1mm WD

Macrero · Post by **Macrero** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:03 pm

So this morning I received the Oly UMPlanFl 50/0.80 BD. Just for the record I tried it as-is. As expected, lighting was extremely difficult and unacceptable.

I tried to remove the housing in a non destructive way, but it was impossible.

Then, without thinking it twice, I sawed the front part of the metal housing by the blue ring.

After the mod, difference in lighting is night and day. Haven't made any stacks yet, but here is a single test shot with 105mm tube lens at 29X on APS-C sensor, continuous light.

https://images2.imgbox.com/e5/ba/ZiBMg0Ue_o.jpg

I think lighting is more than acceptable. Will make some stacks tonight.

I bought the objective for a fraction of the Mitty 50/0.75 HR second hand market price. As I commented in other thread, I haven't tried the Mitty 50 HR. Chris S. sent me a comparison with the the "regular" Mitty 50 and difference is obvious.

Yet I think that the ELWD of the Mitty might be misleading, since the 5.2mm on 50X HR objective may seem a lot, but you have to take into account the huge barrel/front element, which seriously limits the angle of light and
makes lighting difficult.

And vice versa: 1mm WD might seem unacceptably short, but when it comes to bullet-shaped objectives with tiny front part/element, lighting is not such of a problem.

Long story short: I am quite happy with what I have seen so far in the test single shots. Also it seems that coverage is more than acceptable even at 29X on APS-C sensor. I am gonna make some test stack tonight.

Best,

- Macrero

Scarodactyl · Post by **Scarodactyl** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:48 pm

Wow, I can't wait to see a stack off of that!

Smokedaddy · Post by **Smokedaddy** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:23 pm

Macrero wrote:I tried to remove the housing in a non destructive way, but it was impossible.

Then, without thinking it twice, I sawed the front part of the metal housing by the blue ring.

I'd like to see the objective if you don't mind. BTW, did you mean saw off or did you turn it off using a lathe?

If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for it?

-JW:

ChrisR · Post by **ChrisR** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:32 pm

Well here's one like it perhaps:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Olympus-UMPL ... 7675.l2557

It certainly LOOKS like a tool with 2 pins would undo something at the front.
Did you try any solvent or heat?
It would be nice to know how well the light is diffused if it's sent down the illumination collar as nature intended.

RobertOToole · Post by **RobertOToole** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:01 pm

Macrero wrote:
......
After the mod, difference in lighting is night and day. Haven't made any stacks yet, but here is a single test shot with 105mm tube lens at 29X on APS-C sensor, continuous light......

Best,

- Macrero

29x 0.80, I had to read the numbers twice for that to sink in.

Impressive, and the image quality in the sample would make me happy, well done Macrero!

Robert

Macrero · Post by **Macrero** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:34 pm

Smokedaddy,

will take some pics of the objective tomorrow, it's early morning here.

I just sawed it by hand, I am a brave guy

The objective Chris linked is the one I bought, 300 EUR shipped.

Chris,

have you studied at Hogwarts?

That's the exact objective I got.

I managed to unscrew the front part, but that's not enough. You have to unscrew the whole housing, but I was unable to do so.

I am afraid I can no longer try the BD ilumination with this objective, since I already modded it.

Robert,

yep, you read it right

And what's more impressive to me is that coverage seems to be near perfect at 29X

I am stacking a quick test stack, though I had not realized that the diffuser was slightly touching the wing

so there is some movement

Hope Zerene could fix it...

Will do more tomorrow anyway...

Best,

- Macrero

Macrero · Post by **Macrero** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:57 pm

Well, Zerene kinda fixed it. Here is the first test stack at 29X at high-res.

Coverage is indeed perfect. There is room for pushing it down even more. 20X/0.80?

UHR?

https://images2.imgbox.com/9e/8d/cHB0UUvi_o.jpg

Will try something better tomorrow, winter is long...

Luckily I have a new toy

Edit: steps are kinda long: 0.65Âµm. I will do tests with shorter steps.

Macrero · Post by **Macrero** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:49 am

Here is the objective after the surgery, barrel is quite thick:

Not the beautiest thing, but hey, I will not be shooting weddings with it...

- Macrero

Adalbert · Post by **Adalbert** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:25 am

Hello Macrero,

Then, without thinking it twice, I sawed the front part of the metal housing by the blue ring.

well done, it is the best solution :-)
But illumination is still not easy

BR, ADi

Macrero · Post by **Macrero** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:48 am

Hi Adi,

sure, it's not easy, 1mm is... 1mm, but it is viable and I am quite satisfied with the result. The excellent coverage was a great (and unexpected) bonus.

I need more light though, in order to use better/stronger diffusers and get better lighting, while working at a reasonable shutter speed.

Best,

- Macrero

Adalbert · Post by **Adalbert** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 4:21 am

Hello Macrero,

I need more light though, in order to use better/stronger diffusers

if I use 1/128 power of the flashes then the diffusor is really thin made of the transparent tracing paper.

BR, ADi

Macrero · Post by **Macrero** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 6:34 am

I'll pass on flashes for now, I prefer continuous ilumination, I find it much more comfortable and easy to work with. Another factor is the scales jolt issue I was not aware of.

I'll add an additional couple of light sources to my continuous light setup.

Best,

- Macrero

MacroLab3D · Post by **MacroLab3D** » Tue Dec 17, 2019 12:29 pm

Amazing results! Thanks for sharing!

heyitsmedusty · Post by **heyitsmedusty** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 9:43 am

Reviving this years-old thread!

@macrero - I have the UMPLANFL 50x BD P, and I'm looking to get a better angle of light, and I'm inspired by your chop job. Was yours spring-loaded? Mine has a spring, and I'm wondering if that affects my ability to saw through the objective. I'm also considering using a very small rotating pipe cutter, but man that barrel looks thick!

Thank you!

Macrero wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:49 am
Here is the objective after the surgery, barrel is quite thick:

Not the beautiest thing, but hey, I will not be shooting weddings with it...

- Macrero

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Wed Mar 08, 2023 10:09 am

heyitsmedusty wrote: ↑
Wed Mar 08, 2023 9:43 am
@macrero - I have the UMPLANFL 50x BD P, and I'm looking to get a better angle of light, and I'm inspired by your chop job. Was yours spring-loaded? Mine has a spring, and I'm wondering if that affects my ability to saw through the objective. I'm also considering using a very small rotating pipe cutter, but man that barrel looks thick!

Macrero has been away from the forum for some months, so his reply may be delayed.

In his absence, I will suggest to see my thread at viewtopic.php?t=40974 . In that case the barrel that was cut off was mounted rigid to the barrel that holds the glass, and both were spring-mounted with respect to the turret threads.

For cutting, I used a diamond abrasive blade in a small hand-held rotary tool, with a jig as described later in the same thread. This allowed a very gentle touch.

--Rik

1mm WD

1mm WD

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surgery to remove lens barrel