Hello! I was just wondering if there was a thread for the average cost/cost range of some of the recommended objectives we see on the forums?
I am a newbie to micro, and have read most of the FAQs on this site, but I still haven't been able to find a good pricing thread. I've managed to piece together some from various threads, but nothing definite. I just bought some bellows on ebay, and I plan on exploring the wondrous world of 5x or more magnification this summer. I feel like a pricing thread would be pretty helpful to newbies like me, especially students with a budget. I know sometimes it is just luck of the draw on ebay, and the prices vary a lot, but even ranges like <$200, $200-500, or something would be useful.
Any help is appreciated.
Average cost of some common objectives?
Moderators: Chris S., Pau, Beatsy, rjlittlefield, ChrisR
It is hard to predict prices in a small specialised 2nd hand market but from my searches and purchases you would expect to pay between $50 to $150 for good quality glass.
Your best bet is always to hope someone doesn't recommend what you are looking for, or worse still post a helpful link to the auction you are following - I'm pretty sure that there are some who look here and buy up stuff just to resell
Your best bet is always to hope someone doesn't recommend what you are looking for, or worse still post a helpful link to the auction you are following - I'm pretty sure that there are some who look here and buy up stuff just to resell
rgds, Andrew
"Is that an accurate dictionary ? Charlie Eppes
"Is that an accurate dictionary ? Charlie Eppes
-
rjlittlefield
- Site Admin
- Posts: 24427
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
- Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
- Contact:
Hello, and welcome aboard!
The thread you're asking about does not exist. Most threads that recommend an objective do also talk about its pricing. Unfortunately prices change quickly, usually becoming higher shortly after a lens gets recommended here. As example, less than 2 years ago I paid $30 for a very nice Nikon CFI 10X that now sells for $130 and up, used, if you can find them at all.
For a recent study of objectives at 4-5X, see HERE. At 10X, the Nikon CFI mentioned above and Edmund's Nikon Finite Conjugate described HERE are reliable good performers. There are other good 10X objectives also, sometimes inexpensive, but I'm not aware of any review of commonly available models except for the one mentioned above.
--Rik
The thread you're asking about does not exist. Most threads that recommend an objective do also talk about its pricing. Unfortunately prices change quickly, usually becoming higher shortly after a lens gets recommended here. As example, less than 2 years ago I paid $30 for a very nice Nikon CFI 10X that now sells for $130 and up, used, if you can find them at all.
For a recent study of objectives at 4-5X, see HERE. At 10X, the Nikon CFI mentioned above and Edmund's Nikon Finite Conjugate described HERE are reliable good performers. There are other good 10X objectives also, sometimes inexpensive, but I'm not aware of any review of commonly available models except for the one mentioned above.
--Rik
I've not sold anything, but when I've just paid 100 and another is hovering at 25 it's hard not to click. 
Two particular lenses are worth mentioning I think.
The Nikon EL Nikkor 50mm f/2.8 is so common, you should be able to get one with a little patience, at/below about US$50.
The next is a relative newcomer and fine if you have a good lens like a modern kit zoom lens which goes to 200mm.
That's the Nikon CFI 10x NA 0.25 objective highlighted in several threads - I expect someone will post a link while I'm writing this...(EDIT: and so it was...)
It's useful from around 5x to (a little more than) 10x (depending what lens you put it on the front of, and your sensor size.)
They used to be about $50 used, on ebay, (mine had a scratched barrel so was $26) then you had to pay $100 when "we" reported how handy they are, then they just about vanished. I believe the NEW price is $169, though I saw one recently on sale in Poland at much more
If you want one, buy one new, though I don't know where you'd do that as it would depend where you are.
A word of warning about old, used lenses - I have more than one eg of El Nik 50, and they do vary, quite a lot.
Two particular lenses are worth mentioning I think.
The Nikon EL Nikkor 50mm f/2.8 is so common, you should be able to get one with a little patience, at/below about US$50.
The next is a relative newcomer and fine if you have a good lens like a modern kit zoom lens which goes to 200mm.
That's the Nikon CFI 10x NA 0.25 objective highlighted in several threads - I expect someone will post a link while I'm writing this...(EDIT: and so it was...)
It's useful from around 5x to (a little more than) 10x (depending what lens you put it on the front of, and your sensor size.)
They used to be about $50 used, on ebay, (mine had a scratched barrel so was $26) then you had to pay $100 when "we" reported how handy they are, then they just about vanished. I believe the NEW price is $169, though I saw one recently on sale in Poland at much more
If you want one, buy one new, though I don't know where you'd do that as it would depend where you are.
A word of warning about old, used lenses - I have more than one eg of El Nik 50, and they do vary, quite a lot.
Wow guys, thanks for such fast detailed responses!
I do have some el-nikkors on my ebay watchlist, shipping to Canada kind of kills the deal though.
And thanks Rik, I've actually been following those threads you've mentioned. I've been scouring ebay the last few weeks. I was just hoping someone could give me advice on the best value for sub $200, possibly ~$100. Is the Edmunds objective still in stock? It says to email them.
On a side note, does anyone know if there is a guide to nikon serial numbers? It would be handy to be able to find the model using serial numbers.
I do have some el-nikkors on my ebay watchlist, shipping to Canada kind of kills the deal though.
And thanks Rik, I've actually been following those threads you've mentioned. I've been scouring ebay the last few weeks. I was just hoping someone could give me advice on the best value for sub $200, possibly ~$100. Is the Edmunds objective still in stock? It says to email them.
On a side note, does anyone know if there is a guide to nikon serial numbers? It would be handy to be able to find the model using serial numbers.
-
rjlittlefield
- Site Admin
- Posts: 24427
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
- Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
- Contact:
An objective, mainly. However, if a lens is considerably cheaper, I may consider getting that first.AndrewC wrote:So are you looking for objectives or lenses ? Makes quite a bit of difference
Thanks! I'll do that.rjlittlefield wrote:Apparently they're out of stock at the moment. This happens periodically. If you want to buy, just drop them a note and ask about availability.ebert wrote:Is the Edmunds objective still in stock? It says to email them.
--Rik
I am sure the new Nikon CFI objectives (that is, infinity style) are excellent but don't rule out the old-fashioned (finite objectives) Nikon CF N Plan Achromat objectives in the 4x and 10x magnifications (work OK without a coverglass). Also the, again old-fashioned, Nikon CF M Plan Achromats, these don't need a coverglass so all magn. work well. That's all I use on bellows.
Before buying from Edmund check their shipping policy. I bought stuff a while back and although shipping was reasonable they shipped to Canada via a broker. These guys charge an exorbitant amount for whatever, not needed, services they provide. A lens shipped via USPS will cost about $15.00 or less.
sent via a broker and your looking at perhaps $50.00.
Before buying from Edmund check their shipping policy. I bought stuff a while back and although shipping was reasonable they shipped to Canada via a broker. These guys charge an exorbitant amount for whatever, not needed, services they provide. A lens shipped via USPS will cost about $15.00 or less.
sent via a broker and your looking at perhaps $50.00.
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
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
If you want to get started, pick up an El-Nikkor 50mm f2.8 (several on eBay right now around $50 or less) and a bellows. That'll give you a good range of magnification (2x up to about 4x) for an outlay of less than a couple of hundred. Then you can start fiddling with stepping stages and such like.
rgds, Andrew
"Is that an accurate dictionary ? Charlie Eppes
"Is that an accurate dictionary ? Charlie Eppes
Are there clear advantages/disadvantages to finite/infinite? I have read the FAQ and I know they need to be attached differently. I originally was thinking of getting finite since I got bellows. I figure a disadvantage of infinite is that you need to have have another piece of glass between the sensor and image, which may decrease image quality. However the reviews rik posted have been quite good...NikonUser wrote:I am sure the new Nikon CFI objectives (that is, infinity style) are excellent but don't rule out the old-fashioned (finite objectives) Nikon CF N Plan Achromat objectives in the 4x and 10x magnifications (work OK without a coverglass). Also the, again old-fashioned, Nikon CF M Plan Achromats, these don't need a coverglass so all magn. work well. That's all I use on bellows.
Before buying from Edmund check their shipping policy. I bought stuff a while back and although shipping was reasonable they shipped to Canada via a broker. These guys charge an exorbitant amount for whatever, not needed, services they provide. A lens shipped via USPS will cost about $15.00 or less.
sent via a broker and your looking at perhaps $50.00.
Well, looks like Edmund is out of stock anyways... but yeah, shipping to Canada is killer. Personally, if it's not shipped by USPS, I avoid it all together.
Infinites are harder in some ways. If your camera lens doesn't have a tripod ring it can get a bit bouncy - vibration is a hugely important thing to deal with. Zooms tend not to play well with infinites, some are hopeless. What do you have, up to 200mm say?
Definitely worth experimenting with a reversed 50mm or 28mm, because scope objectives won't cover the same range. Reversed camera lenses on longer camera lenses can be ho-hum though to very good.
And it depends on your subject.
If you have bellows and like to experiment there are certainly some bargains to be had in finites, sometimes $20, as well as some very very good ones.
Definitely worth experimenting with a reversed 50mm or 28mm, because scope objectives won't cover the same range. Reversed camera lenses on longer camera lenses can be ho-hum though to very good.
And it depends on your subject.
If you have bellows and like to experiment there are certainly some bargains to be had in finites, sometimes $20, as well as some very very good ones.
I really don't know whether finites are better than infinity or vice-versa.
However, you can't get a better image than Charles gets with his 10x finite Nikons, both the CF N and the M Plan:
http://www.krebsmicro.com/obj_bellows/index.html
However, you can't get a better image than Charles gets with his 10x finite Nikons, both the CF N and the M Plan:
http://www.krebsmicro.com/obj_bellows/index.html
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
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