I decided not to go for Novoflex. Not because I think they are bad, but because of the problems with adapters. But on my way to this conclusion I read a bit. If I'm not mistaken Novoflex had a rather odd, but sensible designing philosophy. They are mainly designed for shooting wildlife. Wildlife photographers wanted better focusing. A focus system that made the photographer able to follow a fast moving subject. (That's an enablement;-)) They also wanted to make high quality glass. High quality glass is expensive. To prevent prising themselves completely out of the marked they based the design on the idea that wildlife shooters most of the time cropped the frame. And this is where it gets odd. Based on this Novoflex decided didn't have to think about edge performance. The result is, state of the art centre performance, and crappy edges. Does this sound familiar? Yeah, it does to me. Now digital lenses are designed after the same criteria.
If this is true, this is most likely the reason why the lenses have very good reputation among some old-timers, and other will not touch them with gloves. Anyway. The "elders" on list know a lot more about this than I do. I have decided against Novoflex for the moment. But I am curious about how they perform, both optically and "focuscally". Please drop a line, and show some results. Tim Mostly harmless (just plain Norwegian) Never underestimate the power of stupidity in large crowds (Very freely after Arthur C. Clarke, or some other clever guy) > -----Original Message----- > From: Toine [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 12. mars 2006 20:43 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Novoflex any good? (Was:Advice on long glass for, "photodoc > on beachbirds") > > Tim > It was my lucky day today and found a Novoflex Pigrif C 600mm. The one > in your ebay link is older. The biggest problem is finding a pentax > novoflex adapter (it's labeled penta). My first test in the backyard > looks very promising. In fact I'm impressed so far. On a istD I don't > see any big lens errors during "pixelpeeping". I don't have any long > pentax glass to compare this oldie against. > Now I only need to find time to shoot some wildlife. > Toine > > On 3/4/06, Tim Øsleby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > John Forbes recommends looking for a Novoflex lens. I know nothing about > the > > system except that it looks like a prototype Russian "sniper shotgun". I > > also have vague memory of seeing some adds in some older magazines. To > me > > they looked like toys then. > > > > Is John onto something, or has he lost it? > > No offence, John, just trying to add some humour to a rather boring > post. > > > > He is referring to something like this > > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Novoflex-5-6-400mm-T-Noflexar-Fast-shot- > lens_W0QQitemZ > > 7595235104QQcategoryZ3340QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem > > > > Follow up question. What should I look for? As I read the ad above, it > needs > > an adaptor. Am I right. > > > > > > Tim > > Mostly harmless (just plain Norwegian) > > > > Never underestimate the power of stupidity in large crowds > > (Very freely after Arthur C. Clarke, or some other clever guy) > > > > > > > > > > > > >
