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?
Noritsu 124mm f/21 FACTS FIRST:
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
Image Samples at 1.4x: Spoiler Alert
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 LENS SPECS:
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.
Final Verdict
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.
f/21 vs f/3.6 100% View Crop images
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.
The Minilab Lens
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.
More information
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: