Sea salt crystal - lens test

I've been playing with my latest arrival, a Schneider Kreuznach Componon-S 50mm 1:2.8 enlarger lens.

These are images of a sea salt crystal measuring approx. 6mm square at its base.

First, an image from the Componon-S 50mm, reversed on bellows at f16 (smallest aperture available).



K51_8442.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr

Next, an image of a different, but similarly sized crystal with the same rig, but with a reversed smc Pentax-A 28mm 1:2.8 lens at f16.



K51_8445.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr

Finally, my smc Pentax-M 50mm 1:1.7, at f22.



K51_8457.jpg by Peter E Smith (AKA Mannesty), on Flickr

From this test of the 2 x 50mm lenses, I think I prefer the results from the Pentax-M 50mm to that from the Schneider lens.

M 50mm looks sharper.

Agreed Mike, though the M image is at f22, the Schneider image is at f16. I'm not sure that makes much difference to the sharpness though.

I used live view on the K5 to focus these.

Interesting exercise though, I just need to find some bugs that aren't hiding away from the heat to do a proper test.

I have found that my M 50mm F1.4 makes a very sharp macro lens when reversed and used at an appropriate aperture. I think a lot of the older 50mm lenses are ideal for this type of use.

Regards
David