I’ve been doing some research about UV photography over the years, for fun. But besides a UV filter made by B+W I didn’t go too far. One problem with the filter is that I would need a lens that will pass UV light (most modern multi coated optics suppress UV light substantially, and unfortunately, all of the lenses I own are modern and multi coated.)
And it’s not like I can afford (nor would I want to buy) a Nikon’s quartz lens – Nikkor 105mm f/4.5 UV. The 105/4.5 UV Nikkor is one of the rarest and most specialized lenses ever made by Nikon and run around a sweet $3,700…
Most experienced Nikon shooters and collectors have never seen one. The 105/4.5 UV uses included medical photography, forensics, industrial manufacturing and testing, art research / authenticating / restoration.
Introduced in 1985 only in AIS mount, this 6 element quartz glass lens is designed for the 220nm to 1100nm wavelength range. “NM” = nanometer, one billionth of a meter, or one millionth of a millimeter. It was built on the 105/4 Micro-Nikkor lens barrel, the 105/4.5 UV focuses down to 1:2!
The instruction book promises “virtually no variation in the focus position between visible rays and UV rays.” However, changes in temperature can change focus due to the fluorspar coating on some elements, so check the focus without the UV filter as temperatures change.
“At all focused distances in every wavelength range, aberration is minimal and distortion is eliminated.” For normal photography.
Exposure meters are useless for UV photography. You will have to determine exposures with tests and experience. You’ll need plenty of light, but then, you’ll need a special dedicated UV flash – It was called Nikon SB-140 UV-IR* Speedlight for use in both UV and IR photography.
So what if you wanna play CSI and shoot in the Ultraviolet spectrum? Either use a UV or skylight filter to eliminate UV rays or try this…
I am not sure it’s really UV but it’s a nice color and it will only cost you $5 ahah!
If you wanna know more about UV & IR photography, I suggest your read this tutorial… This guy not only has a Nikkor 105mm UV but he uses it with a Nikon D200!! How sweet is that?!!
[Via DigitalFreak.net]
