Lens: Printing-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8
Vintage: late 1960's
Lens Mount: M45 x 0.75mm
Needed Adapters: This lens has an unusual mount, kinda a 45mm T2 mount. A Rodenstock
modular focus unit apparently works OK for it. The owner of this lens had a mounting adapter made
for it that has a female 52mm thread on the back side. this will allow it to be mounted onto a
standard reversing ring. The lens does have a built-in reversing adapter (M45 also)
modular focus unit apparently works OK for it. The owner of this lens had a mounting adapter made
for it that has a female 52mm thread on the back side. this will allow it to be mounted onto a
standard reversing ring. The lens does have a built-in reversing adapter (M45 also)
Preferred Mounting: Normal.
Filter Thread: 43 mm.
Controls: This lens only has an aperture control.
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Resolution vs Aperture:
I initially tested this lens at m=0.6 (no extra
extension on the bellows). I found that this lens
has its sharpest aperture at f/3.3 and the most
resolution at f/3.3 to f/4.7. That is pretty
remarkable for any lens, more so for a 105mm
lens.
Since the lens is optimized for m=1, I also
decided to do measurements at 1:1. At this
magnification it was sharpest at f/2.8 (wide open),
even more impressive. It resolves the most from
about f/2.8 to about f/4.7.
If you don't mind having little depth of field, go
ahead and shoot at f/2.8 at 1:1, and a notch or
two higher for other magnifications. Performance
doesn't start to significantly degrade until you go
past f/5.6.
I initially tested this lens at m=0.6 (no extra
extension on the bellows). I found that this lens
has its sharpest aperture at f/3.3 and the most
resolution at f/3.3 to f/4.7. That is pretty
remarkable for any lens, more so for a 105mm
lens.
Since the lens is optimized for m=1, I also
decided to do measurements at 1:1. At this
magnification it was sharpest at f/2.8 (wide open),
even more impressive. It resolves the most from
about f/2.8 to about f/4.7.
If you don't mind having little depth of field, go
ahead and shoot at f/2.8 at 1:1, and a notch or
two higher for other magnifications. Performance
doesn't start to significantly degrade until you go
past f/5.6.
Corner Sharpness vs Aperture:
The corner performance of this lens is
interesting. You can really tell that the lens is
optimized for 1:1. The field is flat as a board at
1:1 regardless of aperture. Once you stray away
from 1:1, the field flatness starts to lessen (see
the next graph).
I would suggest that if you want reasonably flat
field at any mag above or below 1:1, stop the
lens down a notch or two.
The corner performance of this lens is
interesting. You can really tell that the lens is
optimized for 1:1. The field is flat as a board at
1:1 regardless of aperture. Once you stray away
from 1:1, the field flatness starts to lessen (see
the next graph).
I would suggest that if you want reasonably flat
field at any mag above or below 1:1, stop the
lens down a notch or two.
Sharpness and Resolution vs Magnification:
This lens shows the highest center of the field
sharpness and resolution that I have measured
across this magnification range (except maybe at
the highest mag (m=1.95). The only lenses that
come close in terms of sharpness are in the 50
mm focal length range (55 micro AIS, 50mm
sigma, Schneider 50/2.8 Componon), and they
don't have nearly as long of a working distance.
The interesting part for me is that the numbers
dip slightly at 1:1 (I checked the numbers several
times). Is the dip a slight concession on the part
of the designers to get a flat field at 1:1?
As referred in the last section, the field flatness is
exceptional at 1:1 and not a great as you go
above and below that magnification.
This lens shows the highest center of the field
sharpness and resolution that I have measured
across this magnification range (except maybe at
the highest mag (m=1.95). The only lenses that
come close in terms of sharpness are in the 50
mm focal length range (55 micro AIS, 50mm
sigma, Schneider 50/2.8 Componon), and they
don't have nearly as long of a working distance.
The interesting part for me is that the numbers
dip slightly at 1:1 (I checked the numbers several
times). Is the dip a slight concession on the part
of the designers to get a flat field at 1:1?
As referred in the last section, the field flatness is
exceptional at 1:1 and not a great as you go
above and below that magnification.
Street Price: ~$1000 - $3000 in good used condition, hard to find.
Chromatic Aberration: This lens is a true apochromatic lens (very few are) and shows almost no fringing.
The most unusual part for me is that there is virtually no longitudinal CA present (commonly seen as a red or
cyan fringe of out of focus details, worst at large apertures). Longitudinal CA is difficult to measure, so I
added an image done f/2.8 showing no visible fringing on out-of-focus portions of the image.
There is also very little lateral CA present. At 1:1 the CA measures less than 0.017% across all apertures
(less than 0.04% is considered insgnificant, see Glossary for further explanation). That lateral CA is slightly
worse at other magnifications although it remains below 0.03%.
The most unusual part for me is that there is virtually no longitudinal CA present (commonly seen as a red or
cyan fringe of out of focus details, worst at large apertures). Longitudinal CA is difficult to measure, so I
added an image done f/2.8 showing no visible fringing on out-of-focus portions of the image.
There is also very little lateral CA present. At 1:1 the CA measures less than 0.017% across all apertures
(less than 0.04% is considered insgnificant, see Glossary for further explanation). That lateral CA is slightly
worse at other magnifications although it remains below 0.03%.
Image Contrast: Image contrast is very across the magnification range,
similar to a modern macro lens.
similar to a modern macro lens.
Flare: No significant flare is evident during lens testing
Conclusion:
This is an unusual and hard to find lens that is expensive and optimized for a narrow magnification
range (optimized for 1:1) It is difficult to adapt to a camera, but it can be done either through a
Rodenstock or through a custom adapter. The results are worth it, given a few caveats.
This lens has exceptional resolution and sharpness, outperforming every other lens that I have
tried from about 0.60:1 to 1.5:1. There is a slight dip in the sharpness and resolution at 1:1. The
field is dead flat at 1:1, but the corner sharpness suffers a bit above and below this magnification.
There is almost a total lack of distortion and virtually no chromatic aberration. Since it has a focal
length of 105mm, the working distance is very good across the magnification. It has very good
contrast, similar to a modern macro lens.
This lens it at its best at large apertures and this is what separates it from all the other lenses out
there. If you are willing to forego significant depth of field and you like imaging at 1:1, this lens can't
be beat. You can use this lens at smaller apertures and it still outperforms most macro lenses up to
about f/5.6. But most of the big advantages of this lens go away once it is stopped down (except
low CA).
This is an unusual and hard to find lens that is expensive and optimized for a narrow magnification
range (optimized for 1:1) It is difficult to adapt to a camera, but it can be done either through a
Rodenstock or through a custom adapter. The results are worth it, given a few caveats.
This lens has exceptional resolution and sharpness, outperforming every other lens that I have
tried from about 0.60:1 to 1.5:1. There is a slight dip in the sharpness and resolution at 1:1. The
field is dead flat at 1:1, but the corner sharpness suffers a bit above and below this magnification.
There is almost a total lack of distortion and virtually no chromatic aberration. Since it has a focal
length of 105mm, the working distance is very good across the magnification. It has very good
contrast, similar to a modern macro lens.
This lens it at its best at large apertures and this is what separates it from all the other lenses out
there. If you are willing to forego significant depth of field and you like imaging at 1:1, this lens can't
be beat. You can use this lens at smaller apertures and it still outperforms most macro lenses up to
about f/5.6. But most of the big advantages of this lens go away once it is stopped down (except
low CA).
Basic Function: Requires extension tubes or bellows to focus.
Appearance:
Aperture: 12 blades.
Image Sample:
About 1:1 magnification, f/2.8, stack of 12 images, resized: At f/2.8 you have to image stack with a coin, even at 1:1, but how many lens
take this good of a picture at f/2.8 at 1:1?
take this good of a picture at f/2.8 at 1:1?
About 1:1 magnification, f/2.8, 1 to 1 crop of a
source image from above:
Very good pixel level detail.
source image from above:
Very good pixel level detail.
Distortion: The 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.
With adapter:
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 Printing-Nikkor 105mm shows outstanding
sharpness performance across its magnification
range About as high as I have seen over most of
the 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 Printing-Nikkor 105mm shows outstanding
sharpness performance across its magnification
range About as high as I have seen over most of
the 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 Printing-Nikkor 105mm shows very good to
outstanding resolution performance across its
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 Printing-Nikkor 105mm shows very good to
outstanding resolution performance across its
magnification range.
