Use EL Nikkor 75/4 on Nikon-F body - how?

[lukaszgryglicki]

Hi, I want to use enlarger lens EL Nikkor 75/4 on a Nikon body. I was searching for a list of stuff needed I I've came with:

- Nikon-F body (like D600) - already have it

- Ninon-F mount -> M42 adapter - already have it

- Focusing helicoid M42-M42 ?mm - ?mm (*)

- Conversion ring M42 -> M39 - already bought

- EL Nikkor 75/4 lens (M39 mount) - already have it

- Conversion ring 40.5mm -> 52mm - already bought

- Conversion ring 52mm -> 58 mm

- UV-pass filter (Kolari UV or Hoya U-340, but S8816 & Hoya U-360 are on the way).

 

(*) the question is: what should be the length of the focusing helicoid - I see 12mm-17mm or 22mm-50mm for instance. I want to have infinity focus and possibly use it with other EL Nikkors...

 

My calculations were (after those pages: https://galerie-photo.com/manuels/el-nikkor-enlarging-lenses.pdf, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikon_F-mount)

- El Nikkor 75/4N - flange focal distance (drawing): 64.9mm

- Nikon-F body (DSLR) flange distance:  46.5mm

So 64.9-46.5 = 18.4mm

Now two adapters Nikon-F-M42 and M42-M39 - say 2mm?

16.4 mm left.

Helicoid is 12mm-17mm, so it looks like it will include infinity focus, but for closer focus we ned to move lens away from the sensor, right? So adapter should actually be something like from 15 to 50 - Am I right?

BTW: which EL Nikkor is the best at UV performance? I would like to go this way instead of UV-Nikkor (at leats for now).

 

[ulf]

I have not gotten or tested the 75mm El-Nikkor as tests made elsewhere suggests that it ha a not so good UV-transmission.

It will work in a limited way, but it is not optimal.

 

The two best  El-Nikkor lenses are the old metal versions of 80mm and 105mm. Avoid the plastic barreld modern versions. 

 

You can find technical evaluations of several enlarger lenses here, including the two 80mm and the 105mm El-Nikkor I have:

https://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php?/forum/639-uv-lenses-non-helicoidal/

[lukaszgryglicki]

OK looks like I need to do trial & error. No info about 70/4. I just got it cheap so decided to give it a try. I've alo read elsewhere that it is quite good (actually they say that almost all EL Nikkors are good in UV). Will see with that 12-17mm helicoid, or I will eventually also buy "next bigger". 50/4 has too short flange distance to reach infinity at Nikon-F DSLR, right?

 

Are any of those "old metal version" of 80/5.6?:

- https://www.ebay.pl/itm/373740306658?hash=item5704a880e2:g:QSYAAOSwRq1hVcOd

- https://www.ebay.pl/itm/363532585097?hash=item54a43b0889:g:RnoAAOSwDFRgmfI~

 

I guess the 1st one is the way to go... is this the best EL nikkor for UV? I guess somewhere around 20-55mm helicoid will be better for 80/5.6 - 12-17mm will be too short for 80/5.6 right?

[ulf]

23 minutes ago, lukaszgryglicki said:

I've also read elsewhere that it is quite good (actually they say that almost all EL Nikkors are good in UV).

That is completely incorrect!

All of them pass some UV, but many of them do not have a good UV-performance with low focus shift and good UV-transmission.

[ulf]

42 minutes ago, lukaszgryglicki said:

 

Are any of those "old metal version" of 80/5.6?:

- https://www.ebay.pl/itm/373740306658?hash=item5704a880e2:g:QSYAAOSwRq1hVcOd

- https://www.ebay.pl/itm/363532585097?hash=item54a43b0889:g:RnoAAOSwDFRgmfI~

 

Both are of the good old metal version and the first one looks to be in good condition.

The second one migt have fungus.

[lukaszgryglicki]

OK, anyway, focus shift is not important - I can focus*in* UV with the filter attached, but but goodtransmission is important...

can you tell me if https://www.ebay.pl/itm/373740306658?hash=item5704a880e2:g:QSYAAOSwRq1hVcOd is the actual "old metal one"?

According to http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#EL and https://www.destoutz.ch/lens_80mm_f5.6_806462.html it looks like this is one of "- 934936 - 993130 - labelled Nikon instead of NIPPON KOGAKU JAPAN - but still the "old" one.

 

EDIT: no more revenant - we were writing post at the same time...

[ulf]

Focus shift is important if it happens within the spectra transmitted by the UV-pass filter you are using.

Then you get blurring and axial chromatic aberration.

27 minutes ago, lukaszgryglicki said:

if https://www.ebay.pl/itm/373740306658?hash=item5704a880e2:g:QSYAAOSwRq1hVcOd is the actual "old metal one"?

Yes it is.

 

The Nippon Kogaku lens is is the oldest variant of the two old 80mm versions, but both with metal barrel are OK.

The modern plastic one looks a bit like a car wheel

 

Thanks for the photosynthesis link.

[ulf]

This might be of interest for helicoids with El-Nikkor 80mm:

 

[lukaszgryglicki]

I saw that thanks, will see what I can do with stuff that will arrive.

Will have 2 helicoids: M42-M42: 12-17 & 17-31, also ordered this EL Nikkor 80/5.6, already have M42-Nikon-F and M42-M39, also bought step up ring 34.5x0.5mm->52x0.75mm.