So sharp, it hurts

Those are some awesome pics! How is the color compared to the actual coin? --It looks like it would probably be pretty close, right?

The color is flawless. It's a dark coin, and I can't overstate how perfectly the ARD captured the look.

Tim, this is a bellows-mounted lens, and as such can be adapted to just about anything.

This thing is staggering, Ray. Added sharpening literally screws up the image. You know my Canon experience is extensive, and Canon's macro lenses have a deserved record for quality, but this Rodenstock is simply in another league.

And it's no more expensive than competing macro lenses.

I'm going to need a learning curve to get the best out of this incredible lens.

That's a really amazing pic!

The 75ARD1 usually sells on eBay for around $200 in used condition or $300 in near-mint. They can still be bought new for $650.

As SuperDave mentioned it needs a bellows to focus as it does not have a focus helicoid. It is NOT an enlarging lens, but like most enlarging lenses it mounts with M39 threads and it also "looks" like one.

The "D" stands for Duplicating. It is intended for 1:1 duplication such as slide copying or film printing.

How close is the lens element to the coin when you shot this. When I used my bellows set up way back when I found it hard to light the coin as it was always so close to the lens. THis was before all the cool new LED lamps like the Ikea Jansjo lamps I just picked up.

Amazing shot!

Greetings Shutter Bugs,
I'm back for my next lesson.
Super Dave enticed me to this site to share his and other's expertise with me. (I being a complete novice.)
In rather short time I learned how to take a picture and processes it.
I have a Pentax K-x with a Sigma Macro 1:2.8 50mm lens.
As as VAMer, I want details of Morgan and Peace dollars. Usually cropped from whole coin photos.
Example: an 1885-O with a mark on the reverse. Right wreath third cluster down. Center leaf.



I'm giggling with joy that you all have given me the power to do this.
But now I need to consider the next step.

The Rodagon 75mm APO Rodenstock D lens. I'm convinced it is the Holy Grail for my coin shoots. And knowing what to look for, I can monitor eBay and my bank account, and eventually purchase "The Golden Lens."
But then what?
I have some issues to resolve before I begin shooting.
One, what goes between the camera and the lens.
Two, how do I hold this arrangement of precision components in order to take photographs.
One, the bellows. On one end it must fit my camera. And fortunately Pentax is rather universal in this matter. But next, the Rodenstock lens must fit the bellows.
It is here that I get confused (and let's not panic, as confusion is my normal state of affairs.) But I have looked on eBay and found several bellows. Some look flimsy, cheap and loose. Others look like fine quality. But only one indicated (what I believe to be the lens to bellows connection as a ((Pentax)) M42.)
And if I understand correctly, the Rodenstock lens has a M39 thread pattern.
If a thread adapter is to be used, in order to make the arrangement work, wouldn't introducing one more component add to fidelity degradation?
On the other hand, I saw an ASAHI Honeywell Pentax Auto bellows for SLR 35mm cameras w/ Pentax mount. But it didn't give specifications for the Rodenstock to bellows fit.
If I can figure out the hardware issues, I can start my hunt for components. Which leads us to issue two.
The bellows is the frame on which I add a lens to one end, a camera to the other. And the tripod (or in my case, drill press mount,) attaches to the bellows?
This is imaginable if the camera/bellows/lens assembly is horizontal. But then the coin would have to be vertical. Unless we use mirrors.
If the camera/bellows/lens is verticle, it must put a great strain on the mounting screw.
So maybe the easiest route would be if you Rodenstock users shared a photo of your set-up.
You don't need to sell me on the lens, just help me get it into production.
Thanks All,
Kurt

That is an absolutely fabulous photo!

Congrats! And wonderful thread, too.