grantgoodes wrote:
Just purchased this Nikkor AM-ED 120/5.6 large-format macro-lens lens on B&S. Ever since I got my PB-4 bellows, I'd always wanted to get a lens with enough coverage to allow tilt/shift movements (my Micro-Nikkor 105/2.8 vignettes quite badly with movements), and the AM-ED 120/5.6 was the top of my short list. Alas, Nikon collectors have driven up the price and I had to make do with the Schneider Kreuznach Componon-S 135/5.6. The AM-ED I purchased from David is in mint condition, and finally satisfies my ambition to try out this legendary lens (great review here).
The version of the Componon-s I have mounts using a 42mm female thread (T-mount). You can easily find T-mount to F adapters, and that does work fine, but most of these adapters are pretty poor quality and have a lot of slop. I realized that the K2 ring from my K-set is Nikon F to 52mm female, so I purchased a 42mm to 52mm step-up ring, and that gave me a MUCH nicer way to mount the Componon-S.
With the AM-ED 120/5.6, you have a Copal-0 mount which is 32.5mm x 0.5mm, so I found a 32.5mm to 42mm step-up ring, and this allows me to mount the AM-ED lens on the PB-4 using the same setup as the Componon-S. You need to keep the AM-ED's Copal-0 mounting ring on to act as a spacer: Otherwise the controls of the shutter/aperture are jammed. Also, mounting the lens requires unscrewing the lens's rear-group and screwing it back on from the rear, as it doesn't clear the throat of the K2. Another option would be to mount the lens reversed using the front-threads (which are 52mm, so lots of options there, e.g. BR-2A). The AM-ED is a symmetric design, but the front group has a larger front-element, so I assume it would be better unreversed.
I look forward to comparing the Componon-S (which is totally fine) with the "gold standard" of the AM-ED....Show more →
Grant - it is great lens at macro distances, my favorite. I am using it with a medium format back on a Cambo Actus DB kit and with the huge image circle of the lens am limited in movements only by the Actus itself. At macro distances even f/5.6 is really good and at f/8 incredible.
At landscape distances it starts to get challenged but at f/11 holds its own very well. I have only done test shooting at landscape range and did not really purchase it for that use, but hey, if you have it shoot it right?
I am actually planning on trying it more in landscape use on a trip this upcoming weekend (weather permitting).
grantgoodes wrote:
Just purchased this Nikkor AM-ED 120/5.6 large-format macro-lens lens on B&S. Ever since I got my PB-4 bellows, I'd always wanted to get a lens with enough coverage to allow tilt/shift movements (my Micro-Nikkor 105/2.8 vignettes quite badly with movements), and the AM-ED 120/5.6 was the top of my short list. Alas, Nikon collectors have driven up the price and I had to make do with the Schneider Kreuznach Componon-S 135/5.6. The AM-ED I purchased from David is in mint condition, and finally satisfies my ambition to try out this legendary lens (great review here).
The version of the Componon-s I have mounts using a 42mm female thread (T-mount). You can easily find T-mount to F adapters, and that does work fine, but most of these adapters are pretty poor quality and have a lot of slop. I realized that the K2 ring from my K-set is Nikon F to 52mm female, so I purchased a 42mm to 52mm step-up ring, and that gave me a MUCH nicer way to mount the Componon-S.
With the AM-ED 120/5.6, you have a Copal-0 mount which is 32.5mm x 0.5mm, so I found a 32.5mm to 42mm step-up ring, and this allows me to mount the AM-ED lens on the PB-4 using the same setup as the Componon-S. You need to keep the AM-ED's Copal-0 mounting ring on to act as a spacer: Otherwise the controls of the shutter/aperture are jammed. Also, mounting the lens requires unscrewing the lens's rear-group and screwing it back on from the rear, as it doesn't clear the throat of the K2. Another option would be to mount the lens reversed using the front-threads (which are 52mm, so lots of options there, e.g. BR-2A). The AM-ED is a symmetric design, but the front group has a larger front-element, so I assume it would be better unreversed.
I look forward to comparing the Componon-S (which is totally fine) with the "gold standard" of the AM-ED....Show more →
GeorgeBo wrote:
Grant - it is great lens at macro distances, my favorite. I am using it with a medium format back on a Cambo Actus DB kit and with the huge image circle of the lens am limited in movements only by the Actus itself. At macro distances even f/5.6 is really good and at f/8 incredible.
At landscape distances it starts to get challenged but at f/11 holds its own very well. I have only done test shooting at landscape range and did not really purchase it for that use, but hey, if you have it shoot it right?
I am actually planning on trying it more in landscape use on a trip this upcoming weekend (weather permitting). ...Show more →
In fact, despite it being optimized for 1:1 magnification, I did indeed hope to use it for landscape or streetscape photography, so your advice on f/11 at longer distances is appreciated. I had read that this lens is great wide-open, and that diffraction effects already limited it to f/11, but will try f/8 for macro.
I just am so happy to be able to acquire a few of my "lust" lenses (105/1.8, 28/1.4 AF-D, and Voigtländer 180/4) in the last few years (due to the seeming collapse of the Japanese "death grip" collector's market on these lenses) and just have fun with these superior optics. The AM-ED 120/5.6 is probably a little bit "inferior" to the Printing-Nikkor 105/2.8 (a true ghost-lens!) or APO EL-Nikkor 105/5.6 , but I'm going to enjoy what I have rather than what I _could_ have. Not to mention the AM-ED 120/5.6 just looks so cool on my PB-4.
Here is the day I won Oscar over 6/5/2018 - he and his liter mate, Ruby, were living in a tunnel I made by removing a basement window, and blocking in the area between two joists. It gave Momma cat a warm place to have her liter, and protection. Through past experience Momma cat would trot up to me for attention, but she would say something to the two feral kittens that made them skittish. I had the 300mm f2.8 ais on the D800, and I suppose it looked intimidating. After this shot Oscar ran up to me, and Ruby soon followed - Momma cat just blinked in the sun. She would introduce me to each liter at about 10 weeks old.
Love these flower portraits Samy. I almost want to say you can see the LF quality shine through, even at the small internet scale.
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James Markus wrote:
Here is the day I won Oscar over 6/5/2018 - he and his liter mate, Ruby, were living in a tunnel I made by removing a basement window, and blocking in the area between two joists. It gave Momma cat a warm place to have her liter, and protection. Through past experience Momma cat would trot up to me for attention, but she would say something to the two feral kittens that made them skittish. I had the 300mm f2.8 ais on the D800, and I suppose it looked intimidating. After this shot Oscar ran up to me, and Ruby soon followed - Momma cat just blinked in the sun. She would introduce me to each liter at about 10 weeks old. ...Show more →
Neat story Jim. I suppose a 300mm f2.8 in my face would make me feel something else too.
Love these flower portraits Samy. I almost want to say you can see the LF quality shine through, even at the small internet scale.
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James Markus wrote:
Here is the day I won Oscar over 6/5/2018 - he and his liter mate, Ruby, were living in a tunnel I made by removing a basement window, and blocking in the area between two joists. It gave Momma cat a warm place to have her liter, and protection. Through past experience Momma cat would trot up to me for attention, but she would say something to the two feral kittens that made them skittish. I had the 300mm f2.8 ais on the D800, and I suppose it looked intimidating. After this shot Oscar ran up to me, and Ruby soon followed - Momma cat just blinked in the sun. She would introduce me to each liter at about 10 weeks old. ...Show more →
Neat story Jim. I suppose a 300mm f2.8 in my face would make me feel something else too.
Love these flower portraits Samy. I almost want to say you can see the LF quality shine through, even at the small internet scale.
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James Markus wrote:
Here is the day I won Oscar over 6/5/2018 - he and his liter mate, Ruby, were living in a tunnel I made by removing a basement window, and blocking in the area between two joists. It gave Momma cat a warm place to have her liter, and protection. Through past experience Momma cat would trot up to me for attention, but she would say something to the two feral kittens that made them skittish. I had the 300mm f2.8 ais on the D800, and I suppose it looked intimidating. After this shot Oscar ran up to me, and Ruby soon followed - Momma cat just blinked in the sun. She would introduce me to each liter at about 10 weeks old. ...Show more →
Neat story Jim. I suppose a 300mm f2.8 in my face would make me feel something else too.
This is about one year earlier in June 2017. I was in renal failure and pretty miserable. I went out to check our in ground pool. The liner had failed, and pulled everything into the pool, coping, and dirt from under the concrete decking. There she was hiding Hamish behind her body. Little did I know she was pregnant in this photo, and would abandon Hamish's limp body on our picnic table. When I put out food for her - other cats that turned out to be from previous liters showed up, and I was introduced to an amazing display of caring feral cat society that I never knew existed. They watched out for each other, protected each other - even babysat the young while mommacat would go off for a day or two. It was a good distraction from my own troubles, but I set out to capture them, get their shots, get them fixed and let them go or find homes. They had other plans There were way more of them than I had anticipated, it took longer than thought it would, and a bunch of them decided living in my house was preferable to living outside. Eventually I got what I wanted, but I miss having new kittens twice a year appear in the yard and follow me around.
