Micro-Nikkor 85mm PC ...............cheap alternative?

[ben conover]

Hi, I want a Micro-Nikkor 85 PC but I can't afford one

yet......Anyone else found a worthwhile alternative?

Do Hartblei make one?

 

Cheers.

[vivek iyer]

there is no alternative.

[spencer_hahn]

Lensbaby. You get what you pay for:

 

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_lensbaby.php

[ben conover]

Thanks Vivek,

 

I searched the Hartblei website just now and I see that indeed

there are many interesting lenses, but as you say, no alternatives to the Micro-Nikkor 85mm PC

 

Cheers.

[joseph_wisniewski]

Nikon 105mm enlarging lens ($50 on eBay, as an era passes) on a Nikon PB-4 bellows ($200 on eBay).

[haris_ashraf]

http://www.kievcamera.com/product.php?ID=156

[ben conover]

Hi Joseph, thanks for the reply. Is it difficult to join and use the 105 and bellows on a Nikon F4s

 

Any replies appreciated, I am a beginner.

[ben conover]

Hi, I realise that the 'Super rotator' is cheaper, and a very good lens, but it has no micro abilities.

 

Perhaps the 105mm enlarger and Nikon PB-4 bellows will work.

 

Any comments about the 105mm enlarger and Nikon PB-4 bellows appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[haris_ashraf]

oops, I forgot you were looking for a macro. I actually used is a few times with a closeup lens attached so I got confused.

[kaiyen]

Well. You could get the enlarging lens, slap an m39>m42 adapter on there, then an m42>nikon F adapter on that. that's the only arrangement I can find, as I can't seem to find any currently available m39>f adapters.

 

I'm sure someone will immediately contradict me with a link to such an adapter, though...

 

allan

[david_h._hartman]

<em>cheap alternative?</em> put a big grin

on my face because the 85 PC is such a fine lens.<br>

<br>

<em>Any comments about the 105mm enlarger and Nikon PB-4

bellows appreciated. --Ben Conover<br>

</em><br>

The view camera like movements of the PB-4 Bellows were designed

for use with the 105/4.0 Bellows Nikkor and similar lenses. The

idea of using a 105/5.6 EL Nikkor as a poor mans macro

lenses isnt a bad idea. I dont know specifically how

the lens will perform as a macro lens. Perhaps someone here has

experience using the 105/5.6 EL as a macro lens.<br>

<br>

You can shift the lens and swing it on a PB-4 bellows. If you

have a big tripod and beefy tripod head you can tilled the PB-4

on its side and get rise/fall and tilt from the PB-4. You cant

get them all at once. There are limitations with the camera

bodies 46.5mm back focus. The bellows itself has a draw of 43~185mm

so you'll be able to focus approximately from infinity to 1:1. If

you need to get passed 1:1 you can use a shorter lens. A 50/2.0

AI will get you to 3.6x life size.<br>

<br>

If you want it all then you want one of the new 6x9cm view camera

and a digital back and the price will be astronomical.<br>

<br>

One a budget I think the PB-4 Bellows is a good call.<br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.

[joshua daniels]

Have a look at www.zoerk.com and the Multi Focus System.

[lex_jenkins]

There's another aftermarket bellows system with movements but it costs a fortune, about as much as the 85mm PC-Nikkor.

[david_h._hartman]

Perhaps this is what Lex is referring to...<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.horsemanusa.com/vcc.html" target="_new"><u>http://www.horsemanusa.com/vcc.html</u></a>

<br>

<br>

It looks real nice but the price is $1,956.50 plus $71.95 for a

Nikon mount at B&H Photo. That's without a lens.

[vivek iyer]

Ben, I fully agree with David's recommendations. However, if you are handy with doing some work yourself, these links may be of interests:

 

http://homepage2.nifty.com/akiyanroom/redbook-e/collection/blue.html

 

http://www.dennisonbertram.com/hackmaster/2005/02/tilt-shift-pc-lens.htm

 

Good luck!

[ben conover]

Hello,

 

thanks for the superb advice and speedy replies. I see that there really is no reasonable cheap alternative to replace the Micro-Nikkor 85 PC but there are certainly some interesting other options, especially the www.zoerk.com and the Multi Focus System. I am interested in doing some work to understand lenses and optics and

the interesting link form Vivek Iyer is my next destination. I can't keep up!

 

Thanks a million and Cheers to all.

[ben conover]

Hi Lex, thanks for that link to the awesome Horseman solution.

I can't afford one, but I can see why they sell , so I will save....

[ben conover]

Hi, to answer my own question, I may as well buy a cheap old super speed graphic !!

[joseph_wisniewski]

OK, some responses for everyone. Ben comes last, but is longest...

 

Allan, I'm kind of bummed that someone didn't "immediately contradict" you "with a link to such an adapter". I could use a good source myself. Every now and then, someone puts a batch of Russian made ones up on eBay. But there's a better way to mount the macro, and I'll get to it in a minute.

 

David, the 105mm f5.6 El-Nikkor actually outperforms the old 105mm f4 bellows Nikkor. It shouldn't, because the enlarging lens was optimized for magnifications between 4x and 20x, but it does. Even at 1:1, I find the El-Nikkor to have a flatter field, better sharpness, and better contrast. Now the extra stop on the bellows Nikkor comes in handy for focusing and composing.

 

Joshua, a nice thing about the Zoerk is it has a greater tilt range than the PB-4. And it still uses the El-Nikkor ;) But if you go with something like that, you need a focusing rail (minimum of $90 for the Bogen) and that brings the price up even higher. Actually, you need the focusing rail with either the Nikon 85mm tilt/shift macro or the Zoerk, so the PB-4 looks more attractive by the minute.

 

Vivek, as usual, those lins are cool. I liked the second one, especially. I'm trying to remount a manual 20mm f2.8 Nikkor as a tilt/shift. I figure with the coverage circle differences between DX and 35mm format, it's got plenty of room to shift.

 

Ben, to use the PB4 with the F4, you may need to put an extension tube (like a Nikon PK-13) between the camera and the bellows. Aside from that, the F4 is a great camera for this. It works with stop down metering.

 

You can mount the enlarging lens either facing forward (the lens faces the subkect) or facing backward. To mount it forward, the best way is to try Allen's suggestion: find a M39 to Nikon adapter (they're out there, sometimes on eBay) or an M39 to T mount (one form of M42) and a Nikon T adapter.

 

A cheaper way to mount it forward is to get a Nikon mount reversing ring (I use a Nikon BR-2A) and a 52mm "stacking cap". Drill a 40mm hole in the stacking cap, and mount the El-Nikkor in the hole using a M39 jam nut (easier to find than you might believe).

 

To mount it backward, you use that Nikon mount reversing ring again, and a 40.5-52mm filter step up ring. You can get those used or new.

 

Mounting it backward is cheaper and easier. The 105mm is close enough to symmetrical that it works from 1:2 to 2:1 in either orientation. If you want to get farther away from your subject and use less magnification, you need to mount the lens forward.

[ben conover]

Thanks Joseph, I am amazed at the possibilities with lenses, and I really appreciate your reply. Perhaps I will be able to do the

work like you said, it would be interesting and save $$$

 

Cheers.

[ben conover]

Thanks Dave Hartman, very helpful indeed.

 

50/2.0 AI will get you to 3.6x life size.

 

Great news, just what I need, I will get to work !!

[zack_lau]

I believe John Shaw has recommended mounting unusual lenses with a plastic body cap. Now that enlarger lenses are so cheap, it may be a viable solution. At the other extreme, it isn't too hard to machine a slice of aluminum tubing with a 39mm thread for the enlarger lens and a hole/mounting screws from an F bayonet mount taken from a cheap non-AI extension tube. I did it myself with a miniature lathe. However, the lens I used was the 135mm f5.6.

[ben conover]

Hi Zack, great idea indeed, but I have no lathe (would love one) and also I live in a very remote and isolated area so getting the work done would be tricky. Anyhow, I am going to take it easy and aquire the neccessary know how, with thanks for all the great responses.

 

Cheers.

[kelly_flanigan1]

A Vivitar 90mm F2.5 series is a sharp macro lens; one version came in a Nikon mount too. Most all 5 or 6 element enlarging lenses make fine macro lenses. You can just use paper tubes; and old T-mount; and 5 minute epoxy to bond the tube to the T mount flange. I used this settup with an Exakta slr; before the Nikon F came out. Here is some junk from the 1960's; one can see the tubes; enlarging lenses; and other goodies. I used the paper tube settup with my Nikon and Exakta; before I got a real bellows. The El Nikkor 5cm F2.8 came out I think in 1956. It was redesigned a few years ago; maybe 5 or 10; the new version has a larger exit pupil; ie has better illumination at the edges; when used at F2.8 or f4. Even a cheap 3 element enlarging lens can draw circles around the "all in one cheapie macro zooms"; that many folks have. When extended; only a small angle of the lens is used; the best part. The 5cm F2 LTM and F camera and 50mm F2 and F1.8 f lenses are decent for closeup. An enlarging lens is better when getting real close. <BR><BR><img src="http://www.ezshots.com/members/tripods/images/tripods-191.jpg">

[kelly_flanigan1]

The inside of the tube can be painted flat black. A rough surface is desireable; it breaks up the internal reflection. A black kraft lens hood out of paper helps keep the contrast up. Enlarging lenses make fine macro lenses; they have been used for ever as macro lenses. They even will fit a standard speed graphic lensboard too. You dont need a fancy lathe to make a custom mount; common hobby store materials is what we use in engineering; to make a quick test of an optical device;.... when I was a kid; this was the only way I could afford to make my adapters. The lens ring should be parallel to the film.<BR><BR><img src="http://www.ezshots.com/members/tripods/images/tripods-389.jpg"><BR><BR><img src="http://www.ezshots.com/members/tripods/images/tripods-304.jpg">