El-Nikkor vs Pentax M macro test

yeatzee · 05-12-2011, 03:39 PM

I now have a reversing ring for both so I decided to do a quick test. I accidently bumped the camera so i had to re-adjust, but all things are pretty much equal.

Both at F/5.6 reversed on the end of my Pentax F 135mm @ F/2.8, and 20 images stacked each.

El nikkor

Pentax M

El nikkor crop

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/5714459170_f95d32d627_z.jpg

Pentax M crop

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/5713903539_61da738a2f_z.jpg

Just RAW conversion and stacked in combine ZM. The m 50mm had a lens "hood" (lens cap with a small hole in the middle) while the nikkor had nothing. I can't figure out a way to do this for the nikkor, but so far it seems to hold up fine without.

conclusion. The El nikkor 50mm F/2.8N cost me $20, and is better than my main staple the Pentax M 50mm F/1.7 (cost me $30). Looks like I got a new go-to lens

pbo · 05-12-2011, 05:05 PM

El Nikkor uses m39 leica thread mount, so you can make a "hood" from a m39 rear cap; there are different rear caps for m39 and some of them are pretty deep.

yeatzee · 05-12-2011, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by pbo

El Nikkor uses m39 leica thread mount, so you can make a "hood" from a m39 rear cap; there are different rear caps for m39 and some of them are pretty deep.

I'll look into it, thanks!

SFEAR · 05-12-2011, 07:23 PM

Good Stuff thanks for the info

yeatzee · 05-12-2011, 07:33 PM

No problem

For scale, the hoverfly head is glued to the head of a sewing needle

JohnBee · 05-12-2011, 07:47 PM

Wow this looks very interesting!
Could you share your setup in more detail?

**.a.t.** · 05-12-2011, 08:02 PM

Originally posted by yeatzee

conclusion. The El nikkor 50mm F/2.8N cost me $20, and is better than my main staple the Pentax M 50mm F/1.7 (cost me $30). Looks like I got a new go-to lens

Nice, Yeatzee!
A myopic question: What differences do you see between the two results? Is it just sharpness or is the nikkor better for you in other ways, too?

Tim

yeatzee · 05-12-2011, 10:04 PM

Originally posted by all thumbs

Nice, Yeatzee!
A myopic question: What differences do you see between the two results? Is it just sharpness or is the nikkor better for you in other ways, too?

Tim

microcontrast, sharpness, rendering, etc.

Originally posted by JohnBee

Wow this looks very interesting!
Could you share your setup in more detail?

Which part?

RioRico · 05-13-2011, 10:17 PM

Originally posted by yeatzee

The El nikkor 50mm F/2.8N cost me $20

Big spender! I recently went all the way to US$17 for an Ernst Leitz Varob 50/3.5, but generally I avoid paying more than $10-15 for EL's. I got a set of four 75mm EL's (Wollensak, Vivitar, Schneider, Rodenstock) for US$10 combined/shipped so I feel justified in going cheap. [/me not ashamed of bragging]

stover98074 · 05-14-2011, 08:25 AM

Enlarging lenses on tubes - what a way to get a bang for the dollar.

I use them on Asahi Pentax Auto Bellows and really enjoy the El Nikkors and a few other brands written about at this link.

https://sites.google.com/site/inexpensivemacrophotography/

yeatzee · 05-14-2011, 10:16 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

Big spender! I recently went all the way to US$17 for an Ernst Leitz Varob 50/3.5, but generally I avoid paying more than $10-15 for EL's. I got a set of four 75mm EL's (Wollensak, Vivitar, Schneider, Rodenstock) for US$10 combined/shipped so I feel justified in going cheap. [/me not ashamed of bragging]

Well good luck getting an El-Nikkor 50mm F/2.8N on ebay for $20 these days!

Originally posted by stover98074

Enlarging lenses on tubes - what a way to get a bang for the dollar.

I use them on Asahi Pentax Auto Bellows and really enjoy the El Nikkors and a few other brands written about at this link.

https://sites.google.com/site/inexpensivemacrophotography/

Would have saved me some time researching

yeatzee · 05-14-2011, 10:19 AM

My first legit stack with the el-nikkor:

View Large

stevebrot · 05-15-2011, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

I got a set of four 75mm EL's (Wollensak, Vivitar, Schneider, Rodenstock) for US$10 combined/shipped so I feel justified in going cheap.

...I don't think I like you...

Steve

(Paid $80 USD for my Rodagon 80/4 and thought I was getting a decent deal...)

RioRico · 05-15-2011, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

(Paid $80 USD for my Rodagon 80/4 and thought I was getting a decent deal...)

For a Rodagon, that IS a decent deal. The four I mentioned aren't in that league:

* Vivitar-LU 75/3.5
* Rodenstock Omegaron 75/4.5
* Schneider Componar 75/4.5
* Wollensak Enlarging Raptar 75/4.5

But yes, some EL's really ARE four for a dime.

05-12-2011, 03:39 PM	#1
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	El-Nikkor vs Pentax M macro test I now have a reversing ring for both so I decided to do a quick test. I accidently bumped the camera so i had to re-adjust, but all things are pretty much equal. Both at F/5.6 reversed on the end of my Pentax F 135mm @ F/2.8, and 20 images stacked each. El nikkor Pentax M El nikkor crop http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/5714459170_f95d32d627_z.jpg Pentax M crop http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/5713903539_61da738a2f_z.jpg Just RAW conversion and stacked in combine ZM. The m 50mm had a lens "hood" (lens cap with a small hole in the middle) while the nikkor had nothing. I can't figure out a way to do this for the nikkor, but so far it seems to hold up fine without. conclusion. The El nikkor 50mm F/2.8N cost me $20, and is better than my main staple the Pentax M 50mm F/1.7 (cost me $30). Looks like I got a new go-to lens

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05-12-2011, 05:05 PM	#2
pbo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 891	El Nikkor uses m39 leica thread mount, so you can make a "hood" from a m39 rear cap; there are different rear caps for m39 and some of them are pretty deep.

05-12-2011, 06:59 PM	#3
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	Originally posted by pbo El Nikkor uses m39 leica thread mount, so you can make a "hood" from a m39 rear cap; there are different rear caps for m39 and some of them are pretty deep. I'll look into it, thanks!

05-12-2011, 07:23 PM	#4
SFEAR Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: where you dont want to be! Posts: 24	Good Stuff thanks for the info

05-12-2011, 07:33 PM	#5
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	No problem For scale, the hoverfly head is glued to the head of a sewing needle

05-12-2011, 07:47 PM	#6
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Wow this looks very interesting! Could you share your setup in more detail?

05-12-2011, 08:02 PM	#7
.a.t. Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: yesterday Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,261	Originally posted by yeatzee conclusion. The El nikkor 50mm F/2.8N cost me $20, and is better than my main staple the Pentax M 50mm F/1.7 (cost me $30). Looks like I got a new go-to lens Nice, Yeatzee! A myopic question: What differences do you see between the two results? Is it just sharpness or is the nikkor better for you in other ways, too? Tim

05-12-2011, 10:04 PM	#8
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	Originally posted by all thumbs Nice, Yeatzee! A myopic question: What differences do you see between the two results? Is it just sharpness or is the nikkor better for you in other ways, too? Tim microcontrast, sharpness, rendering, etc. Originally posted by JohnBee Wow this looks very interesting! Could you share your setup in more detail? Which part?

05-13-2011, 10:17 PM	#9
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by yeatzee The El nikkor 50mm F/2.8N cost me $20 Big spender! I recently went all the way to US$17 for an Ernst Leitz Varob 50/3.5, but generally I avoid paying more than $10-15 for EL's. I got a set of four 75mm EL's (Wollensak, Vivitar, Schneider, Rodenstock) for US$10 combined/shipped so I feel justified in going cheap. [/me not ashamed of bragging]

05-14-2011, 08:25 AM	#10
stover98074 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 153	Enlarging lenses on tubes - what a way to get a bang for the dollar. I use them on Asahi Pentax Auto Bellows and really enjoy the El Nikkors and a few other brands written about at this link. https://sites.google.com/site/inexpensivemacrophotography/

05-14-2011, 10:16 AM	#11
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	Originally posted by RioRico Big spender! I recently went all the way to US$17 for an Ernst Leitz Varob 50/3.5, but generally I avoid paying more than $10-15 for EL's. I got a set of four 75mm EL's (Wollensak, Vivitar, Schneider, Rodenstock) for US$10 combined/shipped so I feel justified in going cheap. [/me not ashamed of bragging] Well good luck getting an El-Nikkor 50mm F/2.8N on ebay for $20 these days! Originally posted by stover98074 Enlarging lenses on tubes - what a way to get a bang for the dollar. I use them on Asahi Pentax Auto Bellows and really enjoy the El Nikkors and a few other brands written about at this link. https://sites.google.com/site/inexpensivemacrophotography/ Would have saved me some time researching

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05-14-2011, 10:19 AM	#12
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675 Original Poster	My first legit stack with the el-nikkor: View Large

05-15-2011, 11:35 AM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by RioRico I got a set of four 75mm EL's (Wollensak, Vivitar, Schneider, Rodenstock) for US$10 combined/shipped so I feel justified in going cheap. ...I don't think I like you... Steve (Paid $80 USD for my Rodagon 80/4 and thought I was getting a decent deal...)

05-15-2011, 04:36 PM	#14
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by stevebrot (Paid $80 USD for my Rodagon 80/4 and thought I was getting a decent deal...) For a Rodagon, that IS a decent deal. The four I mentioned aren't in that league: * Vivitar-LU 75/3.5 * Rodenstock Omegaron 75/4.5 * Schneider Componar 75/4.5 * Wollensak Enlarging Raptar 75/4.5 But yes, some EL's really ARE four for a dime.