Using the Micro-Nikkor collapsed?

[Tveljus]

Hi everyone, I've been enjoying my minty fresh Micro-Nikkor·C 5cm f3.5 (s-mount) with an EP-marking on the barrel for these few months I've had it. But I keep reading about using the Micro-Nikkor collapsed for close-focusing, and I just can't wrap my head around it. How is it supposed to be used when collapsed? Doesn't collapsing the lens push focusing beyond infinity? I get that the special aperture collar must mean the lens can be used collapsed and un-reversed (I guess?). Can anyone clarify this?

So far I've used it on both my Nikon rangefinders and via Amedeo adapter on my Sony A7. Uncollapsed the lens focuses and works like a charm. I'm sorry if I've missed something obvious, but hitting this brick wall won't make me any smarter hehe.

 

[enasniearth]

Wes has the best answer

 

[wes loder]

In order to gain the reproduction ratios that the other 50mm Nikkors gave with the negative front lens, you need to collapse the Micro-Nikkor—BUT only on a S or P copy stand. Otherwise, the only reason to collapse a Micro-Nikkor is so it will fit inside a camera case. 🙂

 

[ChrisLivsey]

Should you actually find one of those copy stands and still have cash available you will need it, to change the aperture Nikon made a "diaphragm collar" which attached to the aperture ring, otherwise inaccessible, and the very best of luck finding one of those.

Just so you know what you are looking for here is the best explanation and photographs, courtesy of out host:
https://www.cameraquest.com/nrfpa.htm

 

[richardHaw]

still looking for one. yes, I am jealous 😱😱😱

 

[RichL]

still looking for one. yes, I am jealous 😱😱😱

Check Igor's Camera exchange. He has a couple.

 

[Corran]

I just checked out of curiosity. He does not have any. I think you are confusing the early SLR version (55mm preset) that he has.

 

[RichL]

I just checked out of curiosity. He does not have any. I think you are confusing the early SLR version (55mm preset) that he has.

My bad. It was listed with the ranger finder accessories and I didn't check beyond that.

 

[Tveljus]

Hi everyone, thanks for your answers!

So if I haven't missed anything, I guess collapsing the lens basically just changes the working distance, by the amount of the distance that the lens moves when being collapsed?

The lens elements are not affected by collapsing the lens, as they are all in the same barrel. The only thing affected is the distance between the lens mount and the film plane. In a set-up with bellows this shouldn't make any big difference, as the lens isn't very long, so it should basically just provide a couple of centimeters shorter working distance. And I don't really see when that would be useful, I would assume it would be more useful if the lens could be extended beyond it's normal use, which would give a higher magnification factor. So basically, collapsing the lens should give the same effect as shortening the bellows.

Also, just to clarify: if the lens is reversed there's no use collapsing or extending the lens, as it's only the barrel with the lens mount that moves - the barrel with the lens elements stay where it is. Note that the lens never is reversed on Stephen Gandy's photos of it employed on the copy stand. There's no thread or other mount for the aperture collar as far as I can see, so at least the effects of collapsing the lens can be ruled out completely when it comes to using it reversed.

I'm gonna get me somekind of bellows and try the difference between collapsing and extending, but logically it doesn't seem to be a big thing function-wise. Or have I missed something?

 

[Tveljus]

Here is my Micro-Nikkor mounted reversed via a 34,5mm->LSM adapter from customphototools.com and a LSM->Nikon F adapter, just for funs. 🙂