Lens: Nikon MPlan 10x/0.25 microscope objective
Vintage: 1990's?
Lens Mount: RMS (20 mm x 0.8 mm)
Needed Adapters: RMS mount adapters come in various forms. Some can be
found to directly connect to a specific lens mount as this mount is also shared by
many small bellows lenses. I use an RMS to T-mount adapter and then a T-mount
to Nikon f-mount adapter. T-mount adapters are available for virtually all camera
lens mounts.
found to directly connect to a specific lens mount as this mount is also shared by
many small bellows lenses. I use an RMS to T-mount adapter and then a T-mount
to Nikon f-mount adapter. T-mount adapters are available for virtually all camera
lens mounts.
Preferred Mounting: Normal (not reversed)
Filter Thread: None
Controls: There are no controls on this objective.
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Corner Sharpness vs magnification: The
fuzziness on the periphery of the image is mild for
this microscope objective, although as
microscope objectives go, the corner sharpness
is quite good. Looking at typical images, the
peripheral fuzziness is not particularly noticeable.
Microscope objectives tend to concentrate on
sharpness and resolution in the center of the
field. As objectives get more expensive, the
peripheral sharpness will improve.
Testing done on a Nikon D200, a DX format
digital camera (APS-C). On a full-frame camera
the performance would be significantly worse.
Microscope objectives don't tend to produce a
large image circle and don't tend to work all that
well on full-frame digital cameras.
fuzziness on the periphery of the image is mild for
this microscope objective, although as
microscope objectives go, the corner sharpness
is quite good. Looking at typical images, the
peripheral fuzziness is not particularly noticeable.
Microscope objectives tend to concentrate on
sharpness and resolution in the center of the
field. As objectives get more expensive, the
peripheral sharpness will improve.
Testing done on a Nikon D200, a DX format
digital camera (APS-C). On a full-frame camera
the performance would be significantly worse.
Microscope objectives don't tend to produce a
large image circle and don't tend to work all that
well on full-frame digital cameras.
Sharpness and Resolution vs Magnification:
This lens show very high sharpness and
resolution in the center of the field - higher than
any other lens that I have tested in this
magnification range. This lens can resolve details
measuring less than 1um in the center of the field
and will "sharply" resolve details a little less than
2 um in size.
These number only apply to a DX format Nikon
D200. With a higher megapixel camera, the
numbers would be similar because the resolution
supplied to the detector by the lens in this
magnification range tends to be significantly less
than the detector is capable of.
This lens show very high sharpness and
resolution in the center of the field - higher than
any other lens that I have tested in this
magnification range. This lens can resolve details
measuring less than 1um in the center of the field
and will "sharply" resolve details a little less than
2 um in size.
These number only apply to a DX format Nikon
D200. With a higher megapixel camera, the
numbers would be similar because the resolution
supplied to the detector by the lens in this
magnification range tends to be significantly less
than the detector is capable of.
Street Price: $100 - $150 in good condition
Chromatic Aberration: This lens show minimal color fringing in the center
(about 0.20-0.40 pixel, mainly axial) and moderate on the periphery (2.0-3.0
pixels, mainly lateral). Color fringes are another factor that microscope
objectives tend to have depending upon the price of the objective. The most
expensive, apochromatic objectives have the least, while the least expensive
tend to have quite a lot. This objective falls in the mid to high end of the
spectrum.
(about 0.20-0.40 pixel, mainly axial) and moderate on the periphery (2.0-3.0
pixels, mainly lateral). Color fringes are another factor that microscope
objectives tend to have depending upon the price of the objective. The most
expensive, apochromatic objectives have the least, while the least expensive
tend to have quite a lot. This objective falls in the mid to high end of the
spectrum.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is very good for this magnification range.
This is another area that microscope objectives tend to excel.
This is another area that microscope objectives tend to excel.
Flare: No significant flare is evident during lens testing
Conclusion: This is an objective that works very well as a bellows lens. The center field sharpness and
resolution is higher than any other lens that I have tested across its usable magnification range. The corner
sharpness is good but not as good as most bellows lenses have. The working distance is limited, but
adequate. Limited working distance is the price you pay for high-resolution. These are generally plentiful on
eBay and can be purchased for a reasonable price.
Not all microscope objectives are suitable for this application. The Nikon CF finite tube length objectives are
the best that I have come across (includes MPlan and CFN objectives).
The only lens that I know that may outperform it in this magnification range is Nikon CFN Plan 10x/0.30 160/0.
I would like to get one of these to test it out, but have yet to find one at a reasonable price. The currently
available Nikon CF Plan 10x/0.30 infinity-corrected objective is also promising but will require a tube lens to
work properly (Can just be a telephoto lens in the 200 mm range).
resolution is higher than any other lens that I have tested across its usable magnification range. The corner
sharpness is good but not as good as most bellows lenses have. The working distance is limited, but
adequate. Limited working distance is the price you pay for high-resolution. These are generally plentiful on
eBay and can be purchased for a reasonable price.
Not all microscope objectives are suitable for this application. The Nikon CF finite tube length objectives are
the best that I have come across (includes MPlan and CFN objectives).
The only lens that I know that may outperform it in this magnification range is Nikon CFN Plan 10x/0.30 160/0.
I would like to get one of these to test it out, but have yet to find one at a reasonable price. The currently
available Nikon CF Plan 10x/0.30 infinity-corrected objective is also promising but will require a tube lens to
work properly (Can just be a telephoto lens in the 200 mm range).
Basic Function: Requires a bellows for setting focus and magnification.
Appearance:
Aperture: The aperture is fixed at a numerical aperture of 0.25 - corresponds to about f/2.
Image Samples:
About 8:1 magnification, focus stack of 32 images, resized:
About 8:1 magnification, 1 to 1 crop of a single
source image from above:
This is about as good as you are going to see at 8:1.
source image from above:
This is about as good as you are going to see at 8:1.
About 11:1 magnification, focus stack of 34 images, resized:
About 11:1 magnification, 1 to 1 crop of a single
source image from above:
Again, about as good as you will see at this
magnification.
source image from above:
Again, about as good as you will see at this
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 Nikon 10x MPlan shows outstanding
sharpness across its magnification range of 8:1
to almost 14:1.
.
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 10x MPlan shows outstanding
sharpness across its magnification range of 8:1
to almost 14:1.
.
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 10x MPlan shows outstanding
resolution across its magnification range of 8:1 to
almost 14:1
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 10x MPlan shows outstanding
resolution across its magnification range of 8:1 to
almost 14:1
