28mm f/1.8 Ultra-Micro-Nikkor lens — late version e-line
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NEW INFO ABOUT THE 28MM ULTRA-MICRO-NIKKOR:
• My most recent findings with the Nikon D800e show the advantage of this lens with high resolution cameras. The case will be similar with the Nikon D800 and D600/D610, because high-resolution sensors are needed to get the most of these lenses when they are used near their optimum apertures. Despite the small effective apertures at 10x magnification, there are significant gains in resolution to be achieved using this lens with cameras of higher resolution and smaller pixel pitch than the Nikon D700. Much of the information below applies to DSLR cameras in general, particularly full-frame cameras.
• Please be aware that in later years there were two versions of the 28mm Ultra-Micro-Nikkor e-line lens made, one with a 4mm and one with an 8mm circle of high resolution. The 8mm version has 4x the area of high resolution. From all available evidence, this is the latest 8mm version, from measuring the front glass diameter at approx 26.5mm, according to the diagram specifications in the Nikon Ultra-Micro-Nikkor PDF available at the website here:
http://savazzi.freehostia.com/download/manuals/Ultra%20Micro%20Nikkor.pdf
Threaded adapters and other custom mounting of lenses is available, please inquire.
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** See Galleries for photos taken with this lens. **
Ice crystals are at approx 5x, and knife blade shot at approx 8x with Nikon D700. White and blue ruler photo is at 8x, approx 4.6 mm field of view on D700. Aperture set at F4 on lens (~F36 effective aperture), ~2 second exposure, mirror lockup, using only tripod and extension tubes.
This lens is the sharpest macro lens I have tested at 8x and higher magnifications. It performs superbly at quite a wide range– about 8x to at least 20x. (Haven’t yet tested higher than 20x, but there’s no drop in image quality at 20x.) It performs well at somewhat lower magnifications, depending on factors such as subject matter and sensor size.
I have recently compared this lens against several other macro lenses, using the Nikon Multiphot. It easily out-resolves the 19m and 35mm Macro-Nikkor lenses, the 16mm Zeiss Luminar (at 14x), and the cine lenses I tested made by Kern and Kodak.
This is the last sample I have for sale of this late version (green serial number) of 28mm Ultra-Micro-Nikkor. It performs identically to the sample I am keeping for my own photography, and is in similar condition.
** SHIPPING CHARGE for this item will be as quoted for Express Mail with tracking & insurance. **
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Lens only. No adapters included, but I may have them available separately– please inquire. No lens caps included, but they are available third party.
I will consider reasonable offers, and I am happy to answer questions. I absolutely respect privacy regarding any sale.
— All photos are of the actual lenses, taken by me
— All lenses I sell are examined and tested carefully
— Unless this auction says otherwise, I will ship Worldwide to most countries– please read shipping policy
Please see photos. If you are particular about the finest details of the condition of this item, please ask questions before bidding.
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CONDITION:
All my items are from a clean, non-smoking environment.
Lens is in excellent condition, SN# 295065. Several small cosmetic marks on barrel, please take a careful look at photos. Glass and coating is excellent and quite clean, and in excellent functional condition for all practical purposes.
No fungus, haze, or separation. Aperture blades are clean and perfect, and mechanically perfect in function.
As with most lenses, there are some tiny bits of internal dust, which do not affect images. No scratches on glass. May be tiny wisps on coating, insignificant and difficult to see. Considering the most minor details, it becomes subjective, and my description is more fair than most I’ve seen.
It is quite rare to find a lens that has perfect glass, with no dust or cleaning marks in the coating. Such tiny features do not affect the images– lenses do not project bits of dust. Every part of the lens contributes to every part of the image. The lens offered here is a good sample, tested precisely, and is ready to use.
No returns on this lens, due to costs involved. Lens is tested, perfectly functioning, and is exactly as described. Please do research before buying. If you have questions or concerns, please feel wecome to ask.
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MORE TECHNICAL INFO:
Ultra-Micro-Nikkor 28mm f1.8 e-line high-resolution industrial lens. Late version (I believe this is the last version of the 28mm f1.8, from all information available.)
Macro use only. This lens is not made for infinity focus. This lens can also easily be adapted to Canon or other brands.
For use reverse-mounted only, on SLR or other cameras. Can be adapted to Nikon cameras with two adapters– not included. Requires a 39mm to 40.5mm EL-Nikkor reversing adapter, plus a 39mm Leica to Nikon F-mount adapter (known as the Nikon BR-15). The 39mm Leica to F-mount is also available from 3rd party manufacturers.
If this lens is reverse-mounted directly onto a Nikon F-mount camera, with adapters described above and no extra extension, the magnification ratio is about 3.6x. If approx 190mm extension is added, magnification is approx 10x, which is the optimum for this lens. A bellows and a sturdy stand or tripod can be used for this. To reach 20x, you will need about 465mm bellows extension. These are measured values, approximate.
I have tested several 28mm Ultra Micro Nikkor lenses with a Nikon D700, on a Nikon Multiphot, and can verify that the performance is excellent, as expected. Mirror lockup must be used, unless very high shutter speeds are used. Even with mirror lockup on a Multiphot, camera shake can occur at shutter speeds below 1/500. Bright lights and clean high-ISO are helpful.
At 10x magnication, the field is flat, and the resolution approaches the theoretical limit of physics. This lens is close to diffraction-limited at all apertures, though the image quality is improved for general photography if stopped down to f2.8 – F4. The lens also performs well outside this range, depending on your choice of compromises, as with most lenses. Beyond f4 diffraction is the only significant issue.
Although the lens is optimized for e-line, 546 nm wavelength, Nikon made no claims about performance outside its targeted wavelength– but it does perform well outside of specifications. I have tested and compared these lenses at all apertures, and at various magnifications between 3.6x and 20x.
At the 10X optimum magnification, when reversed, the 28mm UMN lens will ‘see’ an 8mm subject circle at 600 lp/mm, and project it to an 80mm image circle with a minimum of 60 lp/mm resolution across the image circle. The central 43mm circle (full frame 35mm) has higher resolution– I can email you the info in the spec sheet, if you like.
On a full-frame camera, the 28mm UMN has superb performance from about 8x to about 20x. Below 8x, the corners begin to show softness or distortion on full frame 35mm or FX, probably due to field curvature because it is somewhat outside the optimum this lens is designed for. This lens will almost certainly perform very well beyond 20x, but I have not tested beyond 20x.
At lower magnifications, from 3.6x to 8x, the 28mm UMN performs good to excellent for many subjects, especially when stopped down a bit more. At the lower range of magnifications, there is some distortion and field curvature in the corners, but for subjects that don’t extend deep into the corners, this is not a major issue. On a DX format camera, edge problems will be much less significant, even at 3.6x.
At all magnifications between 3.6x to 20x, there is no significant vignetting, even on FX full frame. Working distance varies from about 16mm at 3.6x to about 9mm at 20x.
My subjective comments, for visible light spectrum, based on careful tests and comparisons:
— At 10x, at apertures wider than f4, the Ultra-Micro-Nikkor is noticeably sharper than the 35mm Macro-Nikkor. At f4, the 28mm Ultra-Micro-Nikkor has similar performance to the 35mm f4.5 Macro-Nikkor wide open. As you stop down either lens, they are approximate parallel in sharpness, and resolution gradually decreases due to diffraction. All lenses are affected by the limits of diffraction.
— At (or near) wide open, resolution is highest, but the specular highlights have a bit of colour fringing due mainly to longitudinal colour shift of out-of-focus elements (this is not surprising, and occurs to varying degrees with most lenses wide open, including the Macro-Nikkors). As you progressively stop down, this lens produces an increasingly clean image (peak is approx f4), and contrast is excellent throughout.
Be aware that with a perfect lens, effective aperture defines the limit for resolution. Effective aperture is approximately calculated by this simplified formula:
EA = Lens Aperture x (1 + Magnification)
(The entrance and exit pupils are not the same size — so this is an approximation of effective aperture.)
Considering that the Nikon D700 has large pixels, diffraction-limited at around f16, resolution gains cannot easily be made by using a camera with smaller pixel pitch, at such high magnifications. Because of diffraction at these high magnifications, it is of great advantage to use a lens with high resolution at large apertures, such as the 28mm Ultra-Micro-Nikkor. My recent findings with the D800e reveal significant advantages in resolution when using this lens.
I have used the 28mm Ultra-Micro-Nikkor outdoors, with camera carefully handheld (hand braced on sturdy substrate). The lens was directly reverse-mounted on a Nikon D700, at f2 – 2.8 lens aperture, approx 3.6x magnification. High ISO was used to reduce camera shake. Results are very good, though technique requires patience.
More info about this and other rare, high-resolution industrial Nikkors can be found at this terrific website:
http://homepage2.nifty.com/akiyanroom/redbook-e/ultra/ultrafamily2.html
And there is much info about special lenses and adaptations on this terrific website:
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_spec.html
Thank you for reading my description. Have a good day, with great photo opportunities!
This content is protected by Copyright, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction only with my prior permission. –Dion Manastyrski
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