White Lilly - a surprising lens find for UV and VIS w/o focus shift II

Well, a while ago I was doing these "Psychedelic Lilly" test shots here . Prior to that I had taken UV transmission tests of that very interesting lens family, which turned out to be very promising, reaching down to about 320nm (-3EV). Here now more about that.

These macro shots were done at f8, ISO400, 1/160s using Xenon flash, exposure adjusted using flash power control and ND filters. UV shots were done using the Baader-U filter.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Here now a VIS-UV differential:


Quite a sharp lens with quite good UV transmission and hardly any focus shift, as the two overlaid images nearly perfectly match!

Here the VIS shot:


and the UV shot:


Finally now the VIS-IR differential:


Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Psychedelic Lilly - a surprising lens find for UV and VIS w/o focus shift

Well, while I was doing these "Psychedelic Lilly" test shots here and here with quite a few lenses (the winners being the Noflexar 3.5/35mm and the EL-Nikkor 5.6/80mm), I remembered having sitting around a box with some lenses made by a famous, but overlooked lens maker, I got a few years ago from a friend whom I used to do lens testing with. So I took the same setup I had in place with that nice "Stargazer Lilly" and also tested these lenses in visible light, but also in invisible UV. Prior to that I has already taken UV transmission tests, which turned out to be very promising, reaching down to about 320nm (-3EV) - see the following results.

[click on image to see a larger one]

These macro shots were done at f8, ISO400, 1/160s using Xenon flash, exposure adjusted using flash power control and ND filters. UV shots were done using the Baader-U filter. The shots further away were done at sunny winter daylight.
Here now a VIS-UV differential using the best of these lenses:


and yes, quite a nice sharp lens with quite good UV transmission and hardly any focus shift as the two overlaid images nearly perfectly match!

Additionally here the VIS shot:


Now the UV shot:


And finally the IR shot:


Now let's see how that very same lens performs for targets further away. Shots of the roof about 15 meters away on a sunny but cold winter day (ice reflects UV very well).

VIS-UV differential (UV is blue):


Which clearly shows, that also at that distance this lens has hardly any focus shift!
VIS shot:


UV shot:


And here now some quasi infinity shots. Target was that golden globe in the center of the image.

VIS left, right VIS-UV differential (UV is blue):


Here a comparison of VIS (left) and UV (right) in black/white:


Hardly any noticeable focus shift also at that distance! I had feared about a hotspot, but none was visible in my tests so far.
CONCLUSION:
• hardly any UV - VIS focus shift in close up (macro), mid and far distance
• very sharp and contrasty in all tested ranges in UV and VIS
• no hotspot in any ranges in UV and VIS
• [also tested good for IR in close up (macro), but that was no prime interest]
Well, the surprise was a big one, as I also shot comparison shots using my UV-Nikkor and the difference was of course there, but that sharpness, contrast and nearly total lack of focus shift still amazes me, as this lens under test did beat both the Noflexar 3.5/35mm and the 5.6/80mm EL-Nikkor!
I have to research more on that lens, so more will follow on that one here...

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Psychedelic Lilly - a UV and VIS comparison Noflexar 35mm vs EL-Nikkor 80mm

A really nice flower, a "Stargazer Lilly", so let's see how the beauty of that flower will look like through the well known Novoflex Noflexar 3.5/35mm versus the newly rediscovered older (chrome/black) 5.6/80mm EL-Nikkor enlarger lens in visible light, but also in invisible UV.

All shots were done at f8, ISO400, 1/160s using Xenon flash, exposure adjusted using flash power control and ND filters. UV shots were done using the Baader-U filter.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Here now a VIS-UV differential using the Noflexar 3.5/35mm:


and yes, quite a nice sharp lens with quite good UV transmission and some little focus shift.

and here using the 5.6/80mm EL-Nikkor:


Quite a sharp lens, even less focus shift and also quite good UV transmission.

For comparison here the VIS shot using the Noflexar 3.5/35mm:


and using the 5.6/80mm EL-Nikkor:


Finally now the UV shot using the Noflexar 3.5/35mm:


and using the 5.6/80mm EL-Nikkor:


Well, I am surprised to see, that the Noflexar gets slightly outperformed by the EL-Nikkor 80mm!
BUT: I tried the 5.6/80mm EL-Nikkor outside for infinity tests and unfortunately it seems to have a very prominent large UV hotspot which renders it unuseable for that...

P.S.: the 80mm EL-Nikkor (the older, chrome black full metal type) has an adapter ring on its base with outer M39x26tpi screw mount (Leica enlarger mount). Beneath it is a M25 thread for older #00 shutters. Company Schneider Optics offers adapter rings, if that one should be missing (oder code 92-013251).

P.P.S.: the filter thread of that older EL-Nikkor 80mm is 34.5mm, which is pretty uncommon, as me if you need an adapter ring.

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos

Psychedelic Lilly - a UV and VIS comparison EL-Nikkor 80mm vs 105mm

Today I found a nice flower, a "Stargazer Lilly", so I thought that would be wonderful to show the beauty of that flower using the newly rediscovered use of older (chrome/black) EL-Nikkor enlarger lenses in visible light, but also in invisible UV.

All shots were done at f8, ISO400, 1/160s using Xenon flash, exposure adjusted using flash power control and ND filters. UV shots were done using the Baader-U filter.

[click on image to see a larger one]

Here now a VIS-UV differential using the EL-Nikkor 5.6/80mm:


and yes, quite a nice lens with quite good UV transmission and very little focus shift.

and here using the 5.6/105mm EL-Nikkor:


Quite more focus shift, but also quite good UV transmission.

For comparison here the VIS shot using the EL-Nikkor 5.6/80mm:


and using the 5.6/105mm EL-Nikkor:


Finally now the UV shot using the EL-Nikkor 5.6/80mm:


and using the 5.6/105mm EL-Nikkor:


So, if you look for a cheap lens, have an eye on these pretty good enlarger lenses!

P.S.: the 80mm EL-Nikkor (the older, chrome black full metal type) has an adapter ring on its base with outer M39x26tpi screw mount (Leica enlarger mount). Beneath it is a M25 thread for older #00 shutters. Company Schneider Optics offers adapter rings, if that one should be missing (oder code 92-013251).

P.P.S.: the filter thread of that older EL-Nikkor 80mm is 34.5mm, which is pretty uncommon, ask me if you need an adapter ring.

[A remark on the 80mm EL-Nikkor, I tried outside and infinity tests with it and unfortunately it seems to have a prominent large UV hotspot which renders it unuseable for that...]

Stay tuned, more will follow on that fascinating subject...

More info on this very interesting field may be found on my site http://www.pbase.com/kds315/uv_photos