I Auto-Up II -- Do you?

[VinceC]

I just came across the most marvelous gadget, an Auto-Up II close-focus device. It consists of a close-up lens for my orginal Nikkor 5cm/1.4 and a long, somewhat unwieldy prism that clips on the front of the camera and allows for coupled focusing from 14 inches to 20 inches. The box is labelled for a Nikon SP but of course can work on an S3 as well. It was built by a company called Pleasant, and distributed by the Orient Trading Company.

Ordinarily, a Nikon 50mm lens has a close focus of 36 inches 0.9 meter.

I'm now having close encounters of the Auto-Up kind. It's not practical for everyday use, but it's also small and light enough to throw in a bag for that every-now-and-then shot.

It didn't come with instructions, and I have no idea how to frame with it. I'm just pointing the lens straight at the subject and hoping for the best. You're close enough to tell if you're centered or not. After all, that close-focus distance is to the film plane, so the front of the lens is less than a foot away!

Attached images are all full frame. Two flashed shots are at f/5.6. Avaliable light shot of sprouting plants is about f/2.8.

 

[VinceC]

The Auto-Up II has shown me that my cameras are too dusty!

For bokeh fans, it seems to really make the out-of-focus characteristics of the Nikkor 5cm/1.4 just marvelous.

 

[VinceC]

I was bidding on a Nikon close-up device on EBay until the price went way, way past what I was willing to spend. But the idea caught my interest.

The Auto-Ups are very affordable. On the other hand, nobody knows anything about them. I had to buy two to get one kit. The first had a mismatched Auto-Up prism (I think it focuses down to 18 or 20 inches) with the Auto-Up II lens, which focuses 14-20" Then I saw an Auto-UP II prism on EBay, with a Skylight filter instead of any close-up filter, and the original box. I snagged it for $22.

I ended up spending a little too much by cobbling together two kits. Standard Auto-Up kits seem to go for around $25 to $50, depending on whether or not you're bidding against someone who really wants one.

 

[VinceC]

It also just sounds restful to have something built by a company called Pleasant.

 

[csxcnj]

I have one that came with a Konica 1 I purchased recently, in it's original box. On the box is:

Pleasant AUTO-UP

Super Nooky-1m-50cm

For Konica F:2.8

How can you resist super nooky.....

 

[Trius]

I know, the NOOKY moniker is just way to cool ... I should buy one just for the name! I love futzing around with close-up lenses on RFs ... partly because it's out of the intended purpose for RFs. 😀

Anyone know which Pleasant/Nooky would fit a lens w/ 49mm filter size?

 

[jlw]

The prism in the viewfinder attachment should take care of framing, more or less -- just look through the viewfinder and aim. The square "pointer" in the upper right corner is your parallax-compensation marker: at the device's longest distance, assume the top edge of the field is your limit, and at the closest distance, use the bottom edge of the square as a reference for the top edge of the field.

You're right, not many people know much about them nowadays... although people must have bought them "back in the day," because there always seems to be a trickle of them for sale for just about every flavor of RF camera. I keep wishing Cosina would introduce some modern ones for a few selected Voigtlander RF lenses and cameras.

My page about Canon Auto-Ups is here (click this.)

 

[furcafe]

I don't have an Auto-Up for my Nikons, but do have the Zeiss Ikon Contameters & Contaprox devices for most of my ZI RFs & they work along similar principles (usually a separate RF unit that goes into the accessory shoe + close-up lenses that attach to the 50mm lens).

 

[VinceC]

Auto-Up adverntures continue

Auto-Up adverntures continue

My Auto-Up II adventure continues. It even works on people, and the effect (at least on children) is less disastrous than I feared. This picture was taken around 16 inches, which is considerably closer than the SLR 50/1.4, which focuses down to 22 inches.

 

[VinceC]

>>The next thing you know, you'll be getting a Reflex-Housing.<<

Isn't that a Nikon F?

The fun thing about the Auto-Up is that it is so small. Folded up, the prism is a little bigger than a ballpoint pen, much smaller and flatter than a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses.

 

[VinceC]

So, here is a picture of what the Auto-Up looks like on a Nikon RF. Picture of an Auto-Up on an original S3, taken by an Auto-up II on an S3-2000 with Millenneum Nikkor. (The Auto-Up and the Auto-Up II look idential in size, color, shape, etc.) Both shots at f/11

The first shot shows it mounted.
2nd shot shows its size folded up.

 

[abenner]

Very nice Vince. I've got one of these type of things for my LTM Canon 50/1.8, but haven't busted it out yet. Your pics have inspired me to give it a try.

OT: You photographing an auto-up with an auto up reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer was lost in NYC and realized he was at the corner of 1st and 1st, and figured he was at the nexus of the universe.

 

[VinceC]

>>I've got one of these type of things for my LTM Canon 50/1.8, but haven't busted it out yet. Your pics have inspired me to give it a try.<<

Looks like I might be starting a little Auto-Up insurgency. As the movement grows, I'll establish a headquarters at the corner of 1st and 1st, nexus of the Auto-Up universe.

 

[mjflory]

The insurgency is spreading to the boroughs! When I have a moment (and can find it) I'll photograph my "universal" Pleasant Auto-Up. The bilingual instructions contain an extensive list of Leitz, Canon, and other lenses with which it is supposed to work.

By the way, Vince, that's a mesmerizing photograph in post #12. Reminds me of how much our pupils used to dilate (without the optometrist's eyedrops). A 7-year-old friend was telling me the other day how well he can see in the dark. I'm lucky if I don't walk into a wall if the lights are low.

 

[VinceC]

Thanks, Michael.
It seems to me that the diopter lens should be fairly universal. It works accurately on both my 1950s Nikkor 5cm/1.4 and my Nikon Millenneum 50/1.4, which uses a completelyl different optical formula and is really a different lens from the one the Auto-Up was matched to.

My 7-year-old usually wears glasses, which can make her eyes look even larger.

 

[BillBingham2]

I've seen them several times on EvilBay and bid, but lost on a few. The Nikon version goes for about twice to three times as much as the Auto-Up does. The size makes is very interesting as it would take up almost nothing extra in the camera bag, yet provide me some real value. I like getting close up every once in a while, but the cost of a MicroNikkor for my S2 is almost as much as a new SP.

Thanks for sharing and making me want something small that I might be able to find at a resonable price (CGAS > Controlled GAS).

B2 (;->

 

[NIKON KIU]

Buying in pieces

Buying in pieces

here is half of one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260119354086


I have a question, would this close up filter complete the kit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-Rangefind...3QQihZ001QQcategoryZ74913QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks in advance.

Kiu

 

[VinceC]

I don't know anything about Nikon close-up kits. I think there were different models for different cameras S/S2/SP. Rotoloni's book has a small section on the different close-up kits.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Today I won an auction a for Pleasant Auto-Up SUPER NOOKY for Nikon S2 Nikkor F:2. Cost me a grand total of 1,500 yen ($16.75) including postage. With a name like that, how could I resist! Can't wait to give it a spin!

 

[wes loder]

" I like getting close up every once in a while, but the cost of a MicroNikkor for my S2 is almost as much as a new SP."

The micro-Nikkor for the RF Nikons won't get you any closer than any other RF Nikkor i.e. three feet.
IF you want to get close with an RF Micro-Nikkor, you need to put it on a S, P, SA or PA copier and use the tubes or bellows. WES