The S-Sonnar 2,5/62 test is now online on Closeuphotography.com, see this link to open a new window or click on the image above: https://www.closeuphotography.com/zeiss-s-sonnar-62mm-f2-5-lens-test
This is a special specialized lens from Carl Zeiss made for film duplication something like 50 plus years ago. I really enjoyed shooting with this lens, it was a lot more fun than I expected. Thanks to friends for making this test happen.
Any questions send send me an email.
Noritsu 124mm f/21 135F 2UP Lens with an SD card for scale
This is a Noritsu 124mm f/21 2UP minilab lens designed to make 2.5in x 3.5in wallet sized prints from 35mm film. Noritsu used the lens for 1.69x magnification mounted normally and it could be used at 0.59x reverse mounted. The lens looked promising with compact size and a useful magnification range for in-the-field macro photography and a low cost just $7.50 USD. This lens is not labeled and there is no indication of focal length or aperture on the carrier. I expected a 100-105mm f/5.6 to f/7 lens. What I got was something quite different. Was the lens worth the price I paid?
Good working distance
Tiny profile 14mm in diameter
2 Lenses Included in the 2UP carrier
Full frame sensor coverage
0.6x / 1.7x magnification
No chromatic aberration issues
Low price on the used market
The fixed maximum aperture of this lens measures out at f/21. Unfortunately with a maximum aperture like this the lens produces a very low resolution image due to diffraction. The performance was so poor I’m won’t waste the time it takes to process and upload samples images. At the end of the test I do show an example of what an extremely low resolution f/21 lens looks like at 100% view compared to a high resolution f/3.6 scanner lens.
Noritsu 124mm f/21 Z902703 135F 2UP 62mm x 39mm (2.5in x 3.5in)
Lens Type: 2 UP format minilab printing lens for enlarging 35mm film to 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inch prints
Image circle: 43mm ⌀
Focal length: 124mm (measured)
Fixed Aperture: f/21 (measured)
Effective Aperture: f/56.5 at 1.69x
Iris: none
Filter threads: none
Lens mount threads: unknown
Optical design: 3 elements in 3 groups (see image below)
Magnification: 1.69x normal and 0.59x in reverse
Mounting: threads facing sensor for 1.69x
Dimensions: 14mm x 20mm
Sensor coverage: full frame
Price paid: $7.50 USD + shipping
Price new: $1100 - $1360 USD according to a Noritsu price list (4up lens was listed at $1680)
The Two-Up format creates two images at a time with two lenses mounted side-by-side, the term "Up" refers to multiple prints being made at the same time. Minilab lenses were also available as Three-Ups, a Four-Ups, I’ve even seen minilab lenses setup for Six-Up printing.
Left to right, top row; retainer ring, 5.1mm ID aperture disk, lens housing, bottom row, 3 single elements.
This lens goes straight to the Hall of Shame for poor overall image quality. I would never have purposely purchased a lens this slow and I would never have wasted my time running this test. At least now this test will save other photographers from wasting their time on this type of lens in the future. This lens was not worth the $7.50 price paid and I would not recommend this lens to anyone even at a cost of zero.
The maximum aperture of f/21 results in an effective aperture of f/57 at 1.7x. Only when reduced down to small size would an image look acceptably. See the 1500 pixel sample below.
So exactly how does an effective f/50 aperture look next to a high resolution effective f/8.6 at 1.4x?
Un-cropped image downsized to 1500 pixels across.
100% view crop images. The Noritsu image on the left has had three sharpening passes applied. The Nikon image is not sharpened.
These crop images are shown at 100% view. The Noritsu images are not out-of-focus, this is as sharp as they get. Contrast and sharpness levels are so low with this lens focus peaking fails to find any edges even with a focus light. The lens was tested mounted forwards and in reverse. Lens was also checked for fingerprints.
The Noritsu image on the left has had three sharpening passes applied. The Nikon image has two sharpening passes applied.
After the five or six Noritsu lenses I’ve picked up this year to test, I’m now officially done with the minilab lens category. Out of the two or three dozen Noritsu and Fuji Photo Optical Co. lenses I tested in the past coupe of years, I’ve been disappointed with just about all except for maybe two or three.
The Not Recommended List:
https://www.closeuphotography.com/not-recommended-list
Another Noritsu lens test:
The Noritsu Zoom NC3x-15.6x H018070
https://www.closeuphotography.com/blog/2022/5/27/quick-look-noritsu-zoom-nc3x-156x-h018070
Fuji Photo Optical Co. Minilab lenses:
MTF data for the new d.Fine HR-M 2.8/80 lens, this is the 0.2x version.
Source for the MTF data is the d.fine HR-M 0.2x PDF:
https://www.qioptiq-shop.com/out/Graphics/en/00132903_0.pdf
Below are two HR lenses compared, the HR Digaron-S lens (same optics as the inspec.x L HR 4/100) on the left side vs d.fine HR-M 2.8/80 on the other. Both lenses are closed down one stop, 5.6 for the HR Digaron-S and 4.0 for the d.fine HR-M.
The biggest difference between these two are across the frame consistency, the HR Digaron-S is sharper in the center but the HR-M lens is more consistent over the entire field. The HR-M lens curve is flat with little drop off in sharpness, the HR Digaron-S has a sharp central zone but a gradual drop off.
What’s the difference in image quality between a HR (high-resolution) lens and a normal high-end enlarger lens?
The difference is larger than I expected. The d.fine lens is made for a modern large sensor with a fine pixel pitch of 3.5µm. The APO-Rodagon-N has a larger image circle but is designed for much larger 7 µm pixels.
This is the current project list at the Closeuphotography office. The optimistic plan is to get all of these up before the end of the year. See the project status notes below each entry.
Printing-Nikkor 1x Test: Ultimate Edition
Nikon Printing-Nikkor 150mm F2.8 Float Ring
Nikon Printing-Nikkor 150mm F2.8 Early
Nikon Printing-Nikkor 150mm F2.8 IMAX
Nikon Printing-Nikkor 105mm F2.8
Nikon Printing-Nikkor 105mm F2.8A
Note: Total of eight PN lenses! Shooting complete, sharpness, CAs, and LoCAs
Componon vs Xenon vs M-Componon 2x Shootout page
Note: all lenses are in the office, shooting started
Zeiss S-Sonnar 2.5/62 page
Note: Lens is in the office
Rodagon vs Rodagon-P vs APO-Rodagon iris housing types page
Note: all lenses are in the office
APO-Rodagon-N 4/105 - Sinaron 4/105 page
Note: all lenses are in the office, page started
Makro-Symmar 5.6/180 page
Note: all shooting done, page started
Moritex F90C page
Note: Shooting complete, page started
Printing-Nikkor 105 page
Note: start after 1x test
Printing-Nikkor 150mm F2.8
Note: start after 1x test
Polaroid-SprintScan 120 Scanner Lens page
Note: all photography completed, webpage in progress
Nikon LS-3510 Scanner Lens page
Note: all photography completed, webpage in progress
Lasergraphics High MTF Scanner lens page
Note: all photography completed, webpage in progress
Sigma 105 Art Macro lens page
Note: lens is in the office
Laowa 100mm 2x APO page
Note: lens is in the office
Rayfact MJ90 4/90 0.05x - 0.5x line scan lens page
Note: lens is in the office
60mm Shootout page
Linos Inspec. xL 4/60 (Rodenstock 60mm f/4 HR Digaron-S)
Sinar Sinaron Digital HR 60mm f4 (Rodenstock 60mm f/4 HR Digaron-S)
Schneider APO-Componon 4/60 Makro-Iris
Schneider APO-Digitar 4/60
Note: all lenses are in the office
90mm Shootout page
Schneider APO-Digitar 4.5/90
Schneider APO-Componon 4.5/90
Note: all lenses are in the office
80mm Shootout page
Schneider APO-Digitar 4/80
Schneider Componon-S 4/80
Sinar Sinaron Digital 4/80
Rodenstock APO-Rodagon 4/80
Rodenstock Rodagon 4/80
Rodenstock Rodagon-P 4/80
Note: all lenses are in the office
50mm Shootout page
Lecia Photar 4/50 late model
Schneider Componon-S 2.8/50 Makro-Iris
Rodenstock APO-Rodagon N 2.8/50
Tominon 4.5/50
Note: all lenses are in the office
Any questions or comments, shoot me a message.
Managed to find some additional information on the new HR-M series, with more details the new 50mm HR-M lens. The 2.8/80 is available now, Qioptiq reports that the new HR-M 2.6/50 lens will be available in Q1/2023. The HR-M specs; high-resolution, fast maximum aperture and large image circle are very impressive.
Waiting to hear from Qioptiq on prices for the two lenses below, I’ll update the post when I hear back.
d.fine HR-M 2.6/50 p/n 0703-145-000-20
d.fine HR-M 2.8/80 p/n 0703-145-000-30
Any questions or comments, send me a message.