Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/05/19

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] IMG: Old Cat - New Toy
From: douglas.sharp at gmx.de (Douglas Sharp)
Date: Sat May 19 19:17:08 2007
References: <464D6BB3.8060408@gmx.de> <003e01c79938$fff568c0$1eac28d1@fumcratr6dmly7>

Hi, Jeff
I rather like it from what I've seen so far - though I wouldn't like to 
take it through a check at the airport - seems to be pretty sharp and 
the colour rendition and contrast are spot-on. Handling takes a little 
getting used to - the pistol grip does the focussing and you push or 
pull either the camera or the complete lens to change the focal length. 
I haven't yet checked the edge sharpness, the shot I posted was a centre 
crop, I'll post the full frame for comparison.

The name plate on the side of the pistol grip says "Optics made by 
Tamron Japan for Novoflex W.-Germany", so all the mechanical bits appear 
to be German and the glass is Japanese - it also uses the Adaptall-II 
mounts, so I now have the option of using it on C/Y, Leica, Rollei and 
Canon. There are also 2 knobs for locking both the focal length and the 
focus.

The interesting thing is the macro-option - push a switch and twist the 
inner barrel and it disconnects a whole lens system to turn the zoom 
barrel into a variable extension ring - very  clever those people at 
Novoflex!

 If I have any criticism, it's the shade that fits to the front with a 
sort of bayonet lock, it may be because it's pretty old by now (made in 
1978), but it's a little loose.
The shot of Posy in the garden , was taken at around 80mm and f5.6.
Cheers
Douglas

Jeff S. Matsler wrote:
> Hi Doug,
>
> How do you like the Novoflex?  I was reading about these yesterday.  
> German made, right?  VERY sharp in the middle, with the disadvantage 
> of falling off drastically on the edges - mainly designed for tight 
> crops from what I've read (at least the higher magnification lenses).  
> In your photo, even the edges that are in focus seem to be sharp though.
>
> One question - What's the Tamron connection?  I wasn't aware of one 
> from the limited reading on Novoflex I've done.
>
> The setup's on my "wish list", so I'll be eager to see your 
> forthcoming photos as I determine just where on my list it really is.  
> Enjoy!  :-)
>
> Jeff M
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Douglas Sharp" <douglas.sharp@gmx.de>
> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>; 
> <leicareflex@freelists.org>
> Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 4:02 AM
> Subject: [Leica] IMG: Old Cat - New Toy
>
>
>> First shot with a (to me) new lens - Novoflex-Tamron 3.8-5.4 60 - 
>> 300mm fast-focus - looks like something out of an early scifi movie.
>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/New-Old-Pictures/_MG_5734_edited-1.jpg.html
>>  
>>
>> Posy having a wash in the garden this morning.
>> Comments welcome
>> Cheers
>> Douglas
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information 
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


Replies: Reply from douglas.sharp at gmx.de (Douglas Sharp) ([Leica] IMG: Old Cat - detail/fullframe)
In reply to: Message from douglas.sharp at gmx.de (Douglas Sharp) ([Leica] IMG: Old Cat - New Toy)
Message from jeffmatsler at amaonline.com (Jeff S. Matsler) ([Leica] IMG: Old Cat - New Toy)