Amazon Kindle Unlimited Offer: 1-Month For FREE!
Enlarger lens problem
I bought a 2nd hand EL Nikkor 50mm but I can't get it to focus. Even stopping down to the maximum extent doesn't bring it into focus properly although it does get closer. I can't see anything wrong with the lens but I think there must be, because I have an old Minolta 50mm lens which does focus. Am I overlooking something obvious or is the Nikkor a dog? I though they were supposed to be good!
There's not really a lot to go wrong with an enlarging lens. Seems odd? Have you tried the Minolta since the Nikon and it still focuses? Checking this will eliminate the enlarger. Hold the lens up to the light to see if it's covered in dust or fungus which would cause focus degradation. Also shake it to see if somethings rattling around.
What enlarger are you using, does it have a coarse focus adjustment and then a fine adjustment for critical focus - if so you might have to use the coarse focus adjustment first and then bring it into sharp focus after that. Is the Nikkor screwed fully into the mount, this can make a difference. Nikkor EL lenses are great if you get it to work I had the 50mm f2.8 myself and its really punchy.
BOB
BOB
Thanks for your replies. Yes, I've used the Minolta since using the Nikon and it's OK, so I don't think it's the enlarger. The lens doesn't rattle and it looks pretty clean. The enlarger is an Opemus 7 and I've made sure the lens mount is the right way round (it flips over to fit an 80mm lens which incidentally also works fine). Coarse focus or fine focus, I've tried both to no effect. I'll try it again later and make sure it is fully screwed in, see if that does the trick.
Tim
Tim
As it is a 50mm same focal length as your other it should focus. Just one last thing before you take it back, there is not a ring or something on the screw thread is there, preventing it from being screwed fully in. Saturday tomorrow good day for taking it back.
Ron
Ron
Ron
Er ... was hoping no-one would ask. The good news is that I finally got it to work. The bad news is that there no obvious explanation as to why it wouldn't work before ... except user stupidity! So, thanks to everyone who tried to help and please excuse my incompetence
Tim
Er ... was hoping no-one would ask. The good news is that I finally got it to work. The bad news is that there no obvious explanation as to why it wouldn't work before ... except user stupidity! So, thanks to everyone who tried to help and please excuse my incompetence
Tim
