Novoflex 60mm f/4.0 Macro-Noflexar

[ulf]

Finalized: Work in progress.

Last Update:

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Novoflex 60mm f/4.0 Macro-Noflexar

 

Manufacturer: Staeble-Werk?

Manufacturer's lens designation: NOVOFLEX-MACRO-NOFLEXAR,

Currently manufactured: No

Lens type: Macro Lens, for slide copy

Focal length: 60mm

Aperture range: 4.0 - 16, Manual, 10 blades

Design: TBD

Flange Focus distance: -

Recommended magnification range: 0.6x - 2x ( from the 60/4.5 - version )

Optimal magnification: TBD

Mount: M39 x 1

Sensor format/coverage: TBD

Front filter: 40.5 x 0.75

Lens coating: Yes

Introduction year: after 1969

S/N of test object: 336844

notes:

Earlier versions with the same lens speed were marked (NOVOFLEX) STAEBLE-KATAGON and BALFLEX on the rear end surface

Even earlier versions had a lower speed of f/4.5

Image of the test object:

 

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Transmittance Summary

Definitions of the parameters below

• Range: The Macro-Noflexar 60mm f/4.0 lens transmits 1-80% in an increasing slope from 328nm to 400nm.
  
• T_VISmax (%) = 91%
  
• T_400nm (%) = 82%
  
• T_365nm (%) = 72%
  This high percentage is an indicator for relatively short exposure time under typical UV-pass filtration peaking around 365 nm.
  
• λ_{UV HMvis}(nm) = 346nm
  
• λ_{UV HM400} (nm) = 344nm
  
• λ_{UV Zero} (nm) = 328nm
  These three values indicate that the lens is working well for mos UV-A photography with filters and for this, suitable cameras.
  

 

 

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Spectral transmission graphs:

UV-NIR, The Macro-Noflexar 60mm f/4.0

The transmission measurement accuracy into the end of NIR range is less good due to limitations in the light source.

 

UV, The Macro-Noflexar 60mm f/4.0

 

UV-Log, The Macro-Noflexar 60mm f/4.0

Numerical Spectra Data available: Yes

 

General comments about the UV-reach:

TBD

 

 

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Filters and how to use them on this lens:

It is possible to use front and also rear mounted filters, either in lens mount adapters for mirrorless cameras like Sony A-series etc, or placed directly in the camera.

 

 

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Handling and focussing:

This lens needs to be combined with a helicoid or macro bellows to set desired magnification.

 

Sharpness:

High

 

 

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Image samples:

UV:

Stacked from 4 images, imaging scale ca 1.5:1, 100% Image crop

Filter: S8612, 2mm + U-360, 2mm

 

BUG-3:

Stacked from 4 images, imaging scale ca 1.5:1, 100% Image crop

Filter: S8612, 2mm + BG3, 2mm

 

BUG

Stacked from 4 images, imaging scale ca 1.5:1, Image crop

Filter: S8612, 2mm + UG5, 1.5mm

[Andrea B.]

I think your first two photos certainly prove the worth of this Macro-Noflexar for close-up UV work. <___base_url___>/uploads/emoticons/default_cool.png

[ulf]

Yes I agree.

The UV-reach is also definitely good enough for these types of photos.

 

I also have a second 60/4.0 marked Staeble-Katagon that I eventually will verify has the same transmission.

 

The f/4.5 version is likely of a different optical design with a longer lens body.

I do not have that type of lens. (yet?)

[lukaszgryglicki]

Do you have any idea about focus flange distance? This single parameter is critical for me, is it longer than M42? I'm looking for lenses with FDD longer than M42 (for Nikon-F).

 

[nfoto]

This is a true lens head aimed at use with a bellows device. It has no focusing on its own. Thus not designed for infinity focus, however, it will just barely scrape by towards infinity if you use the L-F adapter Nikon once provided.

 

For close-ups of course there is no probem to use it on any F (or Z) system.

 

[lukaszgryglicki]

Yeah I know it has no focus ring etc, but with my current setup for EL-Nikkor 80/5.6 it would mount & work, just needed to know how far away from sensor it must be for infinity focus... your answer clarifies that it will barely reach the infinity, so can I assume that if I put Nikon body + Nikon-F -> M42 adapter -> M42 -> M39 it will be able to reach infinity.... (but still no helicod there), so when I add a helicod (the samllest I have is M42-M42 12-17 mm) it won't reach the infinity.

 

Asking the other way - after trying EL-Nikkors I can see that the minimal FDD usable on Nikon body seems to be:

46.5 (Nino-F mount distance) + abot 0.5-1.5 mm (Nikon-F -> M42 adapter) + 12 mm (helicoid minimal length)(m42->M39 just screws inside M42 so it literally has no thickness).

So I'm able to use the lens if its FDD is 46.5 + 12 + 0.5-1.5 = 59mm-60mm - the absolute minimum.

El-Nikkor 75/4N (https://galerie-photo.com/manuels/el-nikkor-enlarging-lenses.pdf) has 64.9 (and it works OK), same ELNik 80/5.6 has 70mm (https://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php?/topic/4279-nikon-80mm-f56-el-nikkor-old-metal-version/) and also works OK.

 

So the question here: is this lens FDD > 60 mm (I guess not, becaus eyou said it "barely" works when put on Nikon-F with just an adapter, without space for an additional helicoid).

 

[nfoto]

Without the slimmest of adapters, meaning M39 thread directly into an F bayonet, there is no way you can get the 60 Macro-Noflexar to infinity focus on an F system. With a mirrorless system you can.

 

Bellows lenses in general are not the optimal starting point for a lens being able to give infinity focus when register distance is as Nikon's (46.5mm). Firstly, the lens itself usually isn't computed for infinity focus; secondly, due to the requirement for adapters/focusing helicoid, these build more than what the register distance would allow for the lens to reach infinity inifinity. Lenses for such purposes need to be 75-80mm at least.

 

The 60/4 Coastal will do infinity with ease, but that ability doesn't come cheap. Any regular 50-60mm Nikkor will of course go to infinity, but if you are into UV, not all of them with the greatest of results.

[lukaszgryglicki]

Great, you just confirmed what I've found - for non-helicoid I need about 75mm or more. El-Nik 75/4 barely reaches the infinity with smallest helicoid I've found: 12-17mm.

[Avalon]

How many elements/groups Novoflex 60mm f/4.0 lens has?