Novoflex 400mm f/5.6 Noflexar

[ulf]

Last Update: 03 April 2021 agb/label

Finalized: Work in progress.

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Novoflex 400mm f/5.6 Noflexar

 

Manufacturer: Novoflex. The achromat was computed and produced by Staeble Optik in Schongau.

Lens Label: ( NOVOFLEX ) NOFLEXAR 1:5,6 f=400mm <serial number>

Currently manufactured: No

Lens type: Manual focus, Extreme tele lens, true long focal design

Design: Achromat, 2 elements in 1 group

Focal length: 400 mm

Aperture range: f/5.6 – f/32, Manual, 24 blades

Sensor format/coverage: up to 24 mm x 36 mm

Mount*: via a focussing bellows, BAL-U, with a suitable lens mount adapter part.

Helicoid: No, Focussing with a bellow at the rear of the lens

Flange Focus distance: M42/45.46 mm,

Front filter: 77 mm x 0.75 mm (there are lenses with a 75 mm x 0.75 mm thread too)

Introduction year: ca mid 1960

S/N of test object: 05118

 

* There are mount adapters for many different camera types.

Alternatively:

There are rigid spacer tubes instead of the bellows, also for different cameras.

However they give a very bad minimum focus distance.

 

A document showing different configurations and options for Novoflex lenses present when the document was written:

https://www.pacificr...00070/00070.pdf

There are more modern adapters for bellows and Schnellschuss-lenses, than listed in the document, including the CANA-AF for Canon EOS

Image of test object:

The measured object is the rather thin lens head, the second from the right, that can be used with different lens tubes:

See more details here:

https://www.ultravio...dpost__p__25241

Versions compatibility:

The Lens-heads of this generation share the mounting thread dimension and are interchangeable between the older Type-B and next generation Type-C, of Schnellschuss-lenses.

The last generation, the Type-D of Schnellschuss-lenses have a special new type of bayonet mount for the lens heads.

Transmittance Summary

Definitions of the parameters below

• Range: The NOFLEXAR 1:5,6 f=400mm transmits 1-92% in an increasing slope from 316nm to 400nm.
  
• T_VISmax (%) = 97%
  
• T_400nm (%) = 92%
  
• T_365nm (%) = 87%
  This high percentage is an indicator for quite short exposure time under typical UV-pass filtration peaking around 360 nm or when using 365 nm UV-LED illumination.
  
• λ_{UV HMvis}(nm) = 340nm
  
• λ_{UV HM400}(nm) = 337nm
  
• λ_{UV Zero}(nm) = 316nm
  
• These three values indicate that the lens is working even for some upper UV-B photography with some filters and a few for this, suitable cameras.
  

Spectral Transmission Graphs

UV-NIR, Novoflex NOFLEXAR 1:5,6 f=400mm

 

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

 

UV, Novoflex NOFLEXAR 1:5,6 f=400mm

 

 

UV-Log, Novoflex NOFLEXAR 1:5,6 f=400mm

 

Numerical Spectra Data available: Yes

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Filters and how to use them on this lens:

The front filter thread is an unusual 75 mm standard filter thread.

 

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

 

An alternative, is to putty-mount a filter directly inside the lens. There are several flat surfaces that likely would work to mount a filter or a step ring fitting the filter.

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Handling and focussing:

Difficult due to the long focal length.

A stable tripod, or two, are needed to support the lens.

 

Flare and sun-stars:

TBD

 

Sharpness:

High for the age of the lens.

 

Lens distortion:

TBD

 

Chromatic Aberration in UV:

Yes both axial and lateral. Improves by stopping down and can often be tolerable.

[OlDoinyo]

Sony A-mount is not mirrorless-- it is the DSLR/DSLT mount. E-mount is their mirrorless mount.

[ulf]

Sorry for the confusion.

 

I ment Sony A7-series and Sony A9-series cameras when I wrote Sony A-series and did not talk about any mount type.

 

The Sony A7 and A9 type full frame cameras share mount with their APS-C siblings.

The mount is called NEX or E-mount.

[colinbm]

I am not understanding these Novoflex lenses on focusing bellows ?

If they are made for SLR cameras that have a FFD of around 45 - 50mm, but the bellows has a distance of approx another 50mm to the lens flange.

Is the Novoflex lens 100mm or so FFD or is it already in macro mode ?

[ulf]

The long Novoflex Schnellschuss lens systams are modular designs with two components common for all in the center, the iris module and the gun-like fast-focussing grip.

The different parts join with either suitable thread joints or dedicated bayonet mounts.

 

On the motif side you can exchange the lens modules and on the camera side you can exchange the camera mount adapters.

Look at page 3 here: https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00070/00070.pdf

 

There are two ways to adapt a camera, (I give examples for Canon FD type codes below.)

By a rigid camera adapter tube with a suitable matching camera mount type, catalog codes ending in BA, (CANBA) or

By a combination of a focussing bellows, (BAL-U), and a suitable short camera mount adapter, catalog codes ending in A, (CANA).

 

Both alternative combinations reach infinity, att shortest extension (by the bellows).

However the rigid tube alternative gives a very bad close focus distance, 400mm => 13 ft and 640mm => 33 ft

By using the bellows alternative you get a better close focussing ability (5 ft and 13 ft) and can also preset a focus distance for quick action.

 

The short camera adapters are of the same type as used for their Macro bellows and is more commonly available.

[colinbm]

Thanks Ulf, I'll read the book some more.

[ulf]

Added corrected information about the front thread.

[nfoto]

I cannot see the illustrations -- are they gone by mistake?

[ulf]

Not gone, I took a shortcut referring to my rather extensive topic about these lens types by a link.

https://www.ultravio...dpost__p__25241

 

That was lazy, but I had no time to take new pictures of the lenses.

Do you think I shall repost the same picture here in this topic?

[nfoto]

You can add them by using the IMG tag, thus they are re-used, not reposted. As of now they are non-clickable and refer to an uploaded image not accessible to the users.

[ulf]

How to use the IMG tag, please?

Is there any guide to that?

[nfoto]

Insert your images by using the "Image" button -- the small one in the middle of the second top row in the editing pane. You are asked for a URL. Locate the actual image as originally posted and right-click it to see 'location' which is the parameter you require for the URL. Sorry, this sounds a little awkward and to tell the truth, it is. However, once you done it this becomes easy.

 

Do note you need to expand your editing mode to "Use full editor".

 

 

[ulf]

I have learned something new!

 

Birna, If you want you can delete these last messages, or at least mine, to clean things up.