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Rodolfo Paiz wrote:
I don't care what anyone says, that's DAMN good image quality.

A historical curiosity indeed. I didn't know that lens existed. Thanks!

+1 Looks like it could be lots of fun

Jan 25, 2012 at 01:30 AM

j.liam
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p.1 #14 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Sounds mighty tedious. But, whatever makes you happy

Jan 25, 2012 at 02:52 AM

innovis
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p.1 #15 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

YUP, its got some quality.

Jan 25, 2012 at 03:02 AM

niXer
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p.1 #16 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Man almost makes me want to sell my 105VR for that.

Jan 25, 2012 at 04:07 AM

Uzay
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p.1 #17 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

wow, amazing results

Jan 25, 2012 at 01:40 PM

Mr. Mohaupt
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p.1 #18 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Uzay wrote:
wow, amazing results

+1

I would love to see more... was that at 2x?

~M

Jan 25, 2012 at 04:07 PM

eos-m42guy
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p.1 #19 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

Mr. Mohaupt wrote:
Uzay wrote:
wow, amazing results

+1

I would love to see more... was that at 2x?

~M

If you're referring to the last image, yes, it is 2x. Scroll to the right. The magnification is automatically shown on the images.

Jan 25, 2012 at 04:34 PM

gugs
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p.1 #20 · Interesting find: Medical Nikkor 200mm

j.liam wrote:
From the ever acerbic Bjørn Rørslett on the 200 Medical Nikkor:
"Image quality cannot match modern close-focusing designs, though. You only have fixed reproduction rates which are achieved by combining members of a set of dedicated close-up lenses. The lens itself has no means of focusing."

Doesn't sound like a great deal of fun. He adds that he uses it to photograph ants that emit noxious chemicals because of the distance it affords.

An ant lens!
So sorry to say it, but my experience with the lens just proves that Bjorn is not ALWAYS right and/or objective. And by the way I don't think I really ever used the focusing ring on a macro lens to adjust my focus, I always move the lens anyway... And the combo is just fun to use, even if it is a bit strange...

Guy

Jan 26, 2012 at 10:46 PM

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