Novoflex Macro-Noflexar 35mm F/3.5

Macro lens • Film era • Discontinued

Abbreviations

MACRO Macro lens. Designed specially for shooting close-ups of small subjects but can be also used in other genres of photography, not necessarily requiring focusing at close distances. Learn more

Features highlight

MF
Macro 1:2
Preset
10 blades
Compact
Lightweight
⌀49
filters

Specification

Production details:
Announced:1963
Production status: Discontinued
Original name:NOVOFLEX NOFLEXAR 1:3,5/35
System:-
Optical design:
Focal length:35mm
Speed:F/3.5
Maximum format:35mm full frame
Mount and Flange focal distance:M42 [45.5mm]
Nikon F [46.5mm]
Diagonal angle of view:63.4°
Lens construction:4 elements in 4 groups
On Nikon D APS-C [1.53x] cameras:
35mm equivalent focal length:53.6mm (in terms of field of view)
35mm equivalent speed:F/5.4 (in terms of depth of field)
Diagonal angle of view:44°
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:Preset
Aperture control:Preset ring + Aperture ring
Number of blades:10 (ten)
Focusing:
Closest focusing distance:0.4m
Closest working distance:0.06m
Magnification ratio:1:2 at the closest focusing distance
Focusing modes:Manual focus only
Manual focus control:Focusing ring
Physical characteristics:
Weight:185g (mount not specified)
Maximum diameter x Length:⌀60×35mm (mount not specified)
Accessories:
Filters:Screw-type 49mm
Lens hood:Not required
Teleconverters:<No data>
Sources of data:
1. Manufacturer's technical data.
2. Novoflex lenses & accessories price list by Burleigh Brooks Inc. (1969).
3. Novoflex catalogue (August 1973).

Manufacturer description #1

"Two In One" Lens

As the classification Wide Angle-Close-up implies, the Noflexar f/3.5 35 mm (Patents pending) fulfills two duties.

1. With a 63° angle the Noflexar 35 mm takes in the entire subject, where space is limited and the focal lengths require more distance between camera and subject (i.e. when taking pictures of high buildings in narrow streets, interiors of rooms, etc.). The depth of field and unusual perspective in these cases are often highly useful for special effects and interesting compositions.

2. As a Macro or Close-up lens the Noflexar opens the highly interesting world of small objects, (i.e. flowers, insects, details of photographs, documents, table-tops, jewelry, etc.). The unique Noflexar is immediately adaptable to this field of close-up photography as no bellows extension is needed. Extension is rapidly accomplished with the dual-helical lens tube by extending the outer ring four click-stop positions. Thus close-ups up to a reproduction ratio of 1:2 are possible with this lens. In extreme cases a bellows extension unit can be employed to produce a 2 1/2 to 5-times enlargement on the negative or transparency. At a ratio larger than 1:1 it is advisable to reverse the optical system. We supply the reversal rings UMCO or UMEX which have a thread of M 49 x 0.75 on one side, and a thread or bayonet on the other side, depending on the bellows extension unit.

Lens Quality

Sharpness combined with outstanding brilliance reflects Novoflex quality which has been proven a 1000 times over and is known throughout the world. It has a hard coating and is suitable for black and white as well as for exact color reproduction with color-negatives and color-reversal film.

Which cameras are suitable for the Macro-Noflexar?

The Noflexar 35 mm is available in two models:

EXWEIT for cameras with Exakta-bayonet (Exakta, Exa, etc. - not Topcon) and for cameras where an adaptor ring is supplied by the camera manufacturer, which permits focusing of Exakta lenses to infinity (Minolta, Miranda, Yashica Pentamatic, etc.)

COWEIT for cameras with Praktica/Edixa-thread (Praktica, Edixa (-mat) Reflex, Pentacon, Hexacon, Contax-S, Contax-D, Asahi-Honeywell-Heiland Pentax, Yashica Reflex, etc.)

Cameras with other distances from lens to focal plane (i.e. Leica, Praktina, Nikon, etc.) and all cameras with between-the-lens shutters cannot be used with the Macro-Noflexar 35 mm.

Handling is simple and fast

First: It is a close-up lens which fits into your ever-ready case! Because of its unusual construction - it is no larger than a standard 35 mm or 50 mm lens. The helical focusing mount allows focusing from infinity to 40 cm, which is normal with any lens of this focal length.

This is what makes the Noflexar unique!

To obtain close-ups in a split second - the front of the lens is extended in four click-stop positions. At each position is a definite click. You then choose the position which gives you the desired reproduction ratio. Fine focusing is also obtained with the helical focusing mount and focusing is uninterrupted.

Exposure increase without scales and tables

As with any other wide angle lens normal exposure time is used for up to 16 ins. When set for closer distances each click stop position is equivalent to an exposure time increase of one quarter of a diaphragm stop. Therefore, when totally extended, the exposure time has to be doubled, or the diaphragm opened one stop (i.e. f 11 instead f 16).

Simple and safe pre-set diaphragm

With a short focal length lens, stopped down, it is sometimes difficult to check for sharpness on the focusing screen. Therefore, the Noflexar 35 mm has a pre-set diaphragm. The first ring, with the diaphragm readings, is turned, while holding the ring behind it, until the desired diaphragm stop is opposite the white dot. With the diaphragm wide open the lens is focused and just before exposure both rings are turned in the opposite direction ta the pre-selected diaphragm stop. A button an the bottom of the lens offers a grip for the finger.

Fast, sharp snap-shots without distance settings

Lenses with short focal lengths always have a great depth of field. This is ideal for fast snap shots, since distance and diaphragm can be set so that all objects, of importance to the picture, are included in the depth of field. The depth of field is visible on the focusing screen. In case it is difficult to check the depth of field on the focusing screen, when the lens is stopped down, it is easily determined with the depth of field ring. This ring, containing the diaphragm readings, is located in front of the distance scale of the lens and indicates the zone of sharp focus, according to diaphragm opening.

This technical data is comparable to wide angle lenses priced much higher:

Subjects of sizes up to 5 x 7 cm can be photographed without bellows extension unit, with bellows extension unit subjects of sizes up ta 5 x 7 mm.

The straight guide bearing of the helical focusing mount permits reading of all scales from above lens.

The mount of the Noflexar serves as an efficient lens hood, and is also perfect for Macro photography, when the lens is used in reverse in the bellows extension unit. The "built-in" lens hood is adjustable.

Manufacturer description #2

This amazing Novoflex lens is actually 5 lenses in one! Small enough to fit in any ever-ready case, it provides both wide angle and macro pictures - without requiring accessories of any kind. As a wide angle lens, the Noflexar takes in the entire subject with its 63 degree angle of coverage, ideal for confined areas like interiors or narrow streets. Then four click stop extension positions transform it into a macro lens, permitting extreme close-ups without an extension bellows. An excellent choice for clinical and nature photography. The lens itself is an outstanding example of optical design. Features include 4-element construction, preset diaphragm, excellent definition with extreme brilliance and high color correction, built-in lens shade, filter thread M 49 x 0.75. Continuous focusing action - in four click stop positions.

Manufacturer description #3

The smallest of all Novoflex lenses but as versatile as the others with regard to its scope and performance. A universal lens that focuses continuously from infinity to less than 2 1/2 inches (ratio of reproduction 1:2), yet fits easily into your camera case. Four click-stops tell you precisely when and how much to increase exposure time in close-up photography. Reversal rings for use of the Macro-Noflexar with bellows are available, thus extending its focusing range to hyper-macro for even the tiniest subjects. This lens is the solution to your problems whenever you can't get frame-filled pictures of big or small subjects with other lenses (interiors, narrow streets, high buildings, landscapes - flowers, insects, copy work etc.).

Manufacturer description #4

35mm f3.5 Macro-Noflexar with built-in lens hood, focusing - without extension ring or any other accessory - from 2 1/2 ins. to infinity, ratio of reproduction 0.6 times, subjects measuring 4.4 x 6.6 cm and larger fill the 24 x 36 mm film format. Conventional helical focusing mount plus built-in extension with 4 click-stops, each indicating 1/4 of an f-stop exposure increase. This macro-lens is so small that it will fit into any ever-ready case. A 35 mm focal length lens is the ideal companion for the 50 mm camera lens because its 64 degree angle of acceptance can take in buildings and interiors that cannot be photographed full size with 50-58 mm lenses. Perspective is enhanced but distortions can be avoided. Pre-set diaphragm f3.5 - f16. Any wide angle filter with M 49 x 0.75 fits it. Length with built-in lens hood: 36 mm, weight 95 g.

From the editor

The instruction manual from 1964 lists only "EXWEIT" version for the Exakta bayonet mount and "COWEIT" version for cameras with the M42 screw mount, but the Novoflex catalog 1966 added "NIKWEIT" version for Nikon F mount cameras, "ZENWEIT" for Zenit, plus adapter "CANCO" to use "COWEIT" on Canon FX and Pellix cameras.

Lenses with similar focal length

Sorted by manufacturer name

Interchangeable mount 2 lenses (all third-party)
Kamerabau-Anstalt-Vaduz Kilfitt-Makro-Kilar D 40mm F/2.81:1
aka Heinz Kilfitt Munchen Makro-Kilar D 40mm F/2.8
aka Zoomar Muenchen Macro Zoomatar D 40mm F/2.8
P4 - 3-- 1956 
Kamerabau-Anstalt-Vaduz Kilfitt-Makro-Kilar E 40mm F/2.81:2
aka Heinz Kilfitt Munchen Makro-Kilar E 40mm F/2.8
aka Zoomar Muenchen Macro Zoomatar E 40mm F/2.8
P4 - 3-- 1956 
M42 mount 2 lenses (all third-party)
Kamerabau-Anstalt-Vaduz Kilfitt-Makro-Kilar D 40mm F/3.5 C1:1M4 - 3⌀49 1955 
Kamerabau-Anstalt-Vaduz Kilfitt-Makro-Kilar E 40mm F/3.5 C1:2M4 - 3⌀49 1955 
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Chromatic aberration

There are two kinds of chromatic aberration: longitudinal and lateral. Longitudinal chromatic aberration is a variation in location of the image plane with changes in wave lengths. It produces the image point surrounded by different colors which result in a blurred image in black-and-white pictures. Lateral chromatic aberration is a variation in image size or magnification with wave length. This aberration does not appear at axial image points but toward the surrounding area, proportional to the distance from the center of the image field. Stopping down the lens has only a limited effect on these aberrations.

Spherical aberration

Spherical aberration is caused because the lens is round and the film or image sensor is flat. Light entering the edge of the lens is more severely refracted than light entering the center of the lens. This results in a blurred image, and also causes flare (non-image forming internal reflections). Stopping down the lens minimizes spherical aberration and flare, but introduces diffraction.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism in a lens causes a point in the subject to be reproduced as a line in the image. The effect becomes worse towards the corner of the image. Stopping down the lens has very little effect.

Coma

Coma in a lens causes a circular shape in the subject to be reproduced as an oval shape in the image. Stopping down the lens has almost no effect.

Curvature of field

Curvature of field is the inability of a lens to produce a flat image of a flat subject. The image is formed instead on a curved surface. If the center of the image is in focus, the edges are out of focus and vice versa. Stopping down the lens has a limited effect.

Distortion

Distortion is the inability of a lens to capture lines as straight across the entire image area. Barrel distortion causes straight lines at the edges of the frame to bow toward the center of the image, producing a barrel shape. Pincushion distortion causes straight lines at the edges of the frame to curve in toward the lens axis. Distortion, whether barrel or pincushion type, is caused by differences in magnification; stopping down the lens has no effect at all.

The term "distortion" is also sometimes used instead of the term "aberration". In this case, other types of optical aberrations may also be meant, not necessarily geometric distortion.

Diffraction

Classically, light is thought of as always traveling in straight lines, but in reality, light waves tend to bend around nearby barriers, spreading out in the process. This phenomenon is known as diffraction and occurs when a light wave passes by a corner or through an opening. Diffraction plays a paramount role in limiting the resolving power of any lens.

Doublet

Doublet is a lens design comprised of two elements grouped together. Sometimes the two elements are cemented together, and other times they are separated by an air gap. Examples of this type of lens include achromatic close-up lenses.

Dynamic range

Dynamic range is the maximum range of tones, from darkest shadows to brightest highlights, that can be produced by a device or perceived in an image. Also called tonal range.

Resolving power

Resolving power is the ability of a lens, photographic emulsion or imaging sensor to distinguish fine detail. Resolving power is expressed in terms of lines per millimeter that are distinctly recorded in the final image.

Vignetting

Vignetting is the darkening of the corners of an image relative to the center of the image. There are three types of vignetting: optical, mechanical, and natural vignetting.

Optical vignetting is caused by the physical dimensions of a multi-element lens. Rear elements are shaded by elements in front of them, which reduces the effective lens opening for off-axis incident light. The result is a gradual decrease of the light intensity towards the image periphery. Optical vignetting is sensitive to the aperture and can be completely cured by stopping down the lens. Two or three stops are usually sufficient.

Mechanical vignetting occurs when light beams are partially blocked by external objects such as thick or stacked filters, secondary lenses, and improper lens hoods.

Natural vignetting (also known as natural illumination falloff) is not due to the blocking of light rays. The falloff is approximated by the "cosine fourth" law of illumination falloff. Wide-angle rangefinder designs are particularly prone to natural vignetting. Stopping down the lens cannot cure it.

Flare

Bright shapes or lack of contrast caused when light is scattered by the surface of the lens or reflected off the interior surfaces of the lens barrel. This is most often seen when the lens is pointed toward the sun or another bright light source. Flare can be minimized by using anti-reflection coatings, light baffles, or a lens hood.

Ghosting

Glowing patches of light that appear in a photograph due to lens flare.

Retrofocus design

Design with negative lens group(s) positioned in front of the diaphragm and positive lens group(s) positioned at the rear of the diaphragm. This provides a short focal length with a long back focus or lens-to-film distance, allowing for movement of the reflex mirror in SLR cameras. Sometimes called an inverted telephoto lens.

Rectilinear design

Design that does not introduce significant distortion, especially ultra-wide angle lenses that preserve straight lines and do not curve them (unlike a fisheye lens, for instance).

Focus shift

A change in the position of the plane of optimal focus, generally due to a change in focal length when using a zoom lens, and in some lenses, with a change in aperture.

Transmittance

The amount of light that passes through a lens without being either absorbed by the glass or being reflected by glass/air surfaces.

Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)

When optical designers attempt to compare the performance of optical systems, a commonly used measure is the modulation transfer function (MTF).

The components of MTF are:

The MTF of a lens is a measurement of its ability to transfer contrast at a particular resolution from the object to the image. In other words, MTF is a way to incorporate resolution and contrast into a single specification.

Knowing the MTF curves of each photographic lens and camera sensor within a system allows a designer to make the appropriate selection when optimizing for a particular resolution.

Veiling glare

Lens flare that causes loss of contrast over part or all of the image.

Anti-reflection coating

When light enters or exits an uncoated lens approximately 5% of the light is reflected back at each lens-air boundary due to the difference in refractive index. This reflected light causes flare and ghosting, which results in deterioration of image quality. To counter this, a vapor-deposited coating that reduces light reflection is applied to the lens surface. Early coatings consisted of a single thin film with the correct refractive index differences to cancel out reflections. Multi-layer coatings, introduced in the early 1970s, are made up of several such films.

Benefits of anti-reflection coating:

Circular fisheye

Produces a 180° angle of view in all directions (horizontal, vertical and diagonal).

The image circle of the lens is inscribed in the image frame.

Diagonal (full-frame) fisheye

Covers the entire image frame. For this reason diagonal fisheye lenses are often called full-frame fisheyes.

Extension ring

Extension rings can be used singly or in combination to vary the reproduction ratio of lenses. They are mounted between the camera body and the lens. As a rule, the effect becomes stronger the shorter the focal length of the lens in use, and the longer the focal length of the extension ring.

View camera

A large-format camera with a ground-glass viewfinder at the image plane for viewing and focusing. The photographer must stick his head under a cloth hood in order to see the image projected on the ground glass. Because of their 4x5-inch (or larger) negatives, these cameras can produce extremely high-quality results. View cameras also usually support movements.

135 cartridge-loaded film

43.27 24 36
  • Introduced: 1934
  • Frame size: 36 × 24mm
  • Aspect ratio: 3:2
  • Diagonal: 43.27mm
  • Area: 864mm2
  • Double perforated
  • 8 perforations per frame

120 roll film

71.22 44 56
  • Introduced: 1901
  • Frame size: 56 × 44mm
  • Aspect ratio: 11:14
  • Diagonal: 71.22mm
  • Area: 2464mm2
  • Unperforated

120 roll film

79.2 56 56
  • Introduced: 1901
  • Frame size: 56 × 56mm
  • Aspect ratio: 1:1
  • Diagonal: 79.2mm
  • Area: 3136mm2
  • Unperforated

120 roll film

89.64 56 70
  • Introduced: 1901
  • Frame size: 70 × 56mm
  • Aspect ratio: 5:4
  • Diagonal: 89.64mm
  • Area: 3920mm2
  • Unperforated

220 roll film

71.22 44 56
  • Introduced: 1965
  • Frame size: 56 × 44mm
  • Aspect ratio: 11:14
  • Diagonal: 71.22mm
  • Area: 2464mm2
  • Unperforated
  • Double the length of 120 roll film

220 roll film

79.2 56 56
  • Introduced: 1965
  • Frame size: 56 × 56mm
  • Aspect ratio: 1:1
  • Diagonal: 79.2mm
  • Area: 3136mm2
  • Unperforated
  • Double the length of 120 roll film

220 roll film

89.64 56 70
  • Introduced: 1965
  • Frame size: 70 × 56mm
  • Aspect ratio: 5:4
  • Diagonal: 89.64mm
  • Area: 3920mm2
  • Unperforated
  • Double the length of 120 roll film

Shutter speed ring with "F" setting

The "F" setting disengages the leaf shutter and is set when using only the focal plane shutter in the camera body.

Catch for disengaging cross-coupling

The shutter and diaphragm settings are cross-coupled so that the diaphragm opens to a corresponding degree when faster shutter speeds are selected. The cross-coupling can be disengaged at the press of a catch.

Cross-coupling button

With the cross-coupling button depressed speed/aperture combinations can be altered without changing the Exposure Value setting.

M & X sync

The shutter is fully synchronized for M- and X-settings so that you can work with flash at all shutter speeds.

In M-sync, the shutter closes the flash-firing circuit slightly before it is fully open to catch the flash at maximum intensity. The M-setting is used for Class M flash bulbs.

In X-sync, the flash takes place when the shutter is fully opened. The X-setting is used for electronic flash.

X sync

The shutter is fully synchronized for X-setting so that you can work with flash at all shutter speeds.

In X-sync, the flash takes place when the shutter is fully opened. The X-setting is used for electronic flash.

MF

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MF

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You are already on the page dedicated to this lens.

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Cannot compare the lens to itself.

Image stabilizer

A technology used for reducing or even eliminating the effects of camera shake. Gyro sensors inside the lens detect camera shake and pass the data to a microcomputer. Then an image stabilization group of elements controlled by the microcomputer moves inside the lens and compensates camera shake in order to keep the image static on the imaging sensor or film.

The technology allows to increase the shutter speed by several stops and shoot handheld in such lighting conditions and at such focal lengths where without image stabilizer you have to use tripod, decrease the shutter speed and/or increase the ISO setting which can lead to blurry and noisy images.

Original name

Lens name as indicated on the lens barrel (usually on the front ring). With lenses from film era, may vary slightly from batch to batch.

Format

Format refers to the shape and size of film or image sensor.

35mm is the common name of the 36x24mm film format or image sensor format. It has an aspect ratio of 3:2, and a diagonal measurement of approximately 43mm. The name originates with the total width of the 135 film which was the primary medium of the format prior to the invention of the full frame digital SLR. Historically the 35mm format was sometimes called small format to distinguish it from the medium and large formats.

APS-C is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the film negatives of 25.1x16.7mm with an aspect ratio of 3:2.

Medium format is a film format or image sensor format larger than 36x24mm (35mm) but smaller than 4x5in (large format).

Angle of view

Angle of view describes the angular extent of a given scene that is imaged by a camera. It is used interchangeably with the more general term field of view.

As the focal length changes, the angle of view also changes. The shorter the focal length (eg 18mm), the wider the angle of view. Conversely, the longer the focal length (eg 55mm), the smaller the angle of view.

A camera's angle of view depends not only on the lens, but also on the sensor. Imaging sensors are sometimes smaller than 35mm film frame, and this causes the lens to have a narrower angle of view than with 35mm film, by a certain factor for each sensor (called the crop factor).

This website does not use the angles of view provided by lens manufacturers, but calculates them automatically by the following formula: 114.6 * arctan (21.622 / CF * FL),

where:

CF – crop-factor of a sensor,
FL – focal length of a lens.

Mount

A lens mount is an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a camera body and a lens.

A lens mount may be a screw-threaded type, a bayonet-type, or a breech-lock type. Modern camera lens mounts are of the bayonet type, because the bayonet mechanism precisely aligns mechanical and electrical features between lens and body, unlike screw-threaded mounts.

Lens mounts of competing manufacturers (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony etc.) are always incompatible. In addition to the mechanical and electrical interface variations, the flange focal distance can also be different.

The flange focal distance (FFD) is the distance from the mechanical rear end surface of the lens mount to the focal plane.

Lens construction

Lens construction – a specific arrangement of elements and groups that make up the optical design, including type and size of elements, type of used materials etc.

Element - an individual piece of glass which makes up one component of a photographic lens. Photographic lenses are nearly always built up of multiple such elements.

Group – a cemented together pieces of glass which form a single unit or an individual piece of glass. The advantage is that there is no glass-air surfaces between cemented together pieces of glass, which reduces reflections.

Focal length

The focal length is the factor that determines the size of the image reproduced on the focal plane, picture angle which covers the area of the subject to be photographed, depth of field, etc.

Speed

The largest opening or stop at which a lens can be used is referred to as the speed of the lens. The larger the maximum aperture is, the faster the lens is considered to be. Lenses that offer a large maximum aperture are commonly referred to as fast lenses, and lenses with smaller maximum aperture are regarded as slow.

In low-light situations, having a wider maximum aperture means that you can shoot at a faster shutter speed or work at a lower ISO, or both.

Closest focusing distance

The minimum distance from the focal plane (film or sensor) to the subject where the lens is still able to focus.

Closest working distance

The distance from the front edge of the lens to the subject at the maximum magnification.

Magnification ratio

Determines how large the subject will appear in the final image. Magnification is expressed as a ratio. For example, a magnification ratio of 1:1 means that the image of the subject formed on the film or sensor will be the same size as the subject in real life. For this reason, a 1:1 ratio is often called "life-size".

Modified M42 mount

The mount has been modified by the manufacturer to allow exposure metering at full aperture.

Manual diaphragm

The diaphragm must be stopped down manually by rotating the detent aperture ring.

Preset diaphragm

The lens has two rings, one is for pre-setting, while the other is for normal diaphragm adjustment. The first ring must be set at the desired aperture, the second ring then should be fully opened for focusing, and turned back for stop down to the pre-set value.

Semi-automatic diaphragm

The lens features spring mechanism in the diaphragm, triggered by the shutter release, which stops down the diaphragm to the pre-set value. The spring needs to be reset manually after each exposure to re-open diaphragm to its maximum value.

Automatic diaphragm

The camera automatically closes the diaphragm down during the shutter operation. On completion of the exposure, the diaphragm re-opens to its maximum value.

Fixed diaphragm

The aperture setting is fixed at F/3.5 on this lens, and cannot be adjusted.

Number of blades

As a general rule, the more blades that are used to create the aperture opening in the lens, the rounder the out-of-focus highlights will be.

Some lenses are designed with curved diaphragm blades, so the roundness of the aperture comes not from the number of blades, but from their shape. However, the fewer blades the diaphragm has, the more difficult it is to form a circle, regardless of rounded edges.

At maximum aperture, the opening will be circular regardless of the number of blades.

Weight

Excluding case or pouch, caps and other detachable accessories (lens hood, close-up adapter, tripod adapter etc.).

Maximum diameter x Length

Excluding case or pouch, caps and other detachable accessories (lens hood, close-up adapter, tripod adapter etc.).

For lenses with collapsible design, the length is indicated for the working (retracted) state.

Weather sealing

A rubber material which is inserted in between each externally exposed part (manual focus and zoom rings, buttons, switch panels etc.) to ensure it is properly sealed against dust and moisture.

Lenses that accept front mounted filters typically do not have gaskets behind the filter mount. It is recommended to use a filter for complete weather resistance when desired.

Fluorine coating

Helps keep lenses clean by reducing the possibility of dust and dirt adhering to the lens and by facilitating cleaning should the need arise. Applied to the outer surface of the front and/or rear lens elements over multi-coatings.

Filters

Lens filters are accessories that can protect lenses from dirt and damage, enhance colors, minimize glare and reflections, and add creative effects to images.

Lens hood

A lens hood or lens shade is a device used on the end of a lens to block the sun or other light source in order to prevent glare and lens flare. Flare occurs when stray light strikes the front element of a lens and then bounces around within the lens. This stray light often comes from very bright light sources, such as the sun, bright studio lights, or a bright white background.

The geometry of the lens hood can vary from a plain cylindrical or conical section to a more complex shape, sometimes called a petal, tulip, or flower hood. This allows the lens hood to block stray light with the higher portions of the lens hood, while allowing more light into the corners of the image through the lowered portions of the hood.

Lens hoods are more prominent in long focus lenses because they have a smaller viewing angle than that of wide-angle lenses. For wide angle lenses, the length of the hood cannot be as long as those for telephoto lenses, as a longer hood would enter the wider field of view of the lens.

Lens hoods are often designed to fit onto the matching lens facing either forward, for normal use, or backwards, so that the hood may be stored with the lens without occupying much additional space. In addition, lens hoods can offer some degree of physical protection for the lens due to the hood extending farther than the lens itself.

Teleconverters

Teleconverters increase the effective focal length of lenses. They also usually maintain the closest focusing distance of lenses, thus increasing the magnification significantly. A lens combined with a teleconverter is normally smaller, lighter and cheaper than a "direct" telephoto lens of the same focal length and speed.

Teleconverters are a convenient way of enhancing telephoto capability, but it comes at a cost − reduced maximum aperture. Also, since teleconverters magnify every detail in the image, they logically also magnify residual aberrations of the lens.

Lens caps

Scratched lens surfaces can spoil the definition and contrast of even the finest lenses. Lens covers are the best and most inexpensive protection available against dust, moisture and abrasion. Safeguard lens elements - both front and rear - whenever the lens is not in use.