Novoflex BALPRO T/S adapter review: Part 1 – Design, Operation, Controls, Adapters

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Novoflex BALPRO T/S adapter review: Part 1 – Design, Operation, Controls, Adapters

guest post by Nathan Wright (ohm-image.net)

Introduction

Two years ago I did the switcheroo from Nikon’s F mount to Fujifilm’s X mount for all client work which took me outside of the studio. That would be model stuff, event stuff, and the like. Like many photographers, I am now work 100% mirrorless. I’ve also managed to shy away from posting the ridiculous “I ditched my (insert dSLR name) for (insert mirrorless camera name) and here are pictures of my dog to prove it” blog post.

I don’t have a dog. I don’t do weddings. Live with it.

I’m a still life photographer. My clients manufacture, and sell, geeky things: earphones and headphones, microphones and speakers, lenses, fountain pens, straight razors, and the like, for and to the geek that scoffs at the mass market. (Irony: I don’t mind using mass-market cameras for most of what I do.)

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Regarding my geek, I’m as bashless as they come. Here’s my CV: My favourite universal earphones: Grado GR10. My favourite modified digital audio player: the Mezzo Hifi-modded MSAK100. My favourite closed headphones: Mr. Speakers Alpha Dogs. My favourite portable headphone amplifier: Vorzüge PURE II. My favourite mid-end DAC: Linnenberg Vivace. My favourite artisan straight razor: Jenes Sándor Custom Straight Razors.

I guess you could say that I shoot what I love. (BTW, none of those products are made by my clients; I just dig them.)

Back to photography. Which lens do I best love? is a question with many answers. For personal stuff, my favourite is the Leica pre-ASPH 50mm Summilux. It’s a lens that is capable of being more than just sharp, or contrasty: it is dreamy, and ghosty when called for. But it’s not a lens I could use for work. Nor would I want to. For work, I need good macro lenses, or a great bellows system.

Until a year ago, I put Nikon’s excellent PC Micro tilt shift lenses into constant use. The 85mm PC Micro was my favourite. Both it and its 45mm sibling provided tip-top resolution, resistance to flare, and contrasty colour to my subjects. But when the D800’s poor live view and lack of WiFi preview moved me onto shallower flange mirrorless cameras, I looked further afield.

Today, my favourite lens is the Schneider APO-Digitar 5,6/100 Macro. It is sharp, contrasty, resistant to flare, and all that. Better yet, it is small, light, and comes with Copal shutters/apertures, which makes perfectly adaptable to pretty much any shuttered and non-shuttered system.

I use it on a number of cameras, the most recent of which is the Novoflex BALPRO T/S. The BALPRO T/S is a 6×7 bellows macro camera onto which you can fit almost any lens or imaging device imaginable. It is more stable than the Horseman VCC Pro while offering more generous camera movements. The best part is that it weighs a mere 975 grams, and hides easily in hiking backpacks.

No, it can’t fully replace a full-size 6×9 Arca Swiss F Line technical camera, but at less than half the weight and cost, it shouldn’t have to.

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XF50-140: “IQ slightly better than the Nikon 70-200” (Bjorn) + “superb micro-contrast” (Olaf) + “it thinks it’s a Prime” (Derek)

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XF 50-140 IN STOCK CHECK
USA:
BHphotoAmazonUS / Adorama / EU: WexUK / WexDE / PCHstore / AUS: CameraPro

MUST READ: Rico’s First Look at the 50-140 f/2.8!

The XF50-140 is optically an outstanding lens, especially when it comes to sharpness and micro-contrast. Here are some more reviews/first looks about this lens.

1) olafphotoblog: ““They’ve done it again!” The XF 50-140 is BITINGLY sharp with a crisp tonal transition and superb micro-contrast! The bokeh (out of focus area) is surprisingly smooth, given the smaller sensor size (in comparison to the FF). The only thing we could whine about is the size of the lens but if this is a trade-off to achieve top quality, I’m glad Fuji went for it.”: For the following article “ 7 Points About the XF 50-140mm” click here.

2) bjornmoerman: XF 50-140 on field review in Myanmar: “Auto-focus speed is very fast in normal lighting conditions. In very low light there is the occasional focus hunting; nothing more pronounced than on the other Fujinon glass however. […] Overall I’m very pleased with the quality of the bokeh. When shooting a very contrasty background, it can at times be a little harsh […] Sharpness: this is really where this lens shines! […] I feel the image quality of the lens is very close if not slightly better than the Nikon 70-200 2.8, while its built quality and smoothness of operation is clearly better.”

3) derekclarkphotography Fuji 50-140mm f2.8 :: It Thinks It’s A Prime: “So in conclusion: The Fujifilm 50-140mm is just outstanding! We’ve waited a while, but the wait was well worth it. I keep thinking that Fuji has peeked with the quality of their lenses, but as soon as I do, they bring out something that just blows me away!”

image courtesy: Olafphotoblog

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image courtesy: bjornmoerman

First Look: Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR

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XF 50-140 IN STOCK CHECK
USA:
BHphotoAmazonUS / Adorama / EU: WexUK / WexDE / PCHstore / AUS: CameraPro

_ _ _

First Look: Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR

first impressions / practical review / shooting experience by Rico Pfirstinger

Talk to Rico (open forum for questions & feedback)

Fuji X Secrets Workshops – Rico’s Flickr Sets

The Fujifilm X-E2: Beyond the Manual (use coupon XPERT40 for a 40% discount)

Rico’s XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR Sample Images – Specs

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to get my hands on a pre-production copy of Fuji’s new “professional grade” tele zoom lens, the XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR. Since the lens is already available in many regions and will soon start shipping in North America, I’d like to take this opportunity to share my observations during a brief period of testing.

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Fujifilm XF50-140mm f/2.8: “I can hardly believe how amazing the quality is. Prime quality at any focal length!” + Rally Shots

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Can a zoom lens be as good as a prime?” asks Markus… and his answer is “Yes”. He tested the XF 50-140 f/2.8 WR lens at a Fuji event in South Africa, and after checking the images on his computer he concludes that he has “never before used a better zoom lens than the 50-140. […] I can hardly believe how amazing the quality is. Indeed prime quality all the way and at any focal length.” Jump over to his blog mworsdorfer here and take a look at the samples with 100% crops.

All the shots were taken with the new graphite silver X-T1, also using the electronic shutter.

It’s not the first time we hear photographers stating that this lens is outstanding… do you remember this article here?

[UDPATE 1: Žiga Šparemblek tested the X-T1 + 50-140 at a Rally in Croatia. Lots of dust and fast cars… how will the auto-focus of the weather resistant XF50-140 deal with it? Žiga says: “it went surprisingly better that I imagined.” Read more at photoziga.]

[UDPATE 2: On the Fujirumors facebook page here Marc Grimm said: “Got it 1.5 weeks ago. It’s simply amazing. Best lens produced so far by Fuji (I got the 10-24, 23, 35, 56 besides the new 50-140 and know all of them pretty well). The 50-140 has very fast and accurate AF, is extremely sharp and handles very well. Love the tripod collar!”]

XF 50-140 IN STOCK CHECK (and a little support)
USA:
BHphotoAmazonUS / Adorama / EU: WexUK / WexDE / PCHstore / AUS: CameraPro

If you enjoy to stop by Fujirumors to get 365 days a year free news/reviews/rumors/deals coverage and are also interested in this lens, please consider to grab it using one of the links below. A small commission will be valued back to this blog with absolutely no extra costs for you. It will allow me to keep this blog space open for all the X-shooters out there. Thanks guys.

Graphite Silver X-T1
USA: BHphotoAmazonUS / Adorama / Pictureline / EUROPE: WexUK / WexDE / PCHstore AUSTRALIA: CameraPro