Lens: Nikon El-Nikkor 50mm f/2.8N
Vintage: current
Lens Mount: M39 x 1
Needed Adapters: reversing ring (for your camera), 40.5 to 52 step up ring. The size of the step up
ring depends upon the size of the threads on the reversing ring.
ring depends upon the size of the threads on the reversing ring.
Preferred Mounting: Reversed.
Filter Thread: 40.5 mm
Controls: This lens only has one control - the aperture setting. It can be opened for focusing and
closed the desired setting for taking the image.
closed the desired setting for taking the image.
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Resolution vs Aperture:
This lens shows it's sharpest aperture at about
f/5.6, about typical for a lens of this focal length.
It's highest resolving aperture is between f/4 and
f/5.6, also typical for a 50 mm enlarging lens.
I use this lens at an aperture of f/5.6.
This lens shows it's sharpest aperture at about
f/5.6, about typical for a lens of this focal length.
It's highest resolving aperture is between f/4 and
f/5.6, also typical for a 50 mm enlarging lens.
I use this lens at an aperture of f/5.6.
Corner Sharpness vs Aperture:
There is quite a lot of peripheral fuzziness at
lower aperture settings, being quite visible from
about f/2.8 through f/5.6. This graph was
obtained at a magnification of 1.5:1, so these
number will worsen at lower magnification and
improve as the magnification increases.
If you want the sharpest image you will want to
use f/5.6 - but that only applies to the center of
the image. Because of the moderate peripheral
fuzziness at f/5.6, you may want to use f/6.7 or f/8
at lower magnifications and then switch to f/5.6 at
higher magnification. You will lose a little
sharpness and resolution with the smaller
apertures, but will gain significant sharpness in
the corners.
In comparison with other enlarging lenses that I
own and have tested, the corner sharpness
seems to be a little below average. This was a
little disappointing for me as I normally expect
enlarging lenses to have relatively sharp corners.
There is quite a lot of peripheral fuzziness at
lower aperture settings, being quite visible from
about f/2.8 through f/5.6. This graph was
obtained at a magnification of 1.5:1, so these
number will worsen at lower magnification and
improve as the magnification increases.
If you want the sharpest image you will want to
use f/5.6 - but that only applies to the center of
the image. Because of the moderate peripheral
fuzziness at f/5.6, you may want to use f/6.7 or f/8
at lower magnifications and then switch to f/5.6 at
higher magnification. You will lose a little
sharpness and resolution with the smaller
apertures, but will gain significant sharpness in
the corners.
In comparison with other enlarging lenses that I
own and have tested, the corner sharpness
seems to be a little below average. This was a
little disappointing for me as I normally expect
enlarging lenses to have relatively sharp corners.
Sharpness and Resolution vs Magnification:
This lens shows slightly above average
resolution and sharpness in the center of the
field compared to other 50 mm enlarging lenses -
I own 6 at present.
The corner sharpness is the one limitation of this
lens. As the green line on the graph shows, the
corner sharpness is relatively good from 2:1 and
higher (at f/5.6). Below 2:1 magnification, the
corner sharpness at f/5.6 become a bit of a
mess. That is why I suggested using f/6.7 or f/8
at lower magnifications in the previous section.
This lens shows slightly above average
resolution and sharpness in the center of the
field compared to other 50 mm enlarging lenses -
I own 6 at present.
The corner sharpness is the one limitation of this
lens. As the green line on the graph shows, the
corner sharpness is relatively good from 2:1 and
higher (at f/5.6). Below 2:1 magnification, the
corner sharpness at f/5.6 become a bit of a
mess. That is why I suggested using f/6.7 or f/8
at lower magnifications in the previous section.
Street Price: ~$50-$100 in good used or new condition.
Chromatic Aberration: This lens show minimal color fringing in the center
(about 0.10 - 0.30 pixels) and fairly severe on the periphery (1.0 - 5.0 pixels),
worst at lower magnification.
(about 0.10 - 0.30 pixels) and fairly severe on the periphery (1.0 - 5.0 pixels),
worst at lower magnification.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is good, typical for an enlarging lens.
Flare: No significant flare is evident during lens testing.
Conclusion: This enlarging lens works very well as a bellows lens although the corner
sharpness isn't its strong suit. That is a problem that can be fixed by proper choice of
aperture, so it isn't a deal-breaker, but it is a disappointment for me. That being said, this
decrease in corner sharpness is not particularly obvious with typical images. If corner
sharpness is important for you, other 50mm enlarging lenses may be a better fit. I will need
to do more corner testing on my other 50 mm lenses to find out they compare. My gut
feeling is that they will do a little better.
This lens is best used in a reversed configuration when used above 1:1 as reversed most
closely approximates the image and object distances that it is designed for.
These lenses are relatively cheap and plentiful in new or used condition. There are always
several available on eBay, and they are commonly seen at used camera stores. All-in-all it is
a good lens for imaging in the range from 1:1 to 4:1.
sharpness isn't its strong suit. That is a problem that can be fixed by proper choice of
aperture, so it isn't a deal-breaker, but it is a disappointment for me. That being said, this
decrease in corner sharpness is not particularly obvious with typical images. If corner
sharpness is important for you, other 50mm enlarging lenses may be a better fit. I will need
to do more corner testing on my other 50 mm lenses to find out they compare. My gut
feeling is that they will do a little better.
This lens is best used in a reversed configuration when used above 1:1 as reversed most
closely approximates the image and object distances that it is designed for.
These lenses are relatively cheap and plentiful in new or used condition. There are always
several available on eBay, and they are commonly seen at used camera stores. All-in-all it is
a good lens for imaging in the range from 1:1 to 4:1.
Basic Function: Requires a bellows for setting focus and magnification.
Appearance:
Aperture: 8 blades,
Image Samples:
About 1.5:1 magnification, f/5.6, cropped vertically and resized
About 1.5:1 magnification, f/5.6, 1 to 1 crop:
The pixel level detail is really quite good, although
slightly fuzzy. With appropriate sharpening, this lens'
resolution capabilities at this magnification are close
to that of the detector.
The pixel level detail is really quite good, although
slightly fuzzy. With appropriate sharpening, this lens'
resolution capabilities at this magnification are close
to that of the detector.
About 3:1 magnification, f/5.6, stack of 22 images:
IWith the severe lack of depth of field at high magnification it is necessary to resort to software trickery to get
everything in focus on an image that has any kind of relief. This image is a composite image of 22 separate images
shot at different focus levels. The software magically combines the images into a single sharp image. The software
that I use is called Helicon Focus. There is a freeware program out there called CombineZP that does that same
thing. These programs are invaluable when working at high magnification.
IWith the severe lack of depth of field at high magnification it is necessary to resort to software trickery to get
everything in focus on an image that has any kind of relief. This image is a composite image of 22 separate images
shot at different focus levels. The software magically combines the images into a single sharp image. The software
that I use is called Helicon Focus. There is a freeware program out there called CombineZP that does that same
thing. These programs are invaluable when working at high magnification.
About 3:1 magnification, f/5.6, 1 to 1 crop:
This is from a single source image from the above
composite. Good detail at the pixel level, but starting
to get a little fuzzier as you would expect at high
magnification.
This is from a single source image from the above
composite. Good detail at the pixel level, but starting
to get a little fuzzier as you would expect at high
magnification.
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 El-Nikkor 50/2.8N shows sharpness
performance varying from very good to fair
across it magnification range.
.
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 El-Nikkor 50/2.8N shows sharpness
performance varying from very good to fair
across it magnification range.
.
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 El-Nikkor 50/2.8N shows resolution
performance varying from very good to fair
across it magnification range
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 El-Nikkor 50/2.8N shows resolution
performance varying from very good to fair
across it magnification range
