Minimum Focus Distance Nikkor W 210mm f5.6

[Fermat]

Hi all,
I'm wandering what's the limit to focus with the Nikkor-W 210mm f5.6.
I gave a try to take a picture at some flowers at 1 m but the results was not very nice, the image is not very sharp.
Thanks

[Oslolens]

I compared some 210mm at macro, photographing a metal caliper with a Sony mirrorless nex5. If you do the same, are the result different from mine? If so, your lens is not sharp.


Lenses used are 210mm: 5.6: Nikkor-W, Fujinon-W and Macro-Sironar-N. f9: Apo-Gerogon

https://www.flickr.com/photos/470525...in/photostream

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[Fermat]

Hi and thanks for your comments.
What distance did you have from the subject?
Is the Nikon 210 optimized for Macro?
What the best enlargement ratio?

[r.e.]

Is the Nikon 210 optimized for Macro?

Nikon made a 210mm macro lens, the 210mm f/5.6 Nikkor AM ED. See the attached screen capture.

Because your camera has a bellows, your Nikkor-W doesn't have a "minimum focus distance". The only constraints on how close you can get to your subject are the length of your bellows and your ability to focus with increasingly narrow apparent depth of field. There's a point where a rock solid tripod and geared focusing are not just beneficial, but essential.

There are a lot of discussions on this forum about what the difference is between using a standard large format lens and a macro lens. Some people think that the difference is insignificant. Others think that using a macro lens makes a difference to image quality, at least once you get close to 1:1 and greater magnification. Some years ago, I decided to sidestep this whole debate and acquired Nikon's 210mm Nikkor AM-ED.

You say that you made your picture of a flower with a 210mm Nikkor-W from 1m. Unless my arithmetic is off, your magnification was only 26.6%. I wonder whether your problem with sharpness was a problem with the lens or a problem with your focusing of the lens. What aperture did you use for the photograph?

Forum member Ken Lee has photographed a lot of flowers and has a page on his website about lens focal length, bellows draw and magnification. You might find it helpful: https://www.kennethleegallery.com/html/tech/bellows.php

[Tin Can]

Why not try the best lens you have now?

I have and find my plasmets 'good enough' for me

Sure I want a fancier MACRO lens, but they are expensive and I doubt I need one

How about 3-1 mushroom shot on 11x14 X-Ray with 360mm

Or 1-2 11X14 X-Ray shot upside down with huge camera, same lens

3-1 8X10 X-Ray done with Schneider-Kreuznach Apo-Symmar 120mm F/5.6 and now one of my favorite lenses

I use X-Ray as it is cheap and works fine for this type of imaging

webLevy 8X10 Macro 2-1 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

iPod 3-1-X-Ray Film Macro shot on 11X114 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

Upside down Macro by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

883 Macro 11X14 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

[Oslolens]

Hi and thanks for your comments.
What distance did you have from the subject?
Is the Nikon 210 optimized for Macro?
What the best enlargement ratio?

I think this was 35-40cm away.
Ca 21mm of caliper while sensor is 25.1mm.
This must have been at a bit larger than 1:1


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[Oslolens]

Why not try the best lens you have now?

I have and find my plasmets 'good enough' for me

Sure I want a fancier MACRO lens, but they are expensive and I doubt I need one

How about 3-1 mushroom shot on 11x14 X-Ray with 360mm

Or 1-2 11X14 X-Ray shot upside down with huge camera, same lens

3-1 8X10 X-Ray done with Schneider-Kreuznach Apo-Symmar 120mm F/5.6 and now one of my favorite lenses

I use X-Ray as it is cheap and works fine for this type of imaging

webLevy 8X10 Macro 2-1 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

iPod 3-1-X-Ray Film Macro shot on 11X114 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

Upside down Macro by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

883 Macro 11X14 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

Do you reverse the elements of the 120mm when shooting larger than 1:1?

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