Top-Rated Macro Lens by Coin Collectors

[Michael Erlewine]

It there is any group I am aware of that likes lenses as much as the crew here, it has to be the coin collectors. One of the more detailed sites is:

http://coinimaging.com/

On this site are many of the more exotic macro lenses, with test results and comments. They have one feature called the “Lens Testing Hall of Fame” which is very interesting.

http://coinimaging.com/hall_of_fame.html?

If you select a magnification of 0.5, which would be what I like for close-up work, you see 23 famous lenses rated by Sharpness, Resolution, Corner Sharpness, and Overall Rating.

Notice that the Nikon Printing Nikkor 150mm f/2.8 is the top ranked list on three of those four lists.

I have that lens, which they feel is the sharpest, the best resolution, and is the overall top-rated lens.

Here is a photo taken with the Nikon D810 on the Nikon PB-4 Bellows, with Zerene Stacker, to see what kind of image that lens produces.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Yes, indeed a fantastic site and their top contributor I know since very long.
DOes a fatastic job in testing out lenses scientifically. Not artsy, very technical
oriented though.

Highly recommendet!

Great shot Michael, you have most of their top rated lenses btw. Honestly regret
of having sold my 150mm Printing Nikkor a while ago ;-)

[richardHaw]

i used to visit that site a lot. not much lately because bugs are not in season 

[Fons Baerken]

No mention of Voigtlander, Zeiss and probably a few more?

[Akira]

Interesting to know that Ais Micro 55/2.8 and Nikkor-O 55/1.2 are regarded very highly at 0.5x magnification.  I've found that Nikkor-O yields fairly sharp images when used with the M2 ring which are roughly 0.5x of the subject.  The "hall of fame" ranking kind of support my findings.

Thanks for sharing, Michael!

[Frank Fremerey]

You are in such a high class environment that it is hard to see for Earthlings like me the difference in "technical quality".

The only things I see is the amount of effort you put into it with great success and the drawing characteristics of some signature glass.

Your result is stunning as usual!

[Jørgen Ramskov]

That shot certainly is nice.

[Ron Scubadiver]

The not exotic at all 105 VR does pretty well on that chart.  I wonder what its result would look like side by side with the incredible one above.

[Peter Connan]

Very interesting and illustrated with an exceptionally beautiful photo.

Is there a list of all the lenses tested? I have the 55mm f2.8 AI-S and the 105mm f4 AI-S which are both on the list, but I am almost convinced my Sigma 180mm is sharper than either of those, yet is not on the list at all?

[Akira]

According to the list under "New Lens Tests" section of the website, the front 52mm thread of Nikkor-O 55/1.2 is "non-standard".  This is strange, because I can use normal 52mm protection filters or BR-2A reverse mount adapter without problem.  My sample is one of the older Nippon Kogaku version without the red "M=1/5" mark.  I wonder if the newer version has a 52mm thread of proprietary pitch?

[Erik Lund]

My guess would be that the 'non-standard' remark is for the m39 mount for the Nikkor-O 55/1.2

[richardHaw]

The not exotic at all 105 VR does pretty well on that chart.  I wonder what its result would look like side by side with the incredible one above.

maybe this is just on my sample but i did find my older 105mm f/2.8D to be a bit sharper 

[Akira]

My guess would be that the 'non-standard' remark is for the m39 mount for the Nikkor-O 55/1.2

Erik, the auther clearly states that the 52mm thread is non-standard.  You can go to:

http://coinimaging.com/lens_tests_new.html

and select "Repro/duprication lens", Nikon 55/1.2 Nikkor-O M=1/5 and then Page 1 to see the description.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

The relevant statement is found to be as follows;

Filter Threads: 52 mm, non-standard lens thread.

Thus the "non-standard" reference is to the M39 mounting threads, NOT the filter threads (which as already commented upon, are bog standard 52 mm).

This information is duplicated a little further down on the same page, under Lens Mount.

Confusing approach of presenting the lens data, admittedly.

[Akira]

Oh, I missed the description of non-standarrd "lens" thread!  Sorry for the confusion!