The VNEX-system

Misha_M · Joined: 08 Oct 2012 Posts: 178

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?

hinnerker · Expire: 2015-08-09

hinnerker · Expire: 2015-08-09

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

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.

Misha_M · Joined: 08 Oct 2012 Posts: 178

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

hinnerker · Expire: 2015-08-09

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?

TAo2 · Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Posts: 319 Location: Scotland

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

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

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.

hinnerker · Expire: 2015-08-09

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

Jesito · Expire: 2015-01-07

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.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

TAo2 · Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Posts: 319 Location: Scotland

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

hinnerker · Expire: 2015-08-09

TAo2 · Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Posts: 319 Location: Scotland

Hi Henry

Ah think we're passing each other, instead of meeting in the middle. Ah don't want a VNEX/NEX connector. Laughing

.

What ah hoped for was EL Nikkor to your M39 helix to my M39 threaded Zenit 3M, giving me a proper, infinity (or near as dammit) focusing lens. Ah understand that it's not possible with the NEX system due to the registration distance.

Ah hoped that there may be some part(s) of your system which ah could use to enable this. Cool

hinnerker · Expire: 2015-08-09

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

This is very impressive. It will obviously be a small market, but a good one. It's the sort of thing that a few people will understand, and want. But they will pay for, and pay well. Don't under price this idea ! Cool

TAo2 · Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Posts: 319 Location: Scotland

Hi Henry,

The Russian L39 (Leica) mount (for rangefinders) has the 28.8mm mount. The Russian M39 SLR camera mount, often called the Z or Zenit M39, has a 45.2mm register (almost the same as the standard M42 mount - 45.5mm) and in reality there's virtually no difference, apart from reported problems with some Pentax camera bodies

In fact, ah use my M39 thread lenses with a step-up adaptor to M42 and achieve infinity on several, different SLR and DSLR cameras. Once your parts become available, individually, ah'll probably buy a selection and try various combinations - unless you choose tae make a Zenit 39mm adaptor in the future...

Thanks for your replies... Bob (TAo2)

ps A thought just occurred; when using old rangefinder M39 lenses on Zenit M39 SLR cameras, owners have reported that they can be used as macro lenses, though not reaching infinty. Ah may try your suggested solution of macro extension tube and lens connector ring.

Thanks again for your help. Cool

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7555 Location: Hong Kong

I have a m39 to NEX ring with only 1mm thickness. If we use this 1mm ring as the base adapter, we may be able to maintain infinity on some lenses with shorter register distance.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7555 Location: Hong Kong

Tervueren · Expire: 2014-11-08

Just ordered a set from Henry Smile

hinnerker · Expire: 2015-08-09