This is the test of the Nikon Scanner Nikkor ED 100mm f/2.8 lens found in the Nikon 8000 ED, and 9000 ED Coolscan film scanners. If you are looking for a test of the Scanner Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 lens you can find it here on Closeuphotography.com: https://www.closeuphotography.com/scanner-nikkor-ed-7-element-lens. For info on all the other Nikon scanner lenses see the section below close to very end of this test.

The 100mm f/2.8 Scanner Nikkor ED 14 element, 6 group lens, is a very special ultra-wide-band apochromat corrected for spherical aberration, astigmatism, distortion, and lateral chromatic aberration from 400nm to 850nm, over the entire image frame.

The same ultra-wide-band apochromat design used in the Scanner Nikkor ED was later used by Nikon Rayfact to produce lenses from 0.3x to 3.0x magnification, including the famous Nikon Printing-NIKKOR 105mm f2.8A (PN105A) and Nikon Rayfact 2x OFM20119MN (Printing-Nikkor 95mm) line scan lenses (Nikon spec). The Repro-Nikkor 100mm f/2.8 on the other hand is a completely different design than the Scanner Nikkor ED and Printing-Nikkor series.

When the Nikon 8000 ED scanner was announced in 2001 it literally had no equal on the market. The 8000 ED blurred the line between what was attainable with an affordable desktop scanner and a professional drum scanner. The Coolscan ED scanners were great performers and were unique in that they could actually reach their advertised resolution figures which was unheard of for a film scanner. The only competitor in 2001 was Polaroid with the SprintScan 120, but Polaroid filed for federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 11, 2001.

When writing this test in 2017 the Scanner-Nikkor ED lenses are unheard of, virtually unknown in the Nikon photography world but now these lenses are more widely known and due to a resurgence in film scanning, prices are now much higher on the used market.

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100mm Scanner Nikkor ED Lens Quick Facts

100mm focal length
Fast f/2.8 aperture
0.87x - 0.89x (forward) 1.12x - 1.15x (in reverse) magnification range
14 element 6 group design + 2 protective outer elements
Design uses 6 ultra-low dispersion glass elements
Very well corrected from edge to edge
Ultra wide band APO chromatic aberration correction

LEns SPECIFICATIONS

Scanner-Nikkor ED 100mm f/2.8 lens
Part number: 9000ED: TB100-078, 8000ED: TB100-032
Type: multi format film reproduction scanner lens
Magnification range: 0.85x - 0.9x / 1.1x - 1.15x reverse, performs best in the range of 1.1 to 1.15x.
Wavelength range: chromatic aberration strictly controlled from 435.84 nm (blue) to 852.11 nm (infrared)
Reference wavelength: 546.07nm (e-line, green)
Distortion: 0%
Focal length: 100mm
Lens configuration: 14 elements in 6 groups + 2 protective elements including 6 low dispersion glass elements
Fixed aperture: f/2.8 measured f/3.1 forward and f/3 in reverse on the 9000 type and f/3.0 and f/2.9 on the 8000 lens.
Reference magnification: 0.8664x (Nikon spec)
Working distance: 140mm at 1X
Coverage: 56mm ⌀ image circle
Lens mount: none
Accessory thread: none
Source: Lens made in Japan
Design includes sensor cover glass: Yes, CCD sensor coverglass

Notes: The Scanner Nikkor ED lens was designed to scan 120/220 format film with with a 56mm wide (active) sensor area, scanning a 57 to 64mm wide line at 0.87x - 0.89x reduction (or 1.12x - 1.15x magnification in reverse).

Film scanners are designed to scan along the shorter dimension of the film. This is a 56mm wide line for a medium format scanner. For 35mm film scanners this is a 24mm line. This means a medium format scanner lens will slightly overscan a full frame camera sensor with a 56mm image circle. A 35mm format scanner lens is designed to scan a 24mm line which means this is slightly under the 43mm required for a full frame sensor, but a 35mm film scanner will cover an APS-C sensor without any issues.

8000 ED and 9000 ED Scanner Specs

Models: Super COOLSCAN 8000 ED, LS-8000 ED, 9000 ED, LS-9000 ED
Type: Multi-format, 35mm, 16mm, 120/220 film scanner
System: Fixed optical system, movable media plane single-pass optical scanning system
Light type: R / G / B / IR four-color LED light source (LED is the cool in Coolscan)
Planned production volume: 1,000 units per month
CCD sensor: Sony linear CCD ILX133A 28 pin CerDIP
CCD type: Tri-linear 3 x 10,000 pixel monochrome
CCD width: 61.2mm (58mm active)
Maximum scan area: 56.9 x 83.7 max area for the 9000, 63.5mm x 88mm for the 8000.
Manufacturers optical resolution: 4000 dpi
CCD maximum resolution: TBC
Maximum optical resolution: TBC
Production 8000 ED: 2001-2003
Production 9000 ED: 2003-2010
Scanner street price 8000 ED: $2900 USD
Full retail price 8000 ED: $2900
Full retail price 9000 ED:$1900
Used market scanner price: Used market prices for these scanners are ridiculous, asking prices over $4000 USD which is higher than the retail price when these were new. Even non-working units selling for parts-only are selling for over $1100. At the time this test was first published in 2017, prices for 8000 ED and 9000 ED units were less than $100. I paid $80-120 each for each of the 4 units I bought for this test.
Country of origin: made in Japan
Manufacturer: Nikon Japan

Why are there so many marks on the Scanner Nikkor lens?

The marks on the 9000ED barrel are from an ultra-precise lens alignment system used for micron level placement accuracy of each optical element within the lens assembly lenses for near-perfect positioning. These QC tuning marks from the factory can be ignored of course, but It turns out that one set of marks is important. The 9000ED repair manual requires when the lens unit is replaced, the proper alignment is with the mark on the front ring facing upwards, see the illustration on the left below. This mark will align the lens with the CCD sensor for best performance and is referred to as a best azimuth mark, common on high-end lenses.

In reality this is a pretty interesting comment considering how many marks can actually be found on the front lens section, see the image above right. Alignment marks are found on the inner barrel of Printing-NIKKOR lenses, normally covered by the lenses outer cosmetic shell.

Although no lens alignment is recommended in the 8000 ED factory repair manual, the lenses, as seen in the center of the image below, marked 26, use a spot of white paint for the lens azimuth mark instead of a line. The smaller 45mm 7 element Scanner Nikkor lens on the left, below, also has an best azimuth alignment mark on the front edge of the lens.

The 3 versions of the Scanner Nikkor ED lens, L-R, the 7 element Scanner Nikkor ED lens, the 14 element Scanner Nikkor ED lens from the 8000 scanner and the 14 element Scanner Nikkor ED lens from the 9000 scanner.

6 inch diameter wafer used for the 1x magnification images below.

Wafer at 1X with Scanner-Nikkor ED lens. Click on the image to see a larger version.

100% pixel center crop. Be sure to click on the crop images to see the full size version in a new window.

Chis seeds @ 1X with Scanner-Nikkor ED lens on Nikon D500 single SB-R200 flash on Nikon MM-11 microscope stand. These seeds are approximately 1 mm (0.039 in) in length.

100% actual pixel crop of the center of the main image above showing amazing sharpness and detail. Remember the seeds are only about 1mm long.

Extreme upper left corner 100% crop showing the same sensational sharpness and detail as the center crop.

chromatic aberration Test

Click on one of the images below to open in a full-size light-box view. All images made with Scanner-Nikkor ED lens, full frame camera, Nikon D810, 1X magnification, Photoshop CC ACR with chromatic aberration correction turned off.

LoCA test Scanner-Nikkor ED lens

CA test no lens correction. Scanner-Nikkor ED lens

100% center crop Scanner-Nikkor ED

100% extreme corner crop Scanner-Nikkor ED lens

chromatic aberration correction

The Scanner Nikkor ED lens is an apochromatic or APO lens, corrected for chromatic aberration in the red, blue, and yellow wavelengths, this really adds to the subjective perception of sharpness. An APO lens should have correction of both types of chromatic aberrations; lateral CAs and longitudinal CAs.

Lateral CAs, or just CAs, are visible as red and blue fringing at hard edges, especially towards the corners of an image. CAs are pretty common with fast lenses and wide-angles at larger apertures. Longitudinal CAs, or LoCAs, are visible as halos of different colors in out-of-focus areas, usually magenta in front of the focus point and green beyond. LoCAs are extremely difficult to correct, especially wide-open, and only a handful of lenses are LoCA free. Almost all fast lenses and almost all macro lenses show LoCAs at larger apertures.

The optical glass used in lenses disperses or separates light in varying degrees (this effect is best illustrated with a prism). This is bad for image quality because it causes chromatic aberrations or CAs, where the different wavelengths or colors end up being focused at different points. This causes unsightly fringing that will reduce sharpness and resolution. The chromatic aberrations, or CAs, produced by a lens occur because the lens was not able to bring all the different wavelengths or colors of light, to focus on the same point. With a low dispersion lens element with a lower the dispersion ratio, the less the light is scattered which makes it easier for the designers to correct CAs.

Final Verdict

Incredible sharpness with zero aberrations from edge to edge. Highly recommended for the price vs performance value.

Lens RATING

Like:
Sharpness
Clean Image Quality
Unbeatable price to performance ratio
Best azimuth mark (9000ED)

Can live with:
Lack of a lens mount
Industrial cosmetic finish

Disappointed with:
Lack of iris

Don't need:
Sensitivity to flare and stray light
Nikon gold ring, or gold ED badge

Mounting the Scanner-Nikkor ED

There are no external or filter threads on the Scanner-Nikkor ED lens but the lens is not difficult to mount with a simple modification of installed threaded sleeves with external 2 inch SM2 threads that install over the front and rear sections of the lens. The main reason that I prefer this method is that the sleeve makes magnification adjustments quick and easy and once installed the lens will be locked down tight and solid.

Scanner Nikkor ED lens with front and rear threaded sleeves that are 2mm thick with 52mm threads.

The sleeves in the image above are available from Thorlabs and will have have 0.3mm clearance so shims should be used in the installation. I used stainless shim tape and long-set epoxy to fix the sleeves to the lens barrel. The rear threads are normally used to mount the lens, the front threads are meant to mount a lens hood but you could also use the front threads to reverse mount the lens. The rear sleeve is slightly longer than the rear section of the lens barrel so the sleeved lens in the image below is taller.

Nikon Scanner Nikkor ED lens with 52mm threaded sleeves installed on the lens barrel.

This is what the lens looks like without the sleeves on the left, and with the two sleeves are installed on the right.

SM2/52mm Studio Setup

This is the full Scanner Nikkor SM2/52mm Studio Setup, more information on using this setup with other lenses is available here on Closeuphotography.com: https://www.closeuphotography.com/52mm-setup

1. Thorlabs SM2 Slip Ring Clamps
Official name: SM2RC - Ø2.20" Slip Ring for SM2 Lens Tubes, 8-32 Tap
Retail price: $30.99 USD each
Link to Thorlabs site: https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=SM2RC
Note: 3 or 4 pieces are recommended. This unit will have to me mounted to the Small Arca-Swiss compatible clamps

2. Thorlabs 2 inch SM2 threaded Sleeve for Scanner Nikkor ED
Official name: SM2T20 - SM2 (2.035"-40) Coupler, External Threads, 2" Long
Retail price: $39.67 USD each
Link to Thorlabs site: https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=SM2T20
Note: 2 pieces are recommended and are included with each SM2 threaded sleeve

3. Thorlabs SM2 Stackable Extension Tubes
Official name: Ø2" Stackable Lens Tubes
Retail price: $23-36 ea.
Link to Thorlabs site:https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=3383
Note: SM2L15, 1.5 inch unit

4. RafCamera Nikon F mount to SM2 female thread adapter
Official name: SM2 female thread to Nikon F camera mount adapter
Retail price: $29-32
Link to RafCamera site: https://www.rafcamera.com/adapter-sm2f-to-nikon-f
Link to eBay ad: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SM2-female-thread-to-Nikon-F-camera-mount-adapter-/14298443471
Note: Thorlabs makes an F-mount to SM2 adapter but I don’t recommend it at this time

5. Thorlabs SM2 Extension Tube Without Male Threads 3 inches long
Official name: SM2M30 - SM2 Lens Tube Without External Threads, 3" Thread Depth, Two Retaining Rings Included
Retail price: $34.31 USD each
Link to Thorlabs site:https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=SM2M30
Note: 1 pcs

6. Scanner Nikkor ED lens

7. Extra Long Arca-Swiss compatible plate
Official name: Haoge 220mm Quick Release Plate
Retail price: $25.
Link to Amazon ad: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015V137L6/
Note: 1 pcs

8. Small Arca-Swiss compatible clamps
Official name: Mini Quick Release Plate Clamp
Retail price: $4.75
Link to eBay ad: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Tripod-Mini-Quick-Release-Plate-Clamp-1-4-Screw-Aluminium-Alloy-AL/283168779331?
Note: 3 or 4 pcs are recommended. This unit will have to me mounted to the Thorlabs SM2 Slip Ring Clamps

Alternative Mounting Method: 52mm Mount Adapter

Only by pure luck I found an extension tube with 52mm mounting threads that slides right over the lens barrel with just enough clearance so there is no play or wobble. This tube is available for sale on Ebay for about $7 USD, you can find the tube using the search terms: X1/X2 Adapter Tube For 52mm Leica X1 X2 Camera.

Not all 52mm tubes will work, out of the five or six 52mm tubes that I own, only two of these had with a large enough clear internal diameter to fit over the lens.

To keep the lens securely in place inside the tube, I drilled and tapped the tube and installed four 8-32 set screws at a friend's machine shop. The image below is the tube mounted on the lens.

The white paint mark and the faint number 3 written on the side are quality control markings from the factory. I have to assume that silver lines on the segments are also for QC purposes.

Scanner Nikkor ED lens installed with the SM2/52mm studio setup and Nikon D850

Scanner-Nikkor ED lens with 52mm mount adapter

Where to get a Scanner-Nikkor
Nikon discontinued its Coolscan line and stopped selling spare parts for the scanners in 2010 but the scanners are available used on Ebay, sometimes you can find them in non working, only-for-parts condition, and sometimes you can buy just the lens assembly, which is how I found mine. Three Scanner-Nikkor ED lenses sold on Ebay between May and June 2017 for $120 - $220.

What Scanners use Scanner Nikkor ED lenses?

The Scanner-Nikkor ED lenses are available in these scanners:

The 14 elements in 6 groups including 6 ED glass element lens:

SUPER COOLSCAN 8000 ED LS-8000 ED
SUPER COOLSCAN 9000 ED LS-9000 ED

The 8000 ED scanner should be easy to find on the used market but don't pay for than $400 or $500 for a working scanner or more than $300 for sold for parts. The 9000 ED scanner is a little harder to find on the used market.

The 7 elements in 4 groups including 3 ED glass element lens:

Coolscan IV ED LS-40
Coolscan V ED LS-50
Super Coolscan 4000 ED LS-4000ED
Super Coolscan 5000 ED LS-5000ED

The 4000 is probably the most common Nikon scanner on the market with the ED lens. Do not overpay, I have picked up a parts only condition 4000 scanner for $40-50. I working 4000 scanner can be found for less than $150.

Scanner Nikkor versions

There are 3 different Scanner Nikkor ED versions that I know of now. As far as I know there is one 7 element lens and 2 different versions of the 14 element lens as you can see in the image below. Right now I am pretty sure the two 14 elements are different designs. The only things that I can see that are similar are the lens coating color and the dimensions of the middle section that is used to mount the lens into the scanner chassis. Differences? Front element diameter, overall length, number of lens sections, thickness and position of sections. There is no way to know for sure why Nikon changed the the 14 element lens but it is most likely just a product update when the 9000 scanner replaced the 8000.

To see if there are any differences in image quality between the two 14 element lenses I do plan to run some tests, but I doubt there will be much difference if any.

Site Updates

Update June 26th 2017

This is the 7 element Scanner-Nikkor ED lens on the left, out of a Coolscan IV LS-40. As you can see the lens is very small, about 25mm in diameter. The Coolscan IV scanner sensor width is 35mm so the image circle of this lens will be much smaller than the 14 element Scanner-Nikkor ED next to it.

A quick test made at 1X with the lens showed sharpness from corner to corner at this magnification. Images made at higher magnifications, up to 3X, showed very good detail but I need to come up with a way to mount the lens before I can really test lens.

I will be putting up a separate web page for the 7 element lens at some point.

Scanner-Nikkor ED 7 element lens, Scanner-Nikkor ED 14 element lens and Sigma 50mm macro for scale.

Update July 1, 2017

Today I managed to pick up a 14 element Scanner-Nikkor ED lens from a Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 ED scanner. The lens overall is identical to the 8000 ED lens but the factory calibration markings are totally different. Tomorrow I am leave to Alaska for a 10 day tour so any testing will have to wait. I will post more info soon.

More info coming soon.

Any questions or comments be sure to email me using the contact link on the left.

Update August 18th, 2017

Just posted a quick guide on how to remove a Scanner Nikkor lens from a Coolscan 8000 scanner.

https://www.closeuphotography.com/how-to-remove-scanner-nikkor-lens-from-coolscan-8000-scanner

I have been out of the office for a few weeks photographing but now that I am back I plan on shooting lots more with the Scanner Nikkor lens so I will posting more soon.

Update August 31st, 2017

Just finished some new tests on the 14 element Scanner Nikkor ED lens and the lens shows a large nominal aperture of f/2.6. that is an effective aperture of f/5.2 at 1X magnification. The fast aperture means it has the potential to beat the earlier Printing-Nikkor 105mm lenses and the Printing-Nikkor 105mm A version since they have maximum apertures of only f/2.8. The larger the aperture, the more potential resolution of the lens.

Finally I have found the perfect subject for testing lenses, a 6 inch silicon wafer. It is perfectly flat and has lots of ultra fine details. I plan on posting more about these in a couple of days.

This week I picked up two more 8 element Scanner Nikkor ED lenses for testing recently so expect to see more on this lens soon. Since these are a lot easier to find they are cheaper than the more rare 14 element version. I paid only $50 for the two lenses!

Update September 1st, 2017

Looks like there are at least two Scanner Nikkor ED 14 elements lens types, the Nikon Super Coolscan 8000 and 9000 models are different lenses.

Lens type and corresponding scanners

25mm f/2.8 Scanner Nikkor Lens
6 Elements in 4 Groups
Extra small size 16.5mm x 21.50mm
2700 dpi Optical Resolution
Scanners:
Coolscan LS-10
Coolscan II LS-20
Super Coolscan LS-1000

38mm f/2.8 Scanner Nikkor Lens
6 Elements in 4 Groups
Small size 24.6mm x 33mm
2700 dpi Optical Resolution
Scanners:
Super Coolscan 2000 LS-2000
Coolscan III LS-30

45mm f/2.8 Scanner Nikkor Lens
7 Elements in 4 Groups + ED Glass
Medium size 24.5mm x 39mm
4000 dpi Optical Resolution
Scanners:
Coolscan IV ED LS-40 ED (2900 dpi)
Coolscan V ED LS-50 ED
Super Coolscan 4000 ED LS-4000ED
Super Coolscan 5000 ED LS-5000ED

100mm f/2.8 Scanner Nikkor Lens
14 Elements in 6 Groups Lens + ED Glass
Large size 49mm x 84mm
4000 dpi Optical Resolution
Scanners:
Super Coolscan 8000 ED LS-8000 ED: 4000 dpi
Super Coolscan 9000 ED LS-9000 ED: 4000 dpi

Nikon Film Scanners By year

1988 LS-3500 50mm f/5.6 (unconfirmed and according to the owner’s manual)

1992 LS-10: 25mm f/2.8 lens

1994 LS-3510AF 50mm f/3.9

1995 LS-4500AF (unknown dual lens system)

1996 LS-1000 25mm f/2.8 lens

1996 LS-20 25mm f/2.8 lens

1998 LS-2000: 38mm f/2.8 lens

1998 LS-30 38mm f/2.8 lens

2001 LS-40 ED 45mm f/2.8 lens

2001 LS-4000 ED 45mm f/2.8 lens

2001 LS-8000 ED 100mm f/2.8 lens

2003 LS-50 ED 45mm f/2.8 lens

2003 LS-5000 ED 45mm f/2.8 lens

2004 LS-9000 ED 100mm f/2.8 lens

Scanner-Nikkor ED lens links

Marco Cavina's Scanner-Nikkor ED lens article in PDF form: http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/articolo%20Scanner%20Nikkor%20ED.pdf

Enrico Savazzi has posted some good information on the Scanner-Nikkor ED lenses:

http://savazzi.net/photography/scanner_lenses.html

Lots of excellent info the the Nikon Coolscan scanner line on Nico vandijk’s site:

http://www.nicovandijk.net/coolscan.htm

Follow these links for a Scanner-Nikkor ED lens discussion on the www.photomacrography.net forum:

Scanner-Nikkor lens
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31766

Tests of Scanner Nikkor vs Printing Nikkor
https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34102

Other Medium Format Scanner Lenses

Today in there are no retail market medium format film scanners made that meet the SS120 scanner specs. The Pacific Image PrimeFilm 120 Multi-Format Film Scanners is the only 120 format compatible scanner still sold and it is rated at only 3200 ppi.

OpticFilm 120

Rated at 10,600 dpi with a maximum optical resolution of 5300 ppi.

3450 dpi

https://www.filmscanner.info/en/PlustekOpticFilm120.html

Pro Reflecta MF5000, Braun FS120, and PrimeFilm 120 Pacific Image PrimeFilm 120 Pro Multi-Format Film Scanner

3200 dpi

https://www.filmscanner.info/en/ReflectaMF5000.html

This yields an average resolution of about 3050 ppi,

In practice modern film scanners made today typically do not achieve even 50% of the resolution stated in the manufacturers official figure. Even worse, some low-cost flat bed scanners are only able to achieve 30% of the nominal quoted resolution.

Nikon Scanner-Nikkor ED 100mm f/2.8 lens Test