Novoflex 400mm f5.6

reknelb · 04-18-2009, 05:45 PM

I picked one of these up in m42 mount with a k-mount adapter. Focus is super fast with the squeeze grip. The DOF is super shallow at 5.6. Wish it had an A setting for the apperture. Its really hard to focus when its not wide open. I liked the images a bit better at f8.0. I did some shots with the k20d and it metered pretty good. Then I slapped it on the gx-1l (ist dl). Metering was way off, had to use it in manual mode. Here are a couple samples.

First is with the k20d, second with the gx-1l, neither are cropped, some adjustments and a little sharpening with the re-size. The sun disappeared before i could switch cameras.

Last edited by reknelb; 09-28-2009 at 05:11 PM.

aesch · 04-18-2009, 05:50 PM

Nothing to complain about with those shots! Handheld or tripod?

Al

reknelb · 04-18-2009, 05:59 PM

Leaned on a window sill.

Ben_Edict · 04-19-2009, 05:28 AM

These are nice lenses. You can still get the original Pentax K-adapter from Novoflex, if you wish so. But there is ofcourse no A-adapter, as the aperture is fully manual anyway.

Which one did you get? The T-Noflexar or the older 2-element lens?

Ben

reknelb · 04-19-2009, 06:05 AM

I'm not sure. It doesn't have the bellows at the back of the lens like I've seen on some models. I did notice some spots on the glass like a coating coming off. Its not fungus. Doesn't seem to affect the images though.

Ben_Edict · 04-19-2009, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by reknelb

I'm not sure. It doesn't have the bellows at the back of the lens like I've seen on some models. I did notice some spots on the glass like a coating coming off. Its not fungus. Doesn't seem to affect the images though.

If it is a T-Noflexar it say so on the lens barrel engraved around the front of the lens. Otherwise you seem to have the more recent modell. The bellows contraption is quite old. I am not sure, at which date Novoflex switched production to the closed tubes construction, but it must have been in the 1970s or so. The tiny dots on the lens you recognize, may well be coating coming off. It is of no consequence, only the resale value will be affected, not the image quality.

Ben

gregmoll · 04-19-2009, 01:52 PM

Hi,
Is there any specific advantage to having "T" lenses. I have a Novaflex set consisting of a 400mm and 600mm lens and they are marked T and no bellows. The setup came in an alluminium case.
I have made a shoulder stock which helps a lot
Rgds
Greg

reknelb · 04-19-2009, 02:08 PM

There isn't any T designation, it just says Novflexor, and novoflex on it. I took a few shots with the K10d also today. The robin was at f8. I just missed the focus on it. You can see its pretty sharp in front of the bird. Also not cropped, some ajdustments, and some sharpening on the resize.

reknelb · 04-19-2009, 02:14 PM

This one was cropped, you can see the CA. I was almost shooting right at the sun so its to be expected. The original file is 3600 wide or so (k10d). This crop was 1100 wide before I resized it.

gregmoll · 04-19-2009, 02:14 PM

Hi Reknelb,
How do you cope with squeezing the focus slider, and then stopping down and pressing the AE or Green button to set the exposure, I run out of hands and the focus often moves.

reknelb · 04-19-2009, 02:24 PM

I shoot in apperture priority, and I have the lens stopped down to what I want to shoot in. Usually f5.6 or f8.0... +.3 exposure comp. works pretty good on the k20d and k10d in iso 400. I was getting a decent shot every 20 taken. The 2 images I posted today would have been deleted normally but, I wanted to show a couple from the k10d, and show how easy it is to miss the proper focus.

gregmoll · 04-19-2009, 02:46 PM

Thanks, that's pretty much what I do. The focusing is a problem for my old eyes and I have now ordered a diagonal split screen from China.

Ben_Edict · 04-19-2009, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by gregmoll

Hi,
Is there any specific advantage to having "T" lenses. I have a Novaflex set consisting of a 400mm and 600mm lens and they are marked T and no bellows. The setup came in an alluminium case.
I have made a shoulder stock which helps a lot
Rgds
Greg

The 400mm "T-Noflexar" lenses are a three lens-elemt design, whereas the older "Noflexar" lenses only have two lens elements. The overall correction of the 3-element lenses is better, with improved sharpness and contrast. Also, being younger, the coating has been improved, though this is not a real problem with the older lenses, because the simple construction does not really need high spec multi-coating.

The shoulder stock should have been part of your set-up. It is wonderful and allows "handholding" at unbelievably long shutter speeds.

Ben

Ben_Edict · 04-19-2009, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by gregmoll

Hi Reknelb,
How do you cope with squeezing the focus slider, and then stopping down and pressing the AE or Green button to set the exposure, I run out of hands and the focus often moves.

As these lenses only have a fully manual aperture, there is no need for the M setting. You can always use Av as the lightmeter uses the actual aperture.

Ben

reknelb · 04-19-2009, 03:49 PM

So I could pick up just the "T"-noflexor end with the glass in it and it would fit?

04-18-2009, 05:45 PM	#1
reknelb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 323	Novoflex 400mm f5.6 I picked one of these up in m42 mount with a k-mount adapter. Focus is super fast with the squeeze grip. The DOF is super shallow at 5.6. Wish it had an A setting for the apperture. Its really hard to focus when its not wide open. I liked the images a bit better at f8.0. I did some shots with the k20d and it metered pretty good. Then I slapped it on the gx-1l (ist dl). Metering was way off, had to use it in manual mode. Here are a couple samples. First is with the k20d, second with the gx-1l, neither are cropped, some adjustments and a little sharpening with the re-size. The sun disappeared before i could switch cameras. Last edited by reknelb; 09-28-2009 at 05:11 PM.

04-18-2009, 05:50 PM	#2
aesch Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Connecticut Posts: 38	Novoflex Nothing to complain about with those shots! Handheld or tripod? Al

04-19-2009, 02:08 PM	#8
reknelb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 323 Original Poster	There isn't any T designation, it just says Novflexor, and novoflex on it. I took a few shots with the K10d also today. The robin was at f8. I just missed the focus on it. You can see its pretty sharp in front of the bird. Also not cropped, some ajdustments, and some sharpening on the resize. Last edited by reknelb; 09-28-2009 at 05:11 PM.

04-19-2009, 02:14 PM	#9
reknelb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 323 Original Poster	This one was cropped, you can see the CA. I was almost shooting right at the sun so its to be expected. The original file is 3600 wide or so (k10d). This crop was 1100 wide before I resized it. Last edited by reknelb; 09-28-2009 at 05:11 PM.

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04-18-2009, 05:59 PM	#3
reknelb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 323 Original Poster	Leaned on a window sill.

04-19-2009, 05:28 AM	#4
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	These are nice lenses. You can still get the original Pentax K-adapter from Novoflex, if you wish so. But there is ofcourse no A-adapter, as the aperture is fully manual anyway. Which one did you get? The T-Noflexar or the older 2-element lens? Ben

04-19-2009, 06:05 AM	#5
reknelb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 323 Original Poster	I'm not sure. It doesn't have the bellows at the back of the lens like I've seen on some models. I did notice some spots on the glass like a coating coming off. Its not fungus. Doesn't seem to affect the images though.

04-19-2009, 01:00 PM	#6
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by reknelb I'm not sure. It doesn't have the bellows at the back of the lens like I've seen on some models. I did notice some spots on the glass like a coating coming off. Its not fungus. Doesn't seem to affect the images though. If it is a T-Noflexar it say so on the lens barrel engraved around the front of the lens. Otherwise you seem to have the more recent modell. The bellows contraption is quite old. I am not sure, at which date Novoflex switched production to the closed tubes construction, but it must have been in the 1970s or so. The tiny dots on the lens you recognize, may well be coating coming off. It is of no consequence, only the resale value will be affected, not the image quality. Ben

04-19-2009, 01:52 PM	#7
gregmoll Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Africa Posts: 62	Hi, Is there any specific advantage to having "T" lenses. I have a Novaflex set consisting of a 400mm and 600mm lens and they are marked T and no bellows. The setup came in an alluminium case. I have made a shoulder stock which helps a lot Rgds Greg

04-19-2009, 02:14 PM	#10
gregmoll Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Africa Posts: 62	Hi Reknelb, How do you cope with squeezing the focus slider, and then stopping down and pressing the AE or Green button to set the exposure, I run out of hands and the focus often moves.

04-19-2009, 02:24 PM	#11
reknelb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 323 Original Poster	I shoot in apperture priority, and I have the lens stopped down to what I want to shoot in. Usually f5.6 or f8.0... +.3 exposure comp. works pretty good on the k20d and k10d in iso 400. I was getting a decent shot every 20 taken. The 2 images I posted today would have been deleted normally but, I wanted to show a couple from the k10d, and show how easy it is to miss the proper focus.

04-19-2009, 02:46 PM	#12
gregmoll Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Africa Posts: 62	Thanks, that's pretty much what I do. The focusing is a problem for my old eyes and I have now ordered a diagonal split screen from China.

04-19-2009, 03:12 PM	#13
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by gregmoll Hi, Is there any specific advantage to having "T" lenses. I have a Novaflex set consisting of a 400mm and 600mm lens and they are marked T and no bellows. The setup came in an alluminium case. I have made a shoulder stock which helps a lot Rgds Greg The 400mm "T-Noflexar" lenses are a three lens-elemt design, whereas the older "Noflexar" lenses only have two lens elements. The overall correction of the 3-element lenses is better, with improved sharpness and contrast. Also, being younger, the coating has been improved, though this is not a real problem with the older lenses, because the simple construction does not really need high spec multi-coating. The shoulder stock should have been part of your set-up. It is wonderful and allows "handholding" at unbelievably long shutter speeds. Ben

04-19-2009, 03:14 PM	#14
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by gregmoll Hi Reknelb, How do you cope with squeezing the focus slider, and then stopping down and pressing the AE or Green button to set the exposure, I run out of hands and the focus often moves. As these lenses only have a fully manual aperture, there is no need for the M setting. You can always use Av as the lightmeter uses the actual aperture. Ben

04-19-2009, 03:49 PM	#15
reknelb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 323 Original Poster	So I could pick up just the "T"-noflexor end with the glass in it and it would fit?