Did another close up technique that I gave up on many years ago after a half-hearted try - Lens stacking. Ran across the lens stacking technique again; so I read more about it until I understood it better. The magnification formula is simple: focal length of primary lens divided by focal length of reversed secondary lens = X power. For this test I used three 180mm Nikkor lenses as the primary, and the 40mm f4 EL-Nikkor enlarging lens for the reversed lens for 4.5X on a FX sensor, but I used the D7200 for it's crop factor - so 6.75X. It actually works much better than I expected. Other primary lenses used were the 180mm f2.8 af, and the 70-180mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor micro (posting no samples, but all three worked great)
All the objectives together in the stack
The EL-Nikkor waiting to join the Nikkor-P 180mm f2.8 ai'd lens
James Markus wrote:
Did another close up technique that I gave up on many years ago after a half-hearted try - Lens stacking. Ran across the lens stacking technique again; so I read more about it until I understood it better. The magnification formula is simple: focal length of primary lens divided by focal length of reversed secondary lens = X power. For this test I used three 180mm Nikkor lenses as the primary, and the 40mm f4 EL-Nikkor enlarging lens for the reversed lens for 4.5X on a FX sensor, but I used the D7200 for it's crop factor - so 6.75X. It actually works much better than I expected. Other primary lenses used were the 180mm f2.8 af, and the 70-180mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor micro (posting no samples, but all three worked great)...Show more →
I've done a lot of reversed lens stacking with some interesting results. Once I can't post here is with my 80-200 at 200, with an AF 18mm on the front. That's about 11x, but on a crop sensor that brings us to 16.5x! In practice, it was a tad more than that, but it was very hard to really shoot anything with it. Having the tip of a ballpoint pen fill half the frame is pretty neat though.
James Markus wrote:
Did another close up technique that I gave up on many years ago after a half-hearted try - Lens stacking. Ran across the lens stacking technique again; so I read more about it until I understood it better. The magnification formula is simple: focal length of primary lens divided by focal length of reversed secondary lens = X power. For this test I used three 180mm Nikkor lenses as the primary, and the 40mm f4 EL-Nikkor enlarging lens for the reversed lens for 4.5X on a FX sensor, but I used the D7200 for it's crop factor - so 6.75X. It actually works much better than I expected. Other primary lenses used were the 180mm f2.8 af, and the 70-180mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor micro (posting no samples, but all three worked great)...Show more →
kwoodard wrote:
I've done a lot of reversed lens stacking with some interesting results. Once I can't post here is with my 80-200 at 200, with an AF 18mm on the front. That's about 11x, but on a crop sensor that brings us to 16.5x! In practice, it was a tad more than that, but it was very hard to really shoot anything with it. Having the tip of a ballpoint pen fill half the frame is pretty neat though.
Kevin,
I chose an enlarging lens/bellows macro for the reversed lens, because of it's flatness of field correction. I wanted to avoid just central focus, or worse - not cover the entire frame. After shooting through a microscope for the last couple months I was craving more working distance so that lighting would be easier to accomplish. Made my way through Achro objectives into Plan objectives. All this stacking was to stave off the inevitable purchase of an infinity microscope objective - either the Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 5x 0.14, or Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 10x 0.28 - which are literally the best out there. So far, sitting on my wallet has protected it's contents, but I know how the draw of superior optics have ground me down in the past.
Jim
NightOwl Cat wrote:
Those 40mm appear to be rare birds out there....
A year ago I got two very reasonably priced copies ($40 & $75) with their protective cases. Main reason for the purchase is that they supposedly can resolve detail up to 30x - though I am unsure of how to get them to that level. The $40 copy was from a pawn shop, and had it's mount modified for some specialized work (laser? commercial enlarger?). I could not remove the beautifully machined custom mill work off the leica thread mount, and use it as a lens hood when reverse mounted. It does screw off, but I am left with approximately a 45-46mm threaded shaft (which I believe is cemented to the leica thread mount) - rendering it useless for non-reversed shooting. That is why I got a second copy. My favorite EL-Nikkor is the 63mm f2.8 (gorgeous lens) closely followed by both 50mm f2.8 versions - the older one looks better to me, and has brilliant performance. 63mm f2.8 EL-Nikkor shot with the dreamy 28mm f3.5 PC lens +12mm tube
Although I had zero need to buy it, it was miss-marked, no reserve, and the pics were garbage…but I put in a lowball bid and won it.
Now, my favorite of the 28’s is the 28/3.5…first version. I have a very beat up one that has taken many of my favorite pictures over the many years I’ve had it. I always thought about finding a nicer one and let this one enjoy retirement. It has an EP mark on it and I have it on good authority that the lens saw combat duty in Vietnam. The one I picked up was listed as an AIS and other stuff it clearly wasn’t. The pictures were okay, but not great and there was little bits of styrofoam and dust all over it. Well, when I opened it up today…I now have a brand new lens that’s older than my beater. It’s Rafael level of mint. There are zero scratches anywhere on the lens. I don’t think it’s ever been mounted to anything. It came in the bubble case, styrofoam holder, and Nikon branded desiccant sack. No box though. I’m still a little bit in shock for my $27 purchase.
kwoodard wrote:
Although I had zero need to buy it, it was miss-marked, no reserve, and the pics were garbage…but I put in a lowball bid and won it.
Now, my favorite of the 28’s is the 28/3.5…first version. I have a very beat up one that has taken many of my favorite pictures over the many years I’ve had it. I always thought about finding a nicer one and let this one enjoy retirement. It has an EP mark on it and I have it on good authority that the lens saw combat duty in Vietnam. The one I picked up was listed as an AIS and other stuff it clearly wasn’t. The pictures were okay, but not great and there was little bits of styrofoam and dust all over it. Well, when I opened it up today…I now have a brand new lens that’s older than my beater. It’s Rafael level of mint. There are zero scratches anywhere on the lens. I don’t think it’s ever been mounted to anything. It came in the bubble case, styrofoam holder, and Nikon branded desiccant sack. No box though. I’m still a little bit in shock for my $27 purchase.
James Markus wrote:
A year ago I got two very reasonably priced copies ($40 & $75) with their protective cases. Main reason for the purchase is that they supposedly can resolve detail up to 30x - though I am unsure of how to get them to that level. The $40 copy was from a pawn shop, and had it's mount modified for some specialized work (laser? commercial enlarger?). I could not remove the beautifully machined custom mill work off the leica thread mount, and use it as a lens hood when reverse mounted. It does screw off, but I am left with approximately a 45-46mm threaded shaft (which I believe is cemented to the leica thread mount) - rendering it useless for non-reversed shooting. That is why I got a second copy. My favorite EL-Nikkor is the 63mm f2.8 (gorgeous lens) closely followed by both 50mm f2.8 versions - the older one looks better to me, and has brilliant performance. 63mm f2.8 EL-Nikkor shot with the dreamy 28mm f3.5 PC lens +12mm tube
A comparitive shoot with the 80-200 f4 mounted on the Z5 and the 105 2.5 on the D500 both at about f11
The subject is an exotic orchid theat's gone native on our estate. No matter how I try ( focus stacked on macro also) it seems impossible to get the yellow stigma sharp. A bit of fun this morning.
80-200 Z5 Orchid (1 of 1) by Peter Oosthuizen, on Flickr
After a brilliant demo at camera club of multiple exposure abstracts by one of our members I played around with the 105 on the D500 to get this
6 exposure image combined in camera
Hi, does anyone have experience and opinions on the 20/3.5 Ai? I just got one as a part of a beat up F4E bundle deal. Wasn’t initially interested in the lens bit figured why not.
The seller also threw in a nice looking F3+MD-4 that he said he could not get to work. I’m running test rolls on both bodies now and it seems the F3 only needed fresh batteries. I had forgotten just how nice the F3 was to handle. Had a F3T a few years ago but lost it gor stolen unfortunately.
So while I was hunting for a nicely priced F4, I think I'll keep the F3 instead.
James Markus wrote:
Did another close up technique that I gave up on many years ago after a half-hearted try - Lens stacking. Ran across the lens stacking technique again; so I read more about it until I understood it better. The magnification formula is simple: focal length of primary lens divided by focal length of reversed secondary lens = X power. For this test I used three 180mm Nikkor lenses as the primary, and the 40mm f4 EL-Nikkor enlarging lens for the reversed lens for 4.5X on a FX sensor, but I used the D7200 for it's crop factor - so 6.75X. It actually works much better than I expected. Other primary lenses used were the 180mm f2.8 af, and the 70-180mm f3.5 Zoom-Nikkor micro (posting no samples, but all three worked great)...Show more →
Jim, now I know where and how to store old step up adapters. :
