Lens: Nikon El-Nikkor 105mm f/5.6
Vintage: probably 1950's or 60's
Lens Mount: M39
Needed Adapters: . M39 to F-mount (or any other camera mount). This lens is easy to mount in
reverse as the ring that says "made in Japan: is removable and when removed, it reveals an M39
thread on the front of the lens. The back is also removable to reveal an M32 thread. That adapter
can be useful as some enlarging lenses come with M32 mounting threads.
reverse as the ring that says "made in Japan: is removable and when removed, it reveals an M39
thread on the front of the lens. The back is also removable to reveal an M32 thread. That adapter
can be useful as some enlarging lenses come with M32 mounting threads.
Preferred Mounting: Enlarging lenses are typically mounted in reverse configuration. One could
make an argument for mounting this lens normally below 1:1 magnification. My own evaluation of
this is that the lens has a little better resolution in reverse, but has a little better corner performance
mounted normally.
make an argument for mounting this lens normally below 1:1 magnification. My own evaluation of
this is that the lens has a little better resolution in reverse, but has a little better corner performance
mounted normally.
Filter Thread: 34 mm.
Controls: This lens only has an aperture control.
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Resolution vs Aperture:
The sharpest aperture is f/8 and the most
resolving aperture is also f/8. Having f/8 as the
sharpest aperture is typical for a lens of this focal
length.
The sharpest aperture is f/8 and the most
resolving aperture is also f/8. Having f/8 as the
sharpest aperture is typical for a lens of this focal
length.
Corner Sharpness vs Aperture:
the corner sharpness of this lens is very good. At
the preferred aperture of f/8 it is extremely good
above 0.7:1 magnification and decent at lower
magnifications.
(Testing done at 0.7:1 magnification. Numbers at
each aperture setting will tend to improve as the
magnification is increased and worsen as the
magnification is decreased.)
the corner sharpness of this lens is very good. At
the preferred aperture of f/8 it is extremely good
above 0.7:1 magnification and decent at lower
magnifications.
(Testing done at 0.7:1 magnification. Numbers at
each aperture setting will tend to improve as the
magnification is increased and worsen as the
magnification is decreased.)
Sharpness and Resolution vs Magnification:
This lens shows good sharpness and resolution
across its usable magnification range o f
anything below 1.3:1. Compared to similar 105
mm bellows and enlarging lenses , it has good
resolution and sharpness, outperforming a few
lenses out there. When you compare this lens to
a modern 105mm macro lens, the resolution and
sharpness are not quite up to those standards,
but the difference is fairly small.
The corner performance is comparable to most
bellows lenses in this focal length range although
maybe a little lacking in the lower magnification
ranges (not much though). Compared to a
modern 105mm macro lens, the corner
performance tends to be a little better overall.
This lens shows good sharpness and resolution
across its usable magnification range o f
anything below 1.3:1. Compared to similar 105
mm bellows and enlarging lenses , it has good
resolution and sharpness, outperforming a few
lenses out there. When you compare this lens to
a modern 105mm macro lens, the resolution and
sharpness are not quite up to those standards,
but the difference is fairly small.
The corner performance is comparable to most
bellows lenses in this focal length range although
maybe a little lacking in the lower magnification
ranges (not much though). Compared to a
modern 105mm macro lens, the corner
performance tends to be a little better overall.
Street Price: ~$50 - $100 in good used condition.
Chromatic Aberration: This lens show minimal color fringing in the center
(about 0.0.2 - 0.30 pixel) and minimal on the periphery (0.40 - 0.60 pixels).
Anything below 1.0 pixel is good.
(about 0.0.2 - 0.30 pixel) and minimal on the periphery (0.40 - 0.60 pixels).
Anything below 1.0 pixel is good.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is good across the magnification range.
Flare: No significant flare is evident during lens testing although I'm not sure
that I would want to shoot into the sun with this lens. Lenses from this era tend
to have minimal coatings.
that I would want to shoot into the sun with this lens. Lenses from this era tend
to have minimal coatings.
Conclusion:
This is an easy to find lens that can make a decent macro lens substitute (as long as you have a
bellows). It can be found inexpensively on eBay and from used camera stores.
The resolution and sharpness are good (comparable to other 105 mm bellows lenses) although not
quite up to modern macro lens standards. It has very good corner performance and minimal
chromatic aberration.
It has a built-in reversing adapter and M32 - M39 adapter, so it will be easy to mount reversed or
normally. As I stated earlier, it has slightly better resolution when mounted in reverse and slightly
better corner performance when mounted normally. One could easily make the argument that this
lens should be mounted in reverse above 1:1 and normally below 1:1 as the lens would working
closer to its designed conjugates in those situations.
The biggest drawback that I see with this lens is that it can be a little tough to focus as the maximum
aperture is f/5.6. Modern macro lenses have a large aperture that allow for a bright viewfinder and
easier focusing.
This is an easy to find lens that can make a decent macro lens substitute (as long as you have a
bellows). It can be found inexpensively on eBay and from used camera stores.
The resolution and sharpness are good (comparable to other 105 mm bellows lenses) although not
quite up to modern macro lens standards. It has very good corner performance and minimal
chromatic aberration.
It has a built-in reversing adapter and M32 - M39 adapter, so it will be easy to mount reversed or
normally. As I stated earlier, it has slightly better resolution when mounted in reverse and slightly
better corner performance when mounted normally. One could easily make the argument that this
lens should be mounted in reverse above 1:1 and normally below 1:1 as the lens would working
closer to its designed conjugates in those situations.
The biggest drawback that I see with this lens is that it can be a little tough to focus as the maximum
aperture is f/5.6. Modern macro lenses have a large aperture that allow for a bright viewfinder and
easier focusing.
Basic Function: Requires extension tubes or bellows to focus.
Aperture: 8 blades.
Image Samples:
About 0.3:1 magnification, f/8, resized:
About 0.3:1 magnification, f/8, 1 to 1 crop:
Good pixel level detail.
Good pixel level detail.
About 1:1, f/8, resized:
About 1:1 magnification, f/8, 1 to 1 crop:
Again, good detail, no problems.
Again, good detail, no problems.
Distortion: There is virtually no distortion with this lens. Straight lines on the
edge of the frame are straight on the image.
edge of the frame are straight on the image.
Appearance:
Performance: Sharpness vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon El-Nikkor 105 shows sharpness
performance that varies from very good at low
magnification to fair at its upper end of about
1.3:1.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon El-Nikkor 105 shows sharpness
performance that varies from very good at low
magnification to fair at its upper end of about
1.3:1.
Performance: Resolution vs Magnification:
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon El-Nikkor 105 shows resolution
performance that varies from very good at low
magnification to good at its upper end of about
1.3:1.
This is a new graph that I recently constructed. I
have 4 lines that represent levels of performance
from outstanding (top) to fair (bottom). This
shows where this lens fit into the hierarchy that I
have created.
The Nikon El-Nikkor 105 shows resolution
performance that varies from very good at low
magnification to good at its upper end of about
1.3:1.
