50 year old lens: MAKRO-KILAR 90mm f/2.8

[Igor]

This ancient lens was made in Germany back in 1955...
Considered to be the FIRST macro lens ever made.
90mm f/2.8, manual aperture, about 30cm closest focusing distance, 1:1.7 reproduction ratio. All metal, beautiful craftsmanship...

You might guess how sharp this "old man" could be? Check the test shots below...

I for one was literally shocked having discovered this lens is AS SHARP as most of the contemporary macro glass. Besides it has some nice color rendering, differing from current Nikkor stuff. Also a nine-blade ROUNDED diaphragm produces some very pleasing bokeh.

The first couple of test shots was of my wife of course :)
D2x, 1/250, f/8, ISO200
#2 is 1:1 crop to show the eye detail.
#3,4,5 - some casual bug shots (as you see :) )

Conclusion? Grab this unique piece of glass if you get a chance! :rockon:

[Steve P]

Hell Igor, I'm impressed. #2 is my fav. Increadible detail and colour!

Steve

[PortageBay]

That is one heck of a find Igor. Those shots are tack sharp, with great color. Was there much PS work done?

Don

[Igor]

Don, nothing special, just regular/minor levels/usm job.

[SiHing]

Very nice shots, Igor! :)

Looks like an amazing performer! Isn't finding old gems fun... ;)

Regards
Alex

[Igor]

Exactly Alex! :) :cheers:
Have you tried MEDICAL Nikkor macros BTW?

[Igor]

Hmm, just discovered this lens goes up to 2.5x repro when extended to full length (a small knob has to be reised to release it).
I wouldn't say 2.5x is really mind-blowing, but here's a quick test pic, judge yourself :) ....

[SiHing]

The pictures this lens produces are not bad at all (quite the opposite actually)... plus it seems to be loaded with gimmicks (knob...)... what more can one ask for... :D

I haven't tried Medical Nikkors so far, because I was outbid for the 120 a couple of times (the 200 doesn't have a good reputation, so I never looked for one). I then helped myself to a Vivitar Series 1 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, which was initially designed for medical use as well, if that also counts... ;)

My most recent acquisitions include a minty Vivitar double rail bellows and some extension tubes... I guess I'll be tinkering with those for the next time. Oh, and an MF Nikkor 80-200/2.8, which is an impressively big and bulky piece of glass... :rolleyes: I'll be posting samples from it once I've done some intense shooting.

Regards
Alex

[JPS]

May i call it "Macro-Killer" ? the results look fantastic ! ...but maybe -just maybe- the D2X helped a little bit ;) ? Try it on an S2 for example...
:cheers:

[Igor]

I haven't tried Medical Nikkors so far, because I was outbid for the 120 a couple of times (the 200 doesn't have a good reputation, so I never looked for one). I then helped myself to a Vivitar Series 1 90-180/4.5 Flat Field Macro, which was initially designed for medical use as well, if that also counts... ;)

My most recent acquisitions include a minty Vivitar double rail bellows and some extension tubes... I guess I'll be tinkering with those for the next time. Oh, and an MF Nikkor 80-200/2.8, which is an impressively big and bulky piece of glass... :rolleyes: I'll be posting samples from it once I've done some intense shooting.

Regards
Alex

Alex, thanks for your thoughts on Medical Nikkors. How bad is 200/5.6 ?
I've been after Vivitar 90-180 for many months now with no luck :( How good is it? Heard only rave reports :rolleyes:
And I truly envy you on MF 80-200/2.8 . This is one of my dream lenses :rolleyes:

[Igor]

May i call it "Macro-Killer" ? the results look fantastic ! ...but maybe -just maybe- the D2X helped a little bit ;) ? Try it on an S2 for example...
:cheers:

Sure, will do, JP. Though my S2 has become quite noisey,... will use ISO100 anyway.

[SiHing]

Igor, the 90-180 is just brilliant! Apart from the relatively slow (for Macro - the main application - this is no obstacle though) yet fixed aperture it is probably the best zoom lens I've ever used (including the MF 80-200)... ;)
The only slight downside is that it needs tubes/TCs to get to 1:1 reproduction - it's 1:4 @ 90mm and 1:2 @ 180mm when used alone.

I bought mine (and a couple of other rare lenses) from this guy:

http://www.kevincameras.com/
http://stores.ebay.com/goKevincameras_Nikon_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQftidZ2QQpZ3 QQtZkm

Last time I visited his site, he had a couple of MF 80-200s and some other rare glass, like the Vivitar 450/4.5 mirror with the aspherical plastic element, a couple of Sigma 500/4.0 Ultra Mirrors (when I ordered mine he still had 3 others), the Macro Nikkors, a 70/5 Micro Nikkor and tons of other hard to come buy gear.... :rolleyes:

Just saw that he has a Kilfitt 300/4 Pan-Tele-Kilar... might be interesting... :D

The 200 Medical is said to be inferior to even the MF 200 Micro, let alone the AF version...I haven't tried it myself, but I've never heard anyone talk too favourably about it...

Regards
Alex

[Igor]

Thanks Alex. Will you post a few shots taken with both? I'd be happy to see them. :cheers:

[Igor]

Jean-Pierre, today took a few test shots with S2 and Kilar lens.
Not perfect but should give you an idea.
ISO 160, 1/125 f/11 - 16

[Igor]

And here's how this lens looks within the complete macro setup...

[SiHing]

Sure thing, Igor! ;)

[SiHing]

Hi Igor! Ahm... maybe a stupid question... but what is this "thing" on top of your camera? ;) Never seen such a flash (?) before... :rolleyes:

Regards
Alex

[Igor]

Hi Alex,
who told you it's a flash? ;) It's a device for attracting the bugs :lol: :rofl:
KIDDING, sorry... :)

It's a flash, so called "e-flash" ... bought it on ebay for $50 and am VERY happy with it.
It's "stupid" : no TTL, no output level, nothing, BUT it gives great mildly spread light and is excellent for macro and portraits (no, no I never shoot portraits anymore! :lol: )
Recommend! :righton:

[JPS]

Wow ! That surely gives an idea of the sharpness of that lens... and it also looks as though the ratio is bigger than 1:1, or did you crop the images ?
Also, the "flash" that you're using looks great ! I really must deliver a nice and even light for macros... Congrats !
:cheers:

[Igor]

Thanks JP. Looks like the 2.5x mode works as adding the extension rings to the regular macro, it gives NO enhancement in resolution, just bigger size.
However at "native" 1:1.7 repro ratio the lens really performs great.

[James Gray]

Your results are much better than anything I produce. I have the 40mm f3.5 version for my Exakta. It also fits my Topcon RE II.

A manual diaphragm lens on a waist level finder, non instant return mirror, lefthand wind, dual shutter-speed dial Exakta VX. A far cry from the speed and convenience of using the lens on your DSLR's!