> Does anyone have hands-on experience with Novoflex rapid focus lenses > on a istD. I would like to know if the exposure button is mechanical > or electrical (if electrical I plan to replace the connector). I > already know (or guess) that the Novoflex uses a simple T-mount > adapter.
Hi, Jack. I used to have a Novoflex mount and two lenses (a 400mm and a 600mm). I used it with an LX with a winder. 1. At least on the model I had, the trigger was electrical, and I spliced together the leads from its cord (which had what looked like some sort of a "submini" phone plug on the end - there might even be a suitable Radio Shack substitution for it) with the wires from an LX winder cable release cord. It wasn't exactly "prufeshionul" looking - I covered over the spliced area with electrical tape - <g>. However, the birds didn't seem to be offended. 2. Unfortunately, the lens mount/adapter was NOT a simple T-mount (although I don't think that there is any reason - other than profit - that would have prevented it from being just a simple T-mount). The mount/adapter (at least on the model I had) is a Novoflex specific mount (more expensive and harder to obtain than simple T-mounts). Sorry (please don't shoot the messenger). 3. The lenses I had (basically just telescope achromats) were extremely sharp in the center, but of course not quite as sharp toward the corners (although this is OK for most uses of the Novoflex design, methinks). 4. My Novoflex rig eventually became a double 9/11 tragedy. First, I was laid off from my software engineer job a couple of months after 9/11, and I "liquidated" some of my gear, including the Novoflex mount and lenses, to supplement my poverty (<g>). And, then, I decided that I didn't want to be using something that looked too much like a terrorist weapon anymore - <g>... Fred
