Modern Classic SLRs Series :
Nikon F5 Series SLR models - Macro Photography

 
File size: 63K HTML Loading.....

For decades, Nikon Macro Photographic Group is certainly one of the main strength of the 35mm Nikon photographic system. Over the years, it has mushroomed into a standalone system, so regardless of new or an used Nikon SLR models, it can still find a way adapts to the system. Over all, the close-up accessories have not grown too drastically from the Nikon F3/F4 period to call up immediate upgrade as with the remote control section where the 10-pins terminal has resulted many older accessories being updated with newer accessories. This has remained one of the great features of the Nikon system as a whole because technically speaking, you can mount an old version bellow unit, a '1980's extension ring, a Nikon's macro-Ringlight made in the '70 and even Micro-Nikkor lense produced in the '60* onto the F5 and yet be able to yield high quality images. The whole issue is, whether you can compromise with what the modern features the camera can help you in getting more assuring results.

Chuon-Szen Ong PB-6.jpg

Chuon-Szen Ong Setup.jpg

* Note: Nikon F5 requires to change its lens mount (optional feature) and upgrade some of the older accessories. For an instance, modify the non-Ai lenses at least carries with an Ai-modified spec.

macrogroupA.jpg (56k) Loading...

The macro photographic accessories can be separated into three sections: The mid section which comprises of components that enabling the increase of extension of film-to-subject distance (Bellows, Extension Rings, Lenses etc. The front end which can accept accessories such as macro flash units, Slide Copier, Macro copy stand, close-up attachment lenses and filters). The last section is actually supporting accessories such as Copy Stands, release cables, remote cords etc. Component units for each of these section has grown into quite comprehensive in numbers and varieties and it has made the close-up photography with a Nikon such a pleasure to setup and use. While these are mainly confined to system components, but the Nikon F5 built-in features in its wide and dead accurate ambient and TTL flash Metering systems, flexible Exposure modes, extensive selections of viewing aids (finders, focusing screens and eyepiece attachments) and its advance remote capabilities plus the Multi-Control Function Back, MF-28's extended features (freeze focus, interval shootings etc.) have truly opened up plenty of shooting possibilities never dreamt possible previously.

viewinfoANTs.jpg
While awaiting for my daughter at the school, these ants next to my car window become my target to chase away the absolute boredom ... presence of some lens flares, but who bothers ?? as long as I don't...

<<<--- Copyright-free images collection © 2004 . http://www.IMAGES.com.my

Naturally, the core of the system is still built around the Micro-Nikkor lense family, where during the F5 era we saw a few exciting, new breed of Nikkor surfaced. Naturally, for those who are more of a cost conscious type or rarely go for macro photography, you may also make use of the extensive collections of close-up attachment lenses (filters), extension rings/tubes or even the bellow units to use them in combination with many of the Nikkor lenses to extend the lens to film distance in order to increase their respective magnifications. However, the BEST combinations are still centered around with the fine series of dedicated Micro-Nikkor lens Series where each of these top quality optic are truly meant for such purpose. Other than using them for this specific field in macro-photography, each of them are also being designed for as general purpose lense to handle near to far subjects and they are the BEST in this class, even comparing with any labels available on the market today.

F5105microviewA.jpg
As the time-proven F-mount permits a very extensive backward compatibility, if you have already built a personal system on your own on lenses, a "standard" version of Nikon F5 can accept virtually any of them for the use in macro photography (if you have just too many non-Ai Nikkor lenses, you may consider changing the F5's lens mounting ring with an optional one that allows older versions of lenses to be used on the camera (strange, huh ? the change costs approx. USD80-00). Anyway, it is also quite unlikely that you are migrating directly from an era of the MF days of Nikon F or Nikon F2 straight to an AF Nikon F5 without any investment on any of the Nikon system accessories (where MF Nikon F3 or the AF Nikon F4 (or entry to midrange level Nikon bodies) could be the most possible guess on this migration path).

<<<--- Copyright-free images collection © 2004 

So, this may not be too much of an issue as accessories from the respective generation of F Series bodies are more or less Ai(s)-enabled. The main difference of using older versions of accessories are unable to maximize the use of F5's enormous potential in its advance flash & ambient metering but conventional metering systems and exposure control modes can still be retained. Note: I have skipped a generation of the MACRO accessories for the Nikon F4 site due to lack of interesting accessories surfaced that era. So, it is again added this section again because during the two generations, there quite a few of new options (in, particularly, the Nikkor & the flash) for photographers to look again in this segment.

PF4big.gif (26k) Loading ....

AF-D Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8s

AF-D Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8s

AF-D Zoom Micro-Nikkor 70~180mm f/4.5~5.6s ED

AF-D Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4.0s ED-IF


85mmPCMicroSML.jpg

PC-Micro Nikkor 85mm f/2.8 D

extensiontubes.jpg

I have covered the various Extension Rings, Tubes and PK Rings Sets at the Nikon F2 & Nikon F3 Accessories for MACRO section, so, you can refer to those section for reference.

Relative: | AF-D Micro 200mm f/4.0s IF-ED | AF-D Zoom Micro-Nikkor 70-180mm f/4.5-f/5.6 ED | AF-D Micro 105mm f/2.8s | AF-D Micro 60mn f/2.8s | PC-Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D | MF Micro-Nikkor 55mm | MF Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 | f/4.0 | MF Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4.0s IF | Other Nikkor prime of 180mm-200mm Telephotos | Other Nikkor prime of 105mm Telephotos | MF Medical-Nikkor 120mm f/4.0s | Medical-Nikkor 250mm f/5.6 | MF Bellow Nikkor 105mm f/4.0 | Bellow-Nikkor 135mm f/4.0 preset | UV-Nikkor 55mm f/4.0 | UV-Nikkor 105mm f/4.0s

Two of the key problems on macro-photography is how to gain depth of field and getting sharp pictures due to working at close range can demand a lot of Extra light for a good exposure, in particular when you wish to get maximum image quality by using slower ISO film types. A n artificial illumination by means of a macro ring flash can equalize some of these problems for indoor or outdoor shootings. Nikon has an time-proven Nikon SB-21A/B and a SB-29 flash for this purpose (for older similar flash-types click here).

SB-21frontview.jpg (9k) Loading..
Nikon SB-21A/B Macro Flash & the new Nikon SB-29s Macro Ringlight
120mmf4IFside.jpg (28k) Loading .....
An alternate way is to use the Medical-Nikkor lenses which has an integrated built-in flash tube on its own (incidentally, Medical-Nikkor is Nikon's first flash that provides Auto Flash, surprise huh ?). This lense can provide a life-size magnification ratio of 1:1 as well and built-in electronic flash ringlight at front of lens provides wraparound, shadowless illumination, flash can be turned off when not needed. In many ways, the Medical-Nikkor combines the Macro Flash with a true macro capability but it is a damn expensive (bulky) setup if you are not shooting macro all the time.

Whatever it is, this combination stays but AM I lead you into a confusion state with all these info ? Perhaps, but this is essentially one of strength of Nikon - system compatibility. All you'd ever need is a little imagination to put all the available options together to solve a photographic problem. So, with the Nikon F5 (for that matter, or any Nikon Models), you will never short of ideas / resources in the huge Nikon photographic system for all your macro photographic needs. Finish !

longbellow.jpg
I am too lazy to repeat similar resources among ALL macro accessories options in respective Nikon F, F2, F3, F4 and F5 sites, except I outlined some of the interesting system accessories for Macro Photography emerged during the Nikon F5 era. Enjoy.

Credit: Picture scanned and modified (replaced a F5 with F3) from an original image from Peter Braczko's excellent Nikon Hand Book. Sorry, as no one seemed bother to help to mail me some pictures like this..

| Back | Main Index Page - Nikon F5 Professional SLR camera

weblibrary.gif   Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 -not ready | Nikkormat / Nikomat | Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models

Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm | Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm | Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 880mm 1200mm |
     
Nikkor Link.jpg

Index Page
  Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85-105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm
     
MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm | 35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm | 100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

khokingspider.jpg (73k) Loading ...
With exception of the older Bellow-Nikkor, one of the beauty in Nikon macro photographic system is, all the Micro-Nikkor lense series provide ability to handle extreme close-ups as well using them as lenses in their respective focal length for general photography.

Nowadays, I rarely have the luxury going around to take photos anymore. So, near by subject topic like those poor little creatures such as ants, spiders can become readily available topic for lazy guys like me. Recently, I came across this NICEly composed picture where most photographers would have opted for extreme close-up, instead, the photographer has chosen another perspective to present his thought. A very refreshing viewpoint indeed...

khokingtrans.gif


<<<--- Credit: Image courtesy of KOH KHO KING ® creator & moderator of another local photographic community Photo Malaysia.com. Image copyright © 2005. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.

The Camera - Background, Issues & Summary

Basic Features | Focusing | Metering Systems | Exposure Control | Reliability Issues | Nikkor lens Compatibility

F5_PB6_BR2A_BR5_20_BR6.jpg
Prisms/Finders - Index page - 2 parts
Film Backs:
Index Page - 1 parts
Focusing Screens -
Index Page - 1 part
Flash System -
Index Page - 3 parts
System Accessories: |
Power Sources | Cases | Remote Control | Miscellaneous

Macro Photography - Related info on Micro-Nikkor lenses

Technical
Specification for Nikon F5
Main Reference Map / Nomenclature

Resource Centre: Instruction Manuals
Nikon F5 Camera Body - 18 parts
MF-28 Multi-Function Back HTML - 8 parts
PC Links - Photo Secretary - 2 parts
AF-TTL Speedlights: SB-28 / SB28DX | SB29(s) info | SB30 | SB50DX | SB80DX | SB600 info | SB800

Variants:
F5 50th Anniversary Model | Nikon/Kodak DCS-620 | DCS-720 Digital Still SLR camera

| Back | Index Page of Digital Nikon SLR cameras
| Back | to Pictorial History of Nikon SLR / rangefinders / Nikonos / digital cameras.

weblibrary.gif   Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikon F6 | Nikkormat / Nikomat | Nikon FM | Nikon FE/ FA | Nikon EM/FG/FG20 | Nikon Digital SLRs | Nikon - Other models

The Eyes of Nikon:-

Nikon Auto Focus Nikkor lenses:- Main Index Page
Nikon Manual Focus Nikkor lenses:- Fisheye-Nikkor Lenses - Circular | Full Frame | Ultrawides Lenses - 13mm15mm18mm20mm | Wideangle Lenses - 24mm28mm35mm | Standard Lenses - 45mm 50mm 58mm | Telephoto Lenses - 85mm105mm135mm180mm & 200mm | Super-Telephoto Lenses - 300mm 400mm 500mm 600mm 800mm 1200mm |

Nikkor Link.jpg

Index Page
  Special Application lenses:
Micro-Nikkor Lenses - 50mm~55mm -60mm 85mm -105mm 200mm Micro-Zoom 70-180mm
Perspective Control (PC) - 28mm 35mm PC-Micro 85mm
Dedicated Lenses for Nikon F3AF: AF 80mm f/2.8 | AF 200mm f/3.5 EDIF
Depth of Field Control (DC): 105mm 135mm
Medical Nikkor: 120mm 200mm
Reflex-Nikkor Lenses - 500mm 1000mm 2000mm
Others: Noct Nikkor | OP-Nikkor | UV Nikkor 55mm 105mm | Focusing Units | Bellows-Nikkor 105mm 135mm
Nikon Series E Lenses: 28mm35mm50mm100mm135mm | E-Series Zoom lenses: 36~72mm75~150mm70~210mm


MF Zoom-Nikkor Lenses: 25~50mm | 28~45mm | 28~50mm | 28~85mm | 35~70mm | 36~72mm E | 35~85mm | 35~105mm | 35~135mm | 35~200mm | 43~86mm | 50~135mm | 50~300mm | 70~210mm E | 75~150mm E | 80~200mm | 85~250mm | 100~300mm | 180~600mm | 200~400mm | 200~600mm | 360~1200mm | 1200~1700mm

Tele-Converters: TC-1 | TC-2 | TC-200 | TC-201 | TC-300 | TC-301 | TC-14 | TC-14A | TC-14B | TC-14C | TC-14E | TC-16 | TC-16A | TC-20E

Recommended links to understand more technical details related to the Nikkor F-mount and production Serial Number:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html by: my friend, Rick Oleson
http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/lhhansen/photo/fmount.htm by: Hansen, Lars Holst
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/nikonfmount/lens2.htm
http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/serialno.html

lineF5.gif

Howkiat 3D F5 logo.gif
| Message Board | for Nikon F5 Series SLR model(s) |

|
Message Board | for your Nikon Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Nikon/Nikkor Photographic Equipment

W A R N I N G: The new G-SERIES Nikkor lenses have removed the conventional aperture ring on the lense barrel, they CANNOT adjust aperture(s) when operating in manual exposure control even with certain earlier MF/AF Nikon SLR camera models. But they are FULLY COMPATIBLE with the Nikon F5 featured here in all usable metering systems and/or exposure modes. Please refer to your local distributor for compatibility issue(s).

About this photographic site.

MIR Logo
HOME - Photography in Malaysia
Search.gif

leofoo.gif

A resource dedicated to my kids, Alvin Foo & Esther Foo- one day, BOTH might need to use all these information for his/her Nikon F5A camera.

Volunteered Maintainer(s) for the Nikon F5 Message Board: Tony Davies-Patrick, UK; Rick Oleson, US; Koh Kho King, Malaysia.

Credit: Mr. Chuck Hester, US for his text re-editing skill for this site; Our staff, HowKiat® who created the 3D-Nikon F5 logo. Mr. Lew Chee Wai of YL camera for lending his F5 for me to take some shots appeared in this site. All those nice folks who have contributed their images, in particular Mr. Mike Long, Edwin leong, Palmi Einarsson, Sergio Pessolano, Fred Kamphues, Harry Eggens, Curtis Forrester, Nick (Natures Moments), Sandra Bartocha; fellow countrymen, Vincent Thian, Koh Kho King, Philip Chong, CY Leow etc. and contributions from a few nice folks from Photo Malaysia Forum. Disclaimers & acknowledgments: Certain content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets, brochures published by Nikon and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality of their own work for public publishing in this website, where majority of the extracted information are used basing on educational merits. The creator of this site will not be responsible for any discrepancies that may arise from any possible dispute except rectifying them after verification from respective source. Neither Nikon or its associates has granted any permission(s) in using their public information nor has any interest in the creation of this site. "Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu KK" "Silent Wave", "Focus Tracking Lock-on", "Nikkor" & other applicable technical/business terms are registered trade name(s) of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Site made with an Apple G5 IMac.

.
headerbar.jpg