Ian C
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A question that comes up occasionally on Photrio is, “When I use my enlarging lens as a macro lens on extension tubes or bellows, should the lens face forward, or should it be reverse mounted?
I found a 1983 EL-Nikkor brochure and found the answer per Nikon.
Page 3: Has a photo of an F3 camera on a PB6 bellows unit with reverse adapter and an EL-Nikkor on the front.
“USING YOUR NIKON EL-NIKKOR AS A CAMERA LENS
The Nikon EL-NIKKOR makes a superb taking lens when used at close working ratios. It is ideal for still life, extreme close ups of all kinds, including flowers and every type of small-object photography. When the size of the image is larger than the size of the object, use of the Nikon Reverse Adapter assures critically sharp performance.
THE NIKON REVERSE ADAPTER.
Best possible lens performance is achieved when the front element of the Nikon EL-Nikkor faces the larger image. In ordinary enlarging work the front element faces the print which is larger than the negative. For reductions or photography where magnifications are more than 1X (subject smaller than the image), the Nikon Reverse Adapter allows the lens to be used in the reverse position, giving dramatically improved performance. Nikon El-Nikkor lenses of 135 mm focal length and longer, have the reverse adapter built into the front of the lens.”
At the bottom of page 3 are diagrams and descriptions of the Nikon reverse adapters (2 models, difficult to find now).
REVERSING ADAPTERS: At the left are diagrams for the recessed M40.5 x 0.5 pitch male thread for 50 mm f/2.8N, 63 mm f/2.8N, 80 f/5.6N, mm, and 105 mm f/5.6N EL-Nikkors (6-element, 4 group Double Gauss design).
On the right is the diagram for the recessed M34.5 x 0.5 pitch male thread for the 50 mm f/4 and 75 mm f/4 EL-Nikkors (4-element, 3-group Tessar design).
It’s easy to reverse a Nikon enlarging lens with two common adapters. I use a Nikon BR-2 Lens Reversing Ring. It has a male Nikon F bayonet on the rear and male 52 mm x 0.75 mm pitch filter thread on the front. Simply use a reversed step-up ring on front of the BR-2 to connect your reversed enlarging lens.
For example, I use a 40.5 mm x 0.5 pitch male to 52 mm x 0.75 mm pitch female step-up ring attached to the BR-2 to reverse my 50 mm, 63 mm, 80 mm, and 105 mm EL-Nikkors on my bellows units.
The answer is: for magnifications less than 1X, best results are had with a forward-facing lens.
For magnifications greater than 1X, best results are had with a reversed lens.
At magnifications at, or close to, 1X, either orientation gives the same results.
I found a 1983 EL-Nikkor brochure and found the answer per Nikon.
1983 EL-NIKKOR Brochure
Page 3: Has a photo of an F3 camera on a PB6 bellows unit with reverse adapter and an EL-Nikkor on the front.
“USING YOUR NIKON EL-NIKKOR AS A CAMERA LENS
The Nikon EL-NIKKOR makes a superb taking lens when used at close working ratios. It is ideal for still life, extreme close ups of all kinds, including flowers and every type of small-object photography. When the size of the image is larger than the size of the object, use of the Nikon Reverse Adapter assures critically sharp performance.
THE NIKON REVERSE ADAPTER.
Best possible lens performance is achieved when the front element of the Nikon EL-Nikkor faces the larger image. In ordinary enlarging work the front element faces the print which is larger than the negative. For reductions or photography where magnifications are more than 1X (subject smaller than the image), the Nikon Reverse Adapter allows the lens to be used in the reverse position, giving dramatically improved performance. Nikon El-Nikkor lenses of 135 mm focal length and longer, have the reverse adapter built into the front of the lens.”
At the bottom of page 3 are diagrams and descriptions of the Nikon reverse adapters (2 models, difficult to find now).
REVERSING ADAPTERS: At the left are diagrams for the recessed M40.5 x 0.5 pitch male thread for 50 mm f/2.8N, 63 mm f/2.8N, 80 f/5.6N, mm, and 105 mm f/5.6N EL-Nikkors (6-element, 4 group Double Gauss design).
On the right is the diagram for the recessed M34.5 x 0.5 pitch male thread for the 50 mm f/4 and 75 mm f/4 EL-Nikkors (4-element, 3-group Tessar design).
It’s easy to reverse a Nikon enlarging lens with two common adapters. I use a Nikon BR-2 Lens Reversing Ring. It has a male Nikon F bayonet on the rear and male 52 mm x 0.75 mm pitch filter thread on the front. Simply use a reversed step-up ring on front of the BR-2 to connect your reversed enlarging lens.
For example, I use a 40.5 mm x 0.5 pitch male to 52 mm x 0.75 mm pitch female step-up ring attached to the BR-2 to reverse my 50 mm, 63 mm, 80 mm, and 105 mm EL-Nikkors on my bellows units.
The answer is: for magnifications less than 1X, best results are had with a forward-facing lens.
For magnifications greater than 1X, best results are had with a reversed lens.
At magnifications at, or close to, 1X, either orientation gives the same results.