Leitz 30mm f/4.5 Milar Macro

[ulf]

Finalized: Work in progress.

Last Update:

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Leitz 30mm f/4.5 Milar Macro

 

Manufacturer: Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar

Manufacturer's lens designation: Milar f=30mm 1:4.5

Currently manufactured: No

Lens type: Macro Lens, Aristophot System

Focal length: 30mm

Aperture range: 2/6/12 (=reduction rate?), No click stops, Manual, 10 blades

Design: TBD

Flange Focus distance: -

Recommended magnification range: TBD.

Optimal magnification: TBD

Mount: RMS, Microscope thread

Sensor format/coverage: up to 90mm x 120mm, or more

Front filter: No

Lens coating: No

Introduction year: pre 1940?

S/N of test object: 25246

Working distance graphs:

Image of test object:

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Transmittance Summary

Definitions of the parameters below

• Range: The Milar f=30mm f:4.5 lens transmits 1-78% in an increasing slope from 308nm to 400nm.
  
• T_VISmax (%) = 87%
  
• T_400nm (%) = 78%
  
• T_365nm (%) = 69%
  This high percentage is an indicator for relatively short exposure time under typical UV-pass filtration peaking around 365 nm.
  
• λ_{UV HMvis}(nm) = 336nm
  
• λ_{UV HM400} (nm) = 334nm
  
• λ_{UV Zero} (nm) = 308nm
  These three values indicate that the lens is working well for upper UV-B photography with some filters and a few for this, suitable cameras.
  

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Spectral transmission graphs:

UV-NIR, Milar 30mm 1:4.5

The transmission measurement accuracy into the end of NIR range is less good due to limitations in the light source.

 

UV, Milar 30mm 1:4.5

 

UV-Log, Milar 30mm 1:4.5

Numerical Spectra Data available: Yes

 

General comments about the UV-reach:

TBD

 

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Filters and how to use them on this lens:

It is only to use rear mounted filters, either in lens mount adapters for mirrorless cameras like Sony A-series etc, or placed directly in the camera.

 

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Handling and focussing:

This lens needs to be combined with a helicoid or macro bellows to set desired magnification.

The original Aristophot System was big using long extensions.

The possible magnification useable is limited by how you can illuminate the motif, if the lens is used for reflected light photography

 

Flare:

TBD

 

Sharpness:

TBD

 

Lens distortion:

TBD

 

Chromatic Aberration / fringing in UV:

TBD

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Image samples:

UV:

image

Filter:

 

UV, Fringing:

image

Filter:

 

UV, Fringing 100%:

image

Filter:

 

VIS+NIR:

image

Filter:

 

NIR:

image

Filter: long pass 800nm

[ulf]

Updated with pictures of the tested lens

[dabateman]

Ulf I got a Milar 50mm f4.5 and I think it might have similar UV transmission as this 30mm. It too is in RMS thread.

It will focus to infinity mounted in front of rms to m52 adapter on a 12-19mm helicoid on a dual m42/ C-mount m43rds adapter.

For fun today I tested it reverse mounted. And it will focus to infinity with about 20mm of helicoid extension. So a 17-31mm helicoid is needed for a micro four thirds camera. This allows for a rms to 25mm adapter and 25mm to 52mm step up ring to be used with regular filters.

 

You may want to try reverse mounting your other Milar lenses. Only disadvantage is to change the aperture you need to unscrew the lens adapter. But I use a near fixed aperture most of the time.

[lukaszgryglicki]

What is the focal flange distance of this lens? Asking because it looks very good but no Nikon has 46.5mm FFD ...

 

[ulf]

2 hours ago, lukaszgryglicki said:

What is the focal flange distance of this lens? Asking because it looks very good but no Nikon has 46.5mm FFD ...

 

This is not a wide angle lens, but more like an extreme macro lens, like a low magnification microscope lens.

A focal flange distance would be meaningless as it is optically designed to operate on an extension longer than the focal length.

Focussing at infinity is not possible unless you lockup the SLR-mirror and place the lens inside the camera, 30mm from the sensor.

The image quality would likely be terrible and the image circle would only cover parts of the sensor.

 

The red arrow in the diagram at the top post indicates an approximate position for this lens, compared to the ones present in the diagram.

My guess is that it works best with macro magnifications between 2.5:1 and 20:1.

If mounted directly at ca 46.5mm you would get a magnification of ca 1.5x

[Avalon]

Can't find information about Leitz 30 mm f/4.5 number of lens elements/groups.