El-nikkor 80/5.6 - a new favourite

[patrickh]

Apologies for so many, but I got carried away. It's the end of summer and flowers are fading. I just got the el-nikkor 80/5.6 so I rushed out to try it. I am amazed at the quality from this little enlarging lens that cost me less than $30. I really like the operating distance (the 50 needs to be about an inch or so from the subject, which can be very difficult in a "live" garden). There is very little sharpening done to these and very little PP in general (no saturation boost etc, mainly adjustment to exposure).
1. Flowers are very small, whole head is barely 2 inches


2 + 3. Borage (I think Rolf posted an earlier set of this edible flower). It is barely 5 cm across and usually hangs its head down (I moved it)





4. Grass seed (about 5cm long


5. I like the distance away from this one!

[Orio]

Really a terrific sharp lens, Patrick. It surely put several dedicated macro lenses to blame.
These EL-Nikkors are in my wish list, for my enlarger.

[Screamin Scott]

Excellent photos Patrick....Makes me want to get my Rodenstock Rodagon 135mm F5.6 out & play with it again. Looks as though you possibly used a flash ? How did you mount it to your camera? Bellows?

[patrickh]

Orio
You could do a lot worse than an el-nikkor. That 50/2.8 in particular is very very sharp, but I am impressed by this 80/5.6 also. I am getting a 105/5.6 soon too.


Scott
The macro man - thank you. I have a variety of options:
1. Accura 25 - 55mm helicoid with M42
2. Novoflex bellows/focusing rail with exakta mounts plus Steinheil Culminar 105/4.5 (built for this bellows). I mount that with a nikon/exakta adapter made by Nikon! On the front I recently acquired a novoflex exakta to M39 adapter (perfect for the el-nikkors which are all M39 threaded).
3. BPM bellows - an old british make with interchangeable mounts at both ends. I have sets for M42, Nikon, Edixa, Practina and a female M39. This lets me use a variety of lenses on most cameras.
Plus the mandatory Viv ser1 90/2.5 and Tamron 90/2.5...

Too much of a good thing


patrickh

[poilu]

congrats! impressive sharpness & colors
80 mm is a nice focal on bellow, 135 mm allow infinity

[mo]

The colors are superb......more please!

[martinsmith99]

Nice shots. Good colours & sharpness.

I've a 50mm Schneider but rarely use it as the working distance is too short and the magification is crazy, even with the bellows at their shortest. My 135mm Wray Pullin will focus way past infinity so I guess your 80 must must almost get there?

[ManualFocus-G]

Wow, great results and a bargain!

[kds315*]

It is a well know old little gem this one. You'll also like the 105mm and I recommend the 135mm too. The sharpest of the whole series is the 3.5/63mm but its prices have skyrocketed unfortunately.

[Sven]

Incredible sharpness and colors.
Seems to be a real bargain.

[koji]

Here is some info about EL-Nikkors>

Name's suffix "N" means New type of EL-Nikkor, older one has no "N" in its name, but they look better.


See the "corrected wavelength range", they are actually APO lenses. click the image to enlarge


That is why the images done by EL-Nikkors are superb.

note: For older EL-Nikkors you can have 135/5.6 too, unfortunately number of production for
63/3.5 is very small, so it is very hard to find it. The newer one is a bit faster 63/2.8N.

[Attila]

Amazing result! Time to sell my macro lenses

[patrickh]

Thank you koji - fascinating and informative


Attila
Try it - it's fun, and so well priced


patrickh

PS Even works on film

[Attila]

How did you mount ? On below ? It has screw mount ?

[koji]

Attila, these enlarger lenses have L mount thread (M39), filter sizes are
40.5 mm for EL Nikkors. You can find L->F adapter easily, also L->M42 too.

And also 40.5 mm to 46 mm step up ring or more, so reverse mounting is
also easily done.

After these settings, you can also use bellows or more helicoid to attach to
your favourite camera.

[Attila]

[Laurence]

Incredibly fine shots, Patrick. What a lens! And great compositions, truly. I love them.

[patrickh]

Laurence

Touch of forelock - thanks


patrickh

[kds315*]

And not to forget: the longer focal length EL-Nikkors provide a rather large image diameter (80, 105, 135mm), so Tilt & Shift is possible using a suitable TS-bellows!!

[NikonD]

just bought this lens for 50€, it's literally new... so it can take the last place in my backpack

[kds315*]

Congrats, you'll be happy with it! If you ever need a filter, it has an odd 34.5mm thread mount, but I have adaptors made to 52mm - just in case.

[NikonD]

thanks Klaus, I'll see if I'll ever need it adapted to 52mm (maybe if I lose a cap)
so far I'm considering m39->m42 adapter + m42->nikon adapter + nikon PK13, bellows are to awkward for me so I'll rather buy another PK ring instead if one won't give enough magnification...

[NikonD]

@ Klaus: how much is the working distance?

[NikonD]

I made a deal with a seller of EL 80/5.6... he's going to send EL 80/5.6 AND EL 50/2.8 both NEW/NEVER USED in original package for 70€ inc. shipping

[Arninetyes]

Excellent, Patrick! I have a couple macro lenses, and one goes with me almost everywhere. But when I get the bug to do close-up and macro, out comes the bellows and enlarger lenses!

I've never tried the El Nikkor 80/5.6, but the 105/5.6 is one of my favorites. Great lenses. Amazing quality images, especially considering the prices.