Hello from Copenhagen

[MEPER]

Hello

I have not been a very active photographer for some years now but I miss it a bit so it is my intention to become more active.
My first camera was a Yashica which took the special plastic film cassettes. Then I got my fathers Voigtländer Vitomatic IIa with Color Skopar 50/2.8 (big improvement). Later I got my fathers Nikkor 85/1.8 H-C and 35/2.0 O-C and got them AI converted to be used on my FE2. There was always a wow-effect when showing slides shot with these two lenses. Later I got a 2nd hand nice F4 when price was reasonable. I remember when it was released and I just stood outside a shop and looked at it......but at that price level it was a "no-go". Later I got a D2X and now I use my D5200 which in fact was a big improvement from D2X (if we talk image quality and ISO performance). Since then I have compared with D5300 - D5600 but not found a significant improvement in still images. The rumored Toshiba sensor in D5200 must be very good?
I also have a J4 and J5 and regret the CX cameras came to an end. Will see when I upgrade to a new DSLR or Z-camera. I like the small size of Z50 but still I don't find the image quality (when compared a dpreview) significant enough to buy a Z50 (it is also a shame that this small model does not have built-in VR in the body). Years back I also had a "Hasselblad" period. 6x6 slides was really "something".....but Hasselblad was sold when I got my D2X and found that I could make as good print outs of D2X files than scanned 6x6 slides. I have also collected a bit vintage cameras/lenses. I have some old Nikkors and also I like vintage Voigtländer lenses a lot.

/MEPER     

[Birna Rørslett]

Welcome to NG. Apparently you'll fit into our member community as a hand in a glove

Looking forward to seeing photos and contributions to any discussion. Or open your own thread if necessary, but do search for any relevant existing ones first.

[MEPER]

Thank you!
Years back we had a few emails via your old web page with the Nikkor ratings and UV photography. I remember you got your Nikkor 80/2.8 AF (made for the special F3 AF) from a Danish photo shop I pointed out. I think later you also got the 200/3.5. Both nice performers but I only have the 80/2.8 (where it was necessary to cut the wires from the chip. Else it would drain the battery of the F4/F5 body). Think I may try out the 80/2.8 on D5200.......had nearly forgot that lens.

[MEPER]

Will check if I am able to post images.........made some attachments of 3 images where I played using D5200 as digiback on an old view camera........and tried out some "macro fun"......
This is just a test.....if images shows up........don't know if images uploads automatic........will check after posting.......they don't show up in preview.

[Bent Hjarbo]

Welcome to our nice world.
Nice macro setup.

[MEPER]

Thank you!

Images showed up!

It was just some "fun"......macro shot of electronics (a DIY line stage for HiFi). The small SMD transistor is about 1 x 2 mm in real size.
An old medium format vintage Voigtländer lens used......."nerds" may recognize the lens. Even such an old lens can "do something" on a small D5200 DX sensor......and lens was not intended for macro work. More like a portrait or landscape lens :-)

[Birna Rørslett]

An old Voigtländer APO lens on a Linhof?

When images are attached to a post, they don't show up in he preview. Whether this is a bug or a feature of our forum software is hard to tell. Other forum packages have their own idiosyncratic approach to image posting too.

[MEPER]

Yes, a Voigtländer 105/4.5 APO-Lanthar (Linhof branded) on a 6x9 Technika.
They used glass with Lanthanum oxide and my seems to be a later version as the glass is still clear. The early version had also Thorium oxide which is radioactive and will discolor the glass over time to have a brown tint. Like the old Takumar 50/1.4 Pentax lenses. It is said that UV light during many weeks can reduce the tint......but I am happy with my later version even that collectors may like the early version better :-)
I tried the "UV-trick" on a Takumar 50/1.4 and was able to reduce the tint a bit.....but not remove it completely.
I have not heard about radioactive lenses in Nikkors......maybe they knew what would happen......

[Birna Rørslett]

The very earliest samples of the 35/1.4 Nikkor had thorium glass and will show a yellowish-brown tint over time.

[MEPER]

OK....I have the AIS version. A lens I dreamed about for many years and got a nice 2nd hand one. The glass is very fine but some of the black painting inside has got some very tiny white spots which I don't like. Have seen it on other brand old lenses also…….and don't know what it is....the only Nikkor I have seen it on......so far......

[Birna Rørslett]

If the "tiny spots inside" seem to have a spidery appearance or extension to them, it's fungus and should be removed as soon as possible before coatings are permanently damaged.

Post a picture if possible to allow to have a look.

Shining a lot of UV light through the lens might kill off any fungus. Using the light in broad sunny daylight will help. Also, always store a lens in dry conditions.

Painting of the edges of lens elements might chip over time, so there is a less serious alternative explanation to what you observe.

[MEPER]

It was not exactly as I remembered. More like a white line around the edge with some tiny white spots.
If it was chipped painting I should be able to see the chips inside the lens......but I don't think I can see any "dirt" inside.
The double-line is some optical reflections in a lens element. There is only one white line/ring.
To have something white inside a lens.....is not optimal...….

[John Geerts]

It was not exactly as I remembered. More like a white line around the edge with some tiny white spots.
If it was chipped painting I should be able to see the chips inside the lens......but I don't think I can see any "dirt" inside.
The double-line is some optical reflections in a lens element. There is only one white line/ring.
To have something white inside a lens.....is not optimal...….

I know what you mean. In my nearly mint (and also relative new) 85mm AF-D f/1.4  there is also a tiny white spot. No idea what it is, and where it came from. It looks like a white very small sand-grain.

[Frank Fremerey]

Linhof Technika plus Nikon DSLR?
cool. I do similar with my sinar p2 & f2...
Yields nice results: http://zentralkraft.com/edit_op2000_retouche_nl.jpg

[MEPER]

Very nice…...you have all lines straight…...that is a nice feature using a Technica. It looks more "pro" that way. I know persons grown up with large format cameras does not like the normal shots we do using our small cameras if it is "architecture images" :-)     …..I know 35mm lenses exist that can do some tilt and shift.....but still limited compared to a Technica or other view cameras.....
It requires some education to use and a lot of time to get it all correct…….I have only "played" a bit with it......just to try it out.

For the 35/1.4 problem......I have contacted the local Nikon service to hear them …….what they think about it......