The versatile 28mm f/3.5 Nikkor

A forum to ask questions, post setups, and generally discuss anything having to do with photomacrography and photomicroscopy.

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NikonUser
Posts: 2693
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:03 am
Location: southern New Brunswick, Canada

The versatile 28mm f/3.5 Nikkor

Post by NikonUser »

This is an old manual focus model, listed on ebay for <$50.00.
In my work on imaging bits of moths I have a need for magnification in the range of 5-10x on a FF Nikon DSLR

4x and 10x Nikon CFN objectives vignette badly on my setup but the image quality is so good that I can use just the center part of the sensor.
A simple procedure, which I have just started to use, gives adequate results for my purpose - posting 700px images on BugGuide.

Setup:
1] D810 Nikon, 1.4x teleconverter (this used to prevent dust entering the camera, it's been a permanent fixture on the camera body for 3 years and the sensor is still completely dust free!). I have no idea if this TC enhances or degrades the image, either way a permanent fixture.
2] Nikon bellows
3] reversed 28mm f/3.5 Nikkor.
4] vertical setup; flash.

At minimum bellows extension (=none) FOV is 6.8mm wide = 5.3x mag on sensor
At maximum bellows FOV = 2.8mm = 12.9x.

Some test images of a Cerambycid beetle eye
Top: min bellows, 5.3x; 50 frames
Bottom about 2/3rd bellows extension = 9.5x; 76 frames
Stacked with Zerene
Not as crisp compared to Mittys but good enough and simple to use.
Image
Image
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives

Tarloth
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2018 10:18 pm
Location: Patagonia, Argentina

Post by Tarloth »

Fantastic! Which bellows you use? Nikon original?

ChrisR
Site Admin
Posts: 8662
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:58 am
Location: Near London, UK

Post by ChrisR »

That looks like a very satisfactory combination of
  • a simple setup,
    resolution matching the application to give good DOF,
    more working distance than a non-retrofocus lens would give you, and
    the lens has an iris you can play with.
    All without breaking the bank :).
"Other camera bodies are available"!
Chris R

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