Thanks John, no need for the 63mm Nikkor if you've got a Luminar. The Apo-Componon 90/4.5 was an expensive lens in it's day. I've got the 50mm Componon-S which was a lot cheaper. Not sure what they are like for macros but the Omicron EL range were about the best for enlarging in the late 70's. They go for about 5 UKP on ebay.

I've never done any focus stacking and your setup is much better than the stuff I have. I've just got a Novoflex rail, Pentax rail and Pentax K bayonet bellows and about 6 enlarger lenses and flashguns. At first I thought you'd used a Manfrotto rail, but you have used something far more elaborate and better. I might try to rig up some sort of screw drive to push/pull the Pentax rail with, it does run very smooth, but hasn't got a scale on it. I could then try it out on something like a burnt match

Hi John and Welcome to the forum

I notice that you've used the 50mm EL Nikkor and not the 63mm EL Nikkor which is widely regarded as a good macro lens and I remember reading somewhere that it was actually designed as something more than an enlarging lens. About 20 years ago it came out top in the BJP enlarging lens tests. It was also used in a lot of copying machines such as the Bowens Illumitran slide copier. Is it just that you haven't come across one?

Also what focusing rack are you using? I notice you mentioned 0.1 increments on a normal rack, but I couldn't see any mention of a rack with a fine screw drive?

You would be better asking questions concerning professional photography on the UK forum "Talk Photography" there's quite a lot of pros on there, but it's very CaNikon orientated, not really much there for the average Pentaxian.

This is a legit organization:
http://www.thebfp.com/
They actually produced the book that you have bought.

You seem to be quite good at typing, maybe a work from home job doing typing for websites would be possible, even translating German to Engish etc.

Just a small tip: If you leave a blank line after each paragraph it makes it much easier to read your posts. Also keep the paragraphs short.

Some shots of his setup plus lens tests:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnhallmen/4273955428/

Macro lens tests:

http://savazzi.freehostia.com/photography/enlargerlensespm.htm

This is a SPOOKY animated gif:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnhallmen/4420778970/in/set-72157604592459772/

History is littered with people who have lost a lot of money thinking that 3D is going to be the next big earner.

The Nimslo took years to develop and shares in the company kept going up and up because everyone wanted to get in on the action. Anyone with a bit of photographic knowledge knew all along that it would just be a big flop on release

That's ridiculous you could buy a K-x for that

Nice shot and really nice background colour.
Seems to be a bit of a halo around the owl though?

Two thin sheets of plywood on a 2x1 inch frame. (door type construction) Paint each side however you want. Lean against wall to use.

35mm film was never flat in enlargers either.... nobody seemed bothered. I used to use a 6x6 carrier and sandwich the 35mm negs between two sheets of thin optical glass.

I thought Vivitar had solved it when they brought out the enlarger equivalent of a Dyson known as the light-pipe because it sent the diffused light down a fibre optic pipe and had a lot of design improvements. The negative carrier unfortunately was just plastic and it held the negative just like a Kodachrome card mount

Fabulous shots...... Zeiss 63mm Luminar macro lens...... not cheap!!
The Nikon 63mm EL is considered almost as good.
I would think the Pentax bellows are better than the Novoflex ones.
Novoflex adapters are ludicously expensive.