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2:1 macro lens for Nikon - recommendation?

Started 5 months ago | Questions
Bob Veteran Member • Posts: 4,423
2:1 macro lens for Nikon - recommendation?

I’d like to build a rig to digitize 35mm and 120 negs.  The negs will be backlit, so distance to focus is not an issue.  I have a FF Nikon.

I’d like to achieve a magnification greater than 1:1.  I plan to take multiple images of the negative and stitch them together in PS.

Any suggestions for a lens?

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Robert Salton Forum Member • Posts: 75
Re: 2:1 macro lens for Nikon - recommendation?

Bob wrote:

I’d like to achieve a magnification greater than 1:1. I plan to take multiple images of the negative and stitch them together in PS.

Any suggestions for a lens?

The Laowa 100mm 2x Macro. Nikon F, 2:1 out of the box, flat field, very sharp to excellent when closed one or two stops. It can be somewhat soft-ish wide open, especially at infinity, but for macro work that's not an issue.

There is some slight pincushion distortion which is easily corrected.

A more budget friendly option is a reversed 50mm with extension tubes. I tried it with Nikons 50mm f/1.8 AF-D. It does work and at f/5.6 or f/8, image quality is suprisingly good in the center but the corners are a little weak and its very prone to internal reflections.

OP Bob Veteran Member • Posts: 4,423
Re: 2:1 macro lens for Nikon - recommendation?

Thanks for the tip. Since I plan to stitch images, I need to be wary of corner softness.

OP Bob Veteran Member • Posts: 4,423
Re: 2:1 macro lens for Nikon - recommendation?

What do you think of using a bellows?  Would I have to reverse my lens (e.g. 50mm)?

BBbuilder467 Veteran Member • Posts: 7,057
Re: 2:1 macro lens for Nikon - recommendation?

Bob wrote:

I’d like to build a rig to digitize 35mm and 120 negs. The negs will be backlit, so distance to focus is not an issue. I have a FF Nikon.

I’d like to achieve a magnification greater than 1:1. I plan to take multiple images of the negative and stitch them together in PS.

Any suggestions for a lens?

What are you using to reach 1:1 now? Adding extension tubes to a macro lens will get you beyond 1:1.

Are you taking into account that when you go much beyond 1:1, you'll lose the vertical and might have to be in portrait orientation to maintain the aspect ratio?

Models By Day Regular Member • Posts: 399
Re: 2:1 macro lens for Nikon - recommendation?

Vivitar made a 2X Macro Focusing Teleconverter.

It does 1:1 , I think it does 1:1 with a 50mm lens. Never tried it in macro mode with other lenses.

I mostly used it as a 2x, but sometimes as a 1:1 macro

I also use a reversing ring on my 50mm lens

 Models By Day's gear list:Models By Day's gear list
Nikon Z7 II Nikon Z 24-70mm F4 Nikon Z 85mm F1.8 Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR Nikon D300 +3 more
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