Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/08/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I've been wary of taking my camera kayaking because of the typical proximity to large volumes of water, so I've been looking for a setup that would represent a much smaller financial loss if the kayak should transmogrify into a submarine, yet still deliver good results. I recently bought (via some auction site) a Novoflex 400mm f/5.6 T-Noflexar, complete with accessory bellows (BAL-U) for extreme close-ups, accessory tripod collar and Nikon mount for the princely sum of US$125. For those who are unfamiliar with the Novoflex follow-focus lenses, they were very popular among pre-AF wildlife photographers for their good optical performance and quick focussing action. The Novoflex lenses focus through a squeeze grip (google Novoflex images for a look-see); the action is quick and accurate, the down side being hand fatigue, weight and a limited focussing range (focussing range can be easily extended with the BAL-U bellows or the variable extesnion tube built into later models). I tested the setup today on dry land with the DMR (in the Kayak I'll use a battered SL instead): http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/trochilidae/anhu03.html whaddya think? Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com