How to reverse Nikkor EL 50/2.8 on Canon Fd bellows

[caspert79]

Hi. I have a fd bellows and an adapter that connects to my m4/3 camera.
I also have a Nikkor EL 50/2.8 enlarger lens that i want to reverse-fit on my fd bellows.
Can somebody tell me what adapters to buy to reverse my EL lens on my bellows?

[koji]

Nikon used to sell reverse mount adapters for EL-Nikkors, you can still find one of those at eBay.
Though for 50mm f2.8's reverse ring is hard to find I guess, depending on your 50mm EL-nikkor
there are two kinds of front openings; one is 40.5mm and possibly the other one is 39mm.

So you must find female-female adapter/ring of one end 42mm one, and M42->FD adapter ($11)
at eBay. But it is extremely difficult to find one, you may have to make it yourself for your need.

Just buy a step-up ring of base 40.5mm AND an another step-up ring of base 42mm one, glue
them together to make for example 40.5->42mm female-female adapter after filing off some parts.

setting I am talking is this:
(reversed EL-Nikkor 50mm) + (female-female ring 40.5->42 or 39->42) + (M42->FD adapter) + (FD mount bellows) + Camera

You have to know the front opening size of your EL-nikkor. See this>

[Lightshow]

It might be easier to use a different bellows, an M39 or M42 bellows, an M39 could adapt to M-mount which is what I did for my NEX-7, which is quick and easy to mount and dismount, then all you need is an M39 to M40.5 male to male adapter to mount it in reverse.

[caspert79]

[kds315*]

There is a very reliable guy who makes those Click here to see on Ebay

[philslizzy]

Why reverse an enlarging lens?

On a standard, camera lens the front is designed for curved field and the rear for flat field. An enlarging lens is designed for flat field front and rear. So you can mount it normally and get great results.

Use this M42 to Canon FD adapter Click here to see on Ebay or one like it and an M39 to M42 ring .Click here to see on Ebay . That is how I do it.

[kds315*]

nope, not sufficient reason.

Reversing only needs to be done, if used for large magnifications where the distance object - lens is (much) shorter than the distance lens - sensor and or if the lens is non-symmetrical.

[caspert79]

So for normal macro work reversing the lens would be unnecessary?

[philslizzy]

[caspert79]

Thanks a lot guys. I'm glad it's even easier than I thought.

[kds315*]

[philslizzy]

[Oldhand]

Of course you can use an FD 50mm 1.8 lens quite happily in its reversed position on the Canon FD bellows. The bellows even came with its own attachment for doing so.
And 50mm 1.8's are pretty cheap - maybe cheaper than a new bellows
OH

[Lightshow]

Here's my setup and some pics with a 7.5cm/3.5 enlarger lens that is not reversed.
http://forum.mflenses.com/kominar-e-7-5cm-3-5-more-pics-t60140.html

[Ray Parkhurst]

Technically none of the Nikon enlarger lenses (except the really long ones) are optimized for the macro range from 1:2...2:1. They are OK but not as good as so-called duplicating lenses which are optimized for that narrow magnification range. If you're working from 1:20...1:2 you should mount the lens forward. If working from 2:1 or higher you should mount it reversed. From 1:2...2:1 it doesn't matter which way you mount it...Ray

[hinnerker]

[caspert79]

PM sent.

[hifisapi]

fwiw, one of the sharpest macro setups I ever used was a new style mc el nikkor 135mm f5.6 mounted normally on a bellows via a m39 to m42 ring. NOT reverse mounted.

[kds315*]

There are adapters availble now here: http://rafcamera.com/en/adapter-rev-m40-5x0-5-to-m39x1