Lasergraphics lenses, any users w/experience?

[Darryl Baird]

I took an itty-bitty lens out of a Lasergraphics filmwriter yesterday and want to mount it on a 4x5 for super-macro shots. I noticed is was about .5 inches (10mm) from the film plane and focuses VERY close when viewing with my eye.

Anybody ever try one of these? Anyone know who made these lenses?

thanks in advance

-D

[8x10 user]

It might be an El Nikkor, thats what MGI used for there 35mm camera modules.

[Peter K]

I took an itty-bitty lens out of a Lasergraphics filmwriter yesterday and want to mount it on a 4x5 for super-macro shots. I noticed is was about .5 inches (10mm) from the film plane and focuses VERY close when viewing with my eye.
Possible a F-theta lens. This lenses have a specially corrected distortion an cannot used for "normal" photography.

[8x10 user]

Some of the lenses from MGI's premium camera modules were specially made by Mellas Griot to correct a form of distortion. The cheaper modules got a standard Nikkor AMED. All of the 35mm modules that I have seen use a 50 or 63mm El Nikkor lens.

I dont know much about lasergraphics machines or the F-theta lens. Since it was set up for 35mm I would think that it would probably some kind of enlarger lenses. Enlarger lenses would well when used in reverse for micro (super macro) work, they work better then symmetrical macro lenses when used to shoot objects that are 1/5 the size of the film format or smaller. One a side note a 4x5 module should have something that is more corrected for ~1:1.

BTW if there is anyone out there with a late model MGI that they don't need. I would love to save them from the dump.