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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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The VNEX-system
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may I know, how much the price for this great tool? Why don't you make pre order for member here


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Price and availability please. Smile


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Patience, my friends. Wink
Please do not forget the time zones...


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Lightshow wrote:
Price and availability please. Smile


Good morning to all.. i am located in germany and have to sleep sometimes.. Very Happy

Ok, let us start with the System presentation and the price.. Very Happy

The main or base part of the System is the VNEX Focussing - Modul with some parts..




1. the mounted and adjusted VNEX for SONY NEX cams
2. 1 pcs. Screw - connector 12mm
3. 1 pcs. Screw - connector 9mm (in the pic above mounted on the VNEX)
4. 1 pcs. 25mm macro extension tube for extended reproduction scale to 1:1.25 or to use 80mm lenses on VNEX
5. 1 pcs. M39 INLAY.. to remount the adaptor base to a standard M39 to NEX adaptor.






What can you do with this base System?

in this base version, you can use the VNEX on SONY NEX cams with a lot of 50mm or 80mm enlarger lenses with M39 screw thread.

Please note the following link to an excel sheet in my forum, to see, which enlarger lenses are tested until now.. (have to update the list in the next days.. there are a lot more enlarger lenses fits to that VNEX System..)

Please open in a new browser-tab to see while reading..

http://www.digicamclub.de/showthread.php?t=16361

short explanation for the terms, used in the linked table:

In the first column of the sheet you can read, which connector and parts from the base System or the extended System fits to give Infinity on that VNEX System

"12mm Mutter" means.. 12mm connector between Lens<>VNEX Modul
"9mm Mutter"means.. 9mm connector between Lens<>VNEX Modul
"Wandlerplatte" means a part from the accessory toolset of VNEX.. to convert M25/M27/M30 or M32,5 lenses to fit VNEX

You can find in the 3. column some technical data like the measured register distance for infinity
in the column 4 the total lenght of the lens
in the column 7 the lenght of the lens screwthread.. (important.. will explain this later in the technical details..0
in the column 8 you can see, which lens do use a 40,5mm filter thread (later important for the optional retro-ring)


So this is a short overview of the enlarger lenses we tested during development..

The price: 129 Euro + shipping to your country..


Ok, let us now have a look at the optional components for the "extended Version" of VNEX Very Happy

For adapting lots of older enlarger lenses, we developed some usefull things like the mount conversion plates..



1. in the front row are 4 conversion plates to fit M32.5/M30/M27 and M25 screwmount lenses to the VNEX System. (from left to right)
2. Behind that row - on the left - there is an extra 6mm screw connector to connect lenses which do need this.. (explain that later)
3. on the right side in second row, you see the "Retro-Ring" for enlarger lenses with a filter threadmount of 40.5mm
(Allows to use the enlarger lens in opposite position.. for a little greater reproduction scale of 1:1)
(Allows also to use the macro extension tube as a provisorical lenshood)
4. in the last row in the background you can see an Intermediate Connector..

This "Intermediate-connector" is for combining each of the 6/9/12mm Connectors to get more distances between VNEX and the lens, if the register distance of a given lens need this.. for example, the Novoflex Staeble 4/60mm lens and some older Rangefinder lenses do need that combining..




At the moment, the shown optional Set is available only together with a base system, because we havent produced enough of them, to sell the Sets or parts of the Sets alone. Later you can buy single parts of the accessoirs..

Price for the Base-System + Set of optional components would be 169 Euro + Shipping to your country.

This is a very fair price for a product, that was manufactured in germany (not china!)

At the moment i do have only 20-25 Units in stock.. producing time would about 20-30 days if the units are selled.


If we can produce more units in the future, we can sell each part of the system as a standalone part.. and then i will public the prices for each optional component.. but first, the Units have to sell, for producing the next line of accessories and the new ideas we have for that system..

So if you want to buy one, you will be a part of a small but growing family of users who are interested in researching a lot of unknown lenses from older days... and some of them are very charming as you can see in some of the shown pictures.. Very Happy

Cheers
Henry


Last edited by hinnerker on Thu Aug 07, 2014 7:14 am; edited 10 times in total


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BTW, apart from all that great glass that you can adapt with the VNEX, you can also use and focus lenses which generate a very special effect.

Steinheil Oscillo-Quinon 1.9/75


This lens produces photos like this one:


Or that one:


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And if you adapt a collapsible Leitz Summitar 2/5cm with the VNEX you will get a nice protrait plus a super-macro lens.



Example shots in "macro mode":





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I applaud the decision to make this topic sticky

I am also looking for solution for enlarger lens by Wray, Wollensak and Rodenstock

oh yes and King Regula Super lens solution


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WOW!

I bow before the creators!

This is just an amazing feat of engineering, especially for someone not working in Zeiss R&D Smile

I am an SLR user, so for me it is less relevant, but is sounds great.

Now, how about some magic adapter system from RF to SLR and vice versa? Wink


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Misha_M wrote:
WOW!

I bow before the creators!

This is just an amazing feat of engineering, especially for someone not working in Zeiss R&D Smile

I am an SLR user, so for me it is less relevant, but is sounds great.

Now, how about some magic adapter system from RF to SLR and vice versa? Wink


No problem anyway.. you can remount the inner part of the VNEX simply into an T2 Adapter for your Cam..

Then you will have VCAN = Canon / VNIK = Nikon / VSON = Sony / VPEN... and use this system for your SLR.. but only with enlarger lenses >= 80mm focal lenght ..

For example .. this is a remounted VNEX as a VCAN..

( EOS 5 D MKII with Rodagon 5.6/80mm)





this is the rear side of a T2 to Canon EOS adaptor to show, that there are no problems with the mirror of the 5 D cams.. Very Happy



So its no problem, to remount it to a simple T2 to "XY" cam adaptor with 3 screws.. only Nikon has a small problem because of the aperture control lever inside the mirror box..

But there is a simple way to solve this problem.. prevent the tube to intrude complete by a small rubber band..Very Happy

Pictrues taken with this combination and the Rodagon 5.6/80mm can be seen in the "VNEX - Showroom"..

http://forum.mflenses.com/vnex-showroom-for-enlarger-lens-pictures-t54330.html

Cheers
Henry


Last edited by hinnerker on Thu Aug 07, 2014 7:23 am; edited 1 time in total


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Ok so far the VNEX System prices..

But lets do a bit practise...

I will show the way you can bring enlarger or different lenses from old fixed lens rangefindercams (if they were really defective, rubbish and irreparable.. otherwise is butchery) to the VNEX System.

Here is a Rodenstock Ysar 3.5/50mm in M30 screw - mount.. we want to connect to VNEX Focussing Unit step by step....




Left you see one of the 4 adaptorplates, designed for VNEX, in front the hexagonal tool for srew-work, right the Rodenstock Ysar 3.5/50mm

with one of the adaptorplates we have to bring the M30 Rodenstock mount to M39 VNEX modul..

Lets have a look at the Rodenstok Ysar..



a. this is a possible place for connecting with a 25mm adapterplate of the VNEX if its not in use by another lens.
b. this is a possible place for connecting with a 30mm adapterplate of the VNEX if its not in use by another lens

25mm adaptorplate - position..



30mm adaptorplate - position.. we take this position for further explaining..

as you can see, there is also shown a hexagonal Inbus tool with SW9 (2mm) which is part of the accessory set.
With 3 Inbus-screws you lock the Rodagon in the adaptorplate




So, our lens is prepared to fit in the VNEX Focussing modul



We only have to screw in the prepared Rodagon Ysar 3.5/50mm and lock the Ysar in the VNEX-connector on the correct adjusted infinity position.. Very Happy



Now the System is ready to run on the NEX cams.. easy, isnt it?


This is a very good way, to find out, if an old enlarger lens or another lens is good or not..

If you find a real gem between lots of lenses from all systems and manufacturer, you can simply build preadjusted "lens-heads" for your work. This makes it very easy, to change between lenses and you will have a very small NEX Set taken with you on travel, walking and so on.. You only have to order the parts, you want permanently stay on the lens like their new "Lens-Housing"

These are some prepaired "lens heads" i have in use often..
(from L to R = AGFA Color AMBION 4/28mm, Rodenstock Ysar 3.5/50mm, ROW (Rathower Optische Werke) Orphan 4.5/55mm


Cheers
Henry


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Misha_M wrote:
WOW!

I bow before the creators!

This is just an amazing feat of engineering, especially for someone not working in Zeiss R&D Smile


Even at Zeiss they were very impressed with the VNEX!

This is Dr. Nasse, senior scientist at Zeiss, playing with Henry's VNEX-system at the Photokina this year. Wink


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Orio wrote:
LucisPictor wrote:
Orio wrote:
Would be nice for M cameras too.

Yes, but it would need a rangefinder coupling. Or you would need the new "M". Wink


Right Rolling Eyes Laughing


not fir my ricoh gxr m mount system! i would love this!


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rbelyell wrote:
Orio wrote:
LucisPictor wrote:
Orio wrote:
Would be nice for M cameras too.

Yes, but it would need a rangefinder coupling. Or you would need the new "M". Wink


Right Rolling Eyes Laughing


not fir my ricoh gxr m mount system! i would love this!

I don't think it would be too much of a problem. Smile Just another financial investment probably. Sad


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LOL, I think that if this goes on like this, Zeiss may offer some good money to buy the patent rights for this thing!

So let me get this... with this system I can mount practically any type of manual lens on my DSLR if I order the "canon" version?


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Misha_M wrote:
LOL, I think that if this goes on like this, Zeiss may offer some good money to buy the patent rights for this thing!

So let me get this... with this system I can mount practically any type of manual lens on my DSLR if I order the "canon" version?


No.. not any type.. must be have a focal length at >80mm and has to have a mount smaller than M39 to fit in the connector or the plateconnectors.. these are typically M25/M27/M30/M32.5 or M39 itself (like the enlarger lenses the system was designed for)!

To use other lenses then M39 enlarger lenses, you leave the area, the VNEX was designed for and go to a more "experimental stage".. for things/Lenses, you maybe havent seen on a DSLR/Evilcam or better to say in the digital world today..

Here are examples for some tryouts..


This is a Schneider - Kreuznach COMPONAR 4.5/80mm, mounted via VCAN on an EOS - DSLR--





The next is a Schneider - Kreuznach COMPONAR 4.5/105mm.. connected for infinity with the macro tube of the VNEX System to VCAN



Thats what the VNEX was initially was designed for.. work with some enlarger lenses with different focal lenght..

Beside of this aim, there is an experimental stage... have a look at the following pictures..

-----------------

Have a look at a Meyer Görlitz Diaplan 2.8/80mm projector lens.. a lens without any aperture blades.. !

VNEX is only a tool for your own creativity to bring some kind of lenses to your cam.. especially if they have no own focus helicoid like enlarger or projector lenses..




Another example..


The famous Schneider - Kreuznach XENAR 2.8/75mm from 1938 = 74 years old.. has 12 aperture blades for a very pleasant bokeh.. and an own focous helicoid. The lens comes from an old and defective BALDAX cam and has a "DECKEL Central shutter"...



The pics taken with that lens are amazing..




Maybe this 4 examples shows, for what kind of lenses the VNEX is a good tool.. enlargers and experimental work..

Tomorrow i will show some more lenses.. and ways to connect them to VNEX..

Cheers
Henry


Last edited by hinnerker on Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:11 am; edited 1 time in total


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LucisPictor wrote:
Misha_M wrote:
WOW!

I bow before the creators!

This is just an amazing feat of engineering, especially for someone not working in Zeiss R&D Smile


Even at Zeiss they were very impressed with the VNEX!

This is Dr. Nasse, senior scientist at Zeiss, playing with Henry's VNEX-system at the Photokina this year. Wink


The lens on the NEX 7 / VNEX Combination, Dr. Nasse did play, was a Voigtländer Color Skopar 3.5/50mm mounted on the VNEX.. Very Happy

Cheers
Henry


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Very fair price , my manufacture cost for a SONY NEX Contax RF adapter here at Hungary 80-100 EUR. Fingers are crossed to get great success.


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Thank you very much, I now know what I need to know... good luck with the system; I take my hat off seeing such engineering ingenuity Smile


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Ok, let us see, what we can do with the accessories from VNEX...

There is also a retro - ring in the optional VNEX tool-set shown left part of second row in the picture..





If you combine that retro - ring with the macro - extension - tube in the next picture..



You will get a provisorical lenshood.. ugly, but works perfect for a 75mm lens (50mm x 1.5 crop!)



This solution has two advantages..

1. you have got a lenshood for free, always taken with you..
2. and you can reverse the complete lenshood/ macro-tube Unit together with the lens very fast on the VNEX for immediately doing macro-shots with a reprodution scale of 1:1 instead the normal scale of 1:3 without the tube. If you sometimes really need that Very Happy

Advantage: There is no need to take a specialist makro lens with you..! You already take that with you Very Happy



So this is a great compact solution for "normal" situations .. using good enlarger lenses as a "normal" lens with reproduction scale up to 1:3 and with the tube having directly a macro 1:1 option if reverted the lenshood/lens Unit....


A very compact thing.. have a look at this small comparison in dimension..

(Leica-R Makro Elmarit 2.8/60mm with adaptors, EL NIKKOR N 2.8/50mm with VNEX, Componon 4/28mm with VNEX accessory's brought to a normal M39 to NEX adaptor)

Very compact, isnt it?



Last edited by hinnerker on Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:04 am; edited 2 times in total


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Ah have an EL NIKKOR 50mm/f2.8. Ah would love to mount it on my ZENIT 3 and 3m (zenit M39 thread). Would that be possible to reach infinity and focus with the ring on any of the VNEX adaptors? Please excuse my lack of knowledge here.

Ah know it can be fitted directly but have never tried it out, though ah read that it can focus to about 3 metres (without the focus ring - only moving back and forward)

Congratulations on a piece of fine engineering... Cool


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The VNEX-system was originally designed and beta-tested for a Sony NEX.

Henry just has realized that with longer lenses (= longer FL) you can also use the idea on a (D)SLR.

Please don't confuse that.


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LucisPictor did say it right.. it was originally designed for Sony NEX camera.. and to mount and centering the INLAY to a T2 adaptor was a side aspect i recognized after holding the first prototype - so called "ERLKÖNIG" in hands.

But let's go further with some possibilitys you have in future with tools from VNEX System..

As already stated from Kds315 in another thread, the register distance of some lenses are to short, to use them on VNEX.

Unfortunately these are especially the lenses with a wider angle.. but they are very interesting for use on the SONY NEX cam's. Sad

So we tryed out some things with parts of the VNEX System.. basically the conversion plates are a good way to bring some lenses nearer to the Sony NEX.

For example we try out this way.. and will produce this parts in the next run of VNEX parts..



You see the VNEX adaptor-base remounted to a simple M39 adaptor.. left is the fokussing helix of VNEX, right the new part i want to talk about.

You can see a simple tube with a normal M39 thread.. 12mm lenght and on the end this tube has a hole for M25 or M27 or M30 or M32.5...

So they will act like the already described conversion plates.. you simply mount the spezific lens with a small thread diameter and fix the lens with 3 screws as already known if you have read the thread until here..





In that way you can bring an excellent Schneider - Kreuznach 4/28mm to the Sony NEX cam. Very Happy

There are 2 small problems:

1. the thread pitch.. is normal M39 x 1 which means you have to turn a long way to focus
2. limiting the end of tube, so you cant screw the lens out during focus work

Solutions for that:

There are 2 alternativs.. either we produce a tube with a better thread pitch... lets say M39 x 2 .. but this means, we need additionally a new INLAY - Ring for the adaptor base..

Another way would be, to design a complete new helicoid only for wideangle lenses with very short register distances.

But at the moment i use the Componon 4/28mm enlarger lens with that shown solution and for this "short lenses" we will produce this tube in normal M39 thread.. because enlarger lenses with such an angle are not often to find.



Pictures taken with the Schneider - Kreuznach Componon 4/28mm are in the showroom.. as always!

Later on i will show a solution for mounting ROBOT lenses to Sony NEX, also with parts from the VNEX System..

Cheers
Henry


Last edited by hinnerker on Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:22 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Nice work!,
I did my own solution by building adapters to M42 and using a bellows, but your solution does look more professional. Wink

http://forum.mflenses.com/enlarger-lenses-building-a-m32-5-to-m42-adapter-t48101,highlight,%2Benlarger.html

Regards.
Jes.


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Jesito wrote:
Nice work!,
I did my own solution by building adapters to M42 and using a bellows, but your solution does look more professional. Wink

http://forum.mflenses.com/enlarger-lenses-building-a-m32-5-to-m42-adapter-t48101,highlight,%2Benlarger.html

Regards.
Jes.


Indeed, Jes. Bellows can also be used. The advantage of a helicoid system is that it is much easier and more precise to focus.


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Hi Guys,

On re-reading my post ah can see that ah was unclear. Ah did understand that this is for the Nex system but thought that there may be some combination which would provide me with a focusing helix on an M39 thread to which ah could attach the EL Nikkor 2.8/50mm (it being also an M39 thread).

Perhaps, a tangent to branch off into, in the future, given the number of Russian SLR and Rangefinder users on this website. Thanks for the reply, ah wish you success in your venture. Cool