Novoflex TISPIGRIFF-U

The Pentacon Six System

by TRA

Lens Data Summary

Noflexar Lenses & Grips for the Praktisix/Pentacon Six Close up:

TISPIGRIFF-U

Two Pentacon Sixes, each with a Noflexar 500mm lens,
but what is the difference between them? See below.
Clicking on the above image opens a larger copy of it.
[tispigriff_u_01s.jpg]

Minimum focus

As stated on the page on the 500mm Noflexar, a possible disadvantage in some situations is the limited minimum focus. I have measured the minimum focus with the 500mm head and the standard pistol grip at 12580mm, measured from the focal plane of the Pentacon Six. That is over 12½ meters or a little over 41 feet! Gillespie gives the distance as being 38' 9", which probably comes from Novoflex literature. For many situations, this will be much farther away than is desirable.

With the 240mm Noflexar lens, minimum focus is a much more normal 2895mm (nearly 2.9 meters) / 9½ ft.

For both lens heads, the minimum focus can be reduced (i.e., you can get closer to the subject) by replacing the short tube that connects the pistol grip to the camera with the special bellows which were offered by Novoflex but are rarely seen in the Pentacon Six mount. The grip that incorporates the bellows has the manufacturer’s code “TISBIG-U” and Dieter Gabler states in his “Vollendete Spiegelreflex-Fotografie mit Novoflex” (1973 edition) that the pistol grip (code name “TISPIGRIFF”) has to be returned to Novoflex for this to be fitted (p.77). (See information on books on the Novoflex system here.)

As an alternative, one could purchase the grip itself with the bellows already mounted onto it. This had the manufacturer’s code name “TISPIGRIFF-U”. This appears to be equally rare in the 21st century.

Bellows for closer focus on 35mm cameras
[bal_u.jpg]		The picture to the left illustrates the principle with a 35mm outfit. The camera shown is a Praktina, to which the spring-powered “motor-drive” has been added. For focussing on closer objects, the bellows are set at a convenient intermediate point in the desired focussing range and the trigger is then used in the standard way to obtain the exact focus. When the bellows are extended in this way, infinity focus is not possible, but with them closed, the unit operates exactly as with a standard camera mount, and provides infinity focus when required. Image courtesy of Martin Grahl of Novoflex, to whom I extend my thanks. The bellows are mounted with the focussing track at the top, the opposite of the normal orientation for bellows. I surmise that the “U” in the grip names “TISBIG-U” and “TISPIGRIFF-U” comes from the German word “umgekehrt” (“inverted”) or the German word “umgedreht” (“turned round”). In English, we would probably say “upside-down”.

[SRT101_PIGRIFF_BALU_01s.jpg]
© Andreas Marx 2022 Used with permission

From the founding in 1964 of the German distributorship for Minolta cameras and photographic equipment, Dieter Gabler worked as a phototechnical advisor for this major world brand. He was also a convinced user of Novoflex equipment, so it is no surprise that Minolta and Novoflex subsequently collaborated when Novoflex produced automatic macro bellows for the Minolta SR T 101 camera, one of the most advanced 35mm SLR cameras at the end of the 1960s and in the first years of the 1970s. The Novoflex bellows for macro photography maintained automatic operation of the lens aperture and automatic transmission of the chosen aperture value from the lens to the metering system in the camera, when the lens was mounted on the bellows. This was a major innovation at that time.

Here we show not those macro bellows but a Novoflex Follow Focus lens mounted onto a Minolta SR T 101, via a Novoflex pistol grip that incorporates bellows mounted upside down between the lens and the camera. This beautiful picture was taken by Andreas Marx of Novoflex. This picture also appears in the book by Andreas Marx and Martin Grahl “Novoflex: 70 Jahre Innovation & Ideen aus Memmingen” (p. 75), where more information can be found. (For information on the automatic macro bellows for Minolta, see pages 62-63 in the same book.) For more information on the book, see here.

You can see information on Novoflex books by Dieter Gabler here. You may notice the Minolta SR T 101 in both pictures on the front cover of the first edition of his Novoflex book, and in some of the pictures inside the book.

Below, we see this principle applied to the Novoflex Fast Focus lenses for medium format cameras.

Clicking on this image opens a larger copy of it.

I have great pleasure in reproducing below some further excellent photographs of a TISPIGRIFF-U that were kindly sent to me by Martin Grahl of Novoflex.

Here, the TISPIGRIFF-U is mounted on a Pentacon Six TL and has the 500mm lens head on it. The long lens hood or shade is fitted to the lens. The outfits have been mounted onto a Novoflex display stand of the period for these photographs.
[TISPIG_U_500.jpg]

In the TISPIGRIFF-U, the short tube at the back of the standard pistol grip (“PIGRIFF”) is replaced with specially-constructed bellows. When a non-metering prism is mounted on the Pentacon Six, these bellows could be mounted “upside-down” (hence the “U”?) . However, as the front of the metering prism extends forward of the front of the camera, it fouls the rear of these special bellows. In this case, the bellows can be mounted rotated through 90º, as here (for detail, see picture and text below).

[TISPIG_U_240.jpg]

The only difference in this photograph is that the 500mm Noflexar lens head has been replaced by the 240mm Noflexar lens head. By Medium-Format standards, this results in a small and easily-manageable unit, especially if shooting at maximum aperture. In these pictures the bellows at the rear of the PIGRIFF have been set at not far from minimum extension. They can of course be extended much farther when photographing subjects that are closer than the normal minimum focussing distance of the standard pistol grip.

In this marvellous picture, we can clearly see all the components of the Novoflex system with the TISPIGRIFF-U for the Pentacon Six.
The bellows have been extended a little farther, and we can see that the camera mount on the back of the grip is held in place with four screws at 90º from each other, which facilitates rotating the mount prior to use, in order to use the lens on the camera with the bellows at the top, if this is preferred (although this is not possible on the Pentacon Six when the TTL metering prism is on the camera).

[TISPIG_U_Gesamt.jpg]

Of this photograph, Novoflex’s Martin Grahl writes,
“I even attached a Praktina FX just for fun, using the 2 adapters PRALEI-P + LEITIS.
Novoflex offered this option for all photographers eager to use their PIGRIFF 66 with both their medium format and 35mm equipment.”

The Praktina in this photograph has the “ansetzbare Schnellaufzug”, the add-on rapid-advance lever, which was mounted on the underside of the camera. This accessory was first announced at the Leipzig Spring Fair in February/March 1960. (Normal film advance was by turning the knob on the top plate of the camera, as was standard with most cameras at that time.)
[TISPIG_U_500_Praktina.jpg]

The LEITIS adapter is a ring that screws into a thread that one probably will not have noticed that is inside the back of the Praktisix/Pentacon Six (“TIS”) mount. The other side of the LEITIS adapter has a male Leica M39 thread. This would presumably have been screwed into a Novoflex reflex attachment that would be attached to the Leica to permit composition and focussing with long or macro lenses. The PRALEI-P must screw onto the Leica thread and have the Praktina bayonet on its other surface.

TISBIG-U / TISPIGRIFF-U

After more than a decade of searching, in 2022 I have at last been able to buy a TISPIGRIFF-U! The camera on the right in the top picture on this page shows a Noflexar 500 lens head in a TISPIGRIFF-U pistol focussing grip, although the difference between this and the standard grip is not very obvious from the view in that picture.

[tispigriff_u_02s.jpg]

From this angle, the difference between the two focussing grips is just a little clearer.

Clicking on this image opens a larger copy of it.

It may be possible to see that two metal rings at the back of the right-hand lens have a larger diameter than the barrel of the pistol grip. A chrome metal wheel may also just about be visible above the barrel of the grip. The following pictures show what this is.

Tripods from Berlebach (see here) and Benro (see here) were used for the two cameras and lenses in these pictures.

	Standard Pistol Grip Clicking on each image opens a larger copy of it.			TISPIGRIFF-U
RIGHT- HAND VIEW (from operator position)	[tispigriff_u_03s.jpg]	At the back of the pistol grip, we can see that the standard grip is connected to the camera via a tube. (Image on the left here) With the TISPIGRIFF-U, at the back of the grip there are bellows, here compressed to minimum extension between the front and rear standards of the bellows. (Image on the right here)	RIGHT- HAND VIEW (from operator position)	[tispigriff_u_04s.jpg]
LEFT- HAND VIEW (from operator position)	[tispigriff_u_05s.jpg]	From the other side, we see the tube at the back of the standard grip. (Image on the left here) With the TISPIGRIFF-U, from the other side we can see the rails of the bellows mechanism and the two wheels, top and bottom, for adjusting the extension and locking it at any desired point. (Image on the right here) In the bellows versions of Novoflex follow-focus lenses for 35mm cameras, the bellows rails were at the top of the grip, as seen in the Praktina photograph above, but in the case of the Praktisix and Pentacon Six, this is not possible because the metering pentaprism projects forward of the front of the camera. The solution was to put the bellows rails on the left-hand side of the pistol grip, remembering that the right hand would be involved in advancing the film and firing the shutter.	LEFT- HAND VIEW (from operator position)	[tispigriff_u_06s.jpg]

TISPIGRIFF-U

Clicking on each image opens a larger copy of it.

Here we can see the TISPIGRIFF-U bellows partially extended.
[tispigriff_u_07s.jpg]

TISPIGRIFF-U

And here we can see the TISPIGRIFF-U bellows fully extended.
[tispigriff_u_08s.jpg]

[tispigriff_u_09s.jpg]

Here we see a Noflexar 500mm lens in the standard fast-focus pistol grip at the back, with a Noflexar 500mm lens in the TISPIGRIFF-U pistol grip in front of it, with its bellows at minimum extension. As this photograph was taken with a lens of a standard focal length, the Noflexar lens that is nearer to the taking camera appears larger (and longer) than the lens behind it. In fact, there is no significant difference in the length of the two lenses when the TISPIGRIFF-U bellows are fully closed. By comparing the position of the two grips, we can also see that the front lens is further to the right than the back lens.

Clicking on the image opens a larger copy of it.

When we look at the larger image (especially if a double click on our browser enlarges it twice), we may notice that the rubber focussing grip on the back lens, on which the original rubber had been disintegrating, has been replaced with a new “pyramid-studded” rubber ring.

On the front lens, which was manufactured at about the same time, to judge by the serial numbers, what appears to be the original rubber ring is still intact.

[tispigriff_u_10s.jpg]

Here we see a Noflexar 500mm lens in the standard fast-focus pistol grip at the back, with a Noflexar 500mm lens in the TISPIGRIFF-U pistol grip in front of it, with its bellows at maximum extension.

Clicking on the image opens a larger copy of it.

The TISPIGRIFF-U with the 240mm lens head

[tispigriff_u_11s.jpg]

It is of course also possible to use the 240mm Noflexar lens head in the TISPIGRIFF-U pistol grip, also gaining an advantage in terms of the closest focussing distance.

Clicking on the image opens a larger copy of it.

[tispigriff_u_12s.jpg]

The 500mm Noflexar lens head mounted onto a Pentacon Six via the TISPIGRIFF-U pistol focussing grip.

Clicking on this image opens a larger copy of it.

Minimum focus with the Tispigriff-U

A Novoflex “Katalog” from 1970 indicates the minimum focussing distance for these two lenses when the Tispigriff-U is used:

with 240mm Noflexar: from infinity to 0,80 m
with 500mm Noflexar: from infinity to 3.40 m

I can confirm from my own measurements that with the TISPIGRIFF-U the 500mm lens can focus on subject 3.4 m (approx 11'2") from the focal plane of the camera. This is very close for a 500mm lens. As reported here, my measurements showed that with the standard pistol grip the minimum focus with the 500mm head was 12580mm, measured from the focal plane of the Pentacon Six. That is over 12½ meters or a little over 41 feet!

In the case of the 240mm Noflexar, the closest that I was able to focus when using the TISPIGRIFF-U was not as close as the distance stated in the above catalogue but in fact 108 cm (1.08 m), approximately 42⁶/₁₆", a fraction over 3'6¼". As reported here, my measurements showed that with the standard pistol grip the minimum focus with this head was 2895mm (approx 9½ ft), measured from the focal plane of the Pentacon Six.

So in both cases minimum focus with the TISPIGRIFF-U contrasts extremely favourably with the minimum focussing distances with the standard pistol grip.

Prices of the Tispigriff-U and the Tisbig-U

Interestingly, the price of the Tispigriff-U is given: 697,– Deutschmarks, a sum that few amateurs will have been able to afford.
Photographers who already had the standard Tispigriff (price in 1970: 473,– DM) could send it in to Novoflex to have the Tisbig-U bellows mounted, for the price of 250,– DM, which included the cost of mounting the bellows onto the Tispigriff.

Prices of the Medium Format lens heads

We also note the prices for these two lens heads in 1970:

240mm Noflexar: 570,– DM
500mm Noflexar: 1,662,– DM

It is clear that this system was designed for use by professionals whose company would cover the cost of the purchase. The company would naturally expect the revenue from the sale of photographs taken with this equipent to cover the purchase cost within a reasonable time-scale, and thereafter to generate significant on-going profits. Especially in the case of the 500mm lens, images should be obtained that would be unobtainable with most other lenses, or would have a high risk of being unsharp, especially in the case of wildlife and action photography!

Position of the TISPIGRIFF-U bellows focussing rails: on the top of the grip or on the side?

From the pictures of Novoflex bellows for Follow Focus lenses on 35mm cameras, above, we see that the bellows were mounted upside down on the top of the fast-focus grip, which is no doubt the origin of the designation “BALU”, presumably for “BALGEN UMGEKEHRT” (“bellows inverted/upside down”), yet in the Pentacon Six images above, we see the bellows positioned with the focussing rails on the side of the pistol grip. Why?

As this image by Andreas Marx shows, it was clearly the initial assumption by Novoflex that for medium format cameras the bellows focussing rails would run along the top of the pistol grip, as with the 35mm cameras. Here we see two TISPIGRIFF-U units for the Praktisix/Pentacon Six, the one on the left with the bellows rails on the top and the one on the right with the bellows rails on the side. In both pictures the grip is shown without any lens head in place.

Clicking on the image opens a larger copy of it.

Here we see what is probably the original version of the TISPIGRIFF-U, with the 500mm lens head added, mounted on a Praktisix (note the absence of the spool holder knobs on the underside of the camera). It looks just the job!

Clicking on the image opens a larger copy of it.

However, this “default option” is not without problems on the Praktisix, as Novoflex must have soon discovered. The TISPIGRIFF-U fits perfectly on the Praktisix with the bellows on the top of the grip provided that the waist-level finder is used, as in the above image. However, using a waist-level finder with such a long lens is really not recommended, as the subject is shown on the focussing screen upright but laterally-reversed left to right. In practical terms, if you are focussing on a bird and it moves to the left on your focussing screen, you need to move the camera to the right! This is certainly counter-intuitive and would inevitably result in many images being lost or at least poorly framed.

However, the designers of the Praktisix had realised this, and from very early on a pentaprism was available for the camera. This solved the lateral reversal problem completely, but introduced a new problem for Novoflex.

Here we can see an early version of the prism for the Praktisix (although not the first version, which had the “KW” logo in the front leatherette, whereas this has the Erneman tower logo used by Pentacon). The problem? The front of the prism is not vertical (nor can it be!); it tilts slightly forward, thus projecting beyond the front of the camera. This will foul the back of the rear standard of the bellows on the TISPIGRIFF-U, making it impossible to mount the unmodified grip onto the camera.

[C311_10c.jpg]

Here we see Novoflex’s solution to the problem: they have filed off at an angle the back of the base of the rear standard of the bellows (the top of the rear standard, in this upside-down orientation), just enough to give clearance for the Praktisix pentaprism.

This image by Andreas Marx shows the back of the early version of the TISPIGRIFF-U, with the bellows rails above the grip, and, to its right, the later version, with the bellows rails on the side of the grip.

Clicking on the image opens a larger copy of it.

Why did the change to putting the bellows rails on the side of the grip become necessary?

This image gives us the answer. In this further image from Andreas Marx we see on the left an early version of the TISPIGRIFF-U on a Praktisix, with the 240mm Noflexar lens in the grip and a waist-level finder on the camera.

To our right of it we see a newer version of the TISPIGRIFF-U on a Pentacon Six, with the 500mm Tele-Noflexar in the grip and a metering pentaprism on the camera.

This prism was introduced by Pentacon in 1968, at which time the camera was renamed from “Pentacon Six” to “Pentacon Six TL”. At the time, this was a major advance for a Medium Format camera, introduced ahead of Hasselblad and most other brands. It would henceforth be unthinkable for Novoflex to offer its enhanced grip with the bellows that give much closer minimum focus, if it could not be used on a Pentacon Six (or a Praktisix) with a metering pentaprism in place on the camera. Further filing off the base (in this configuration, the “top”) of the rear standard of the bellows was not an option: strength would be lost and clearance would probably still not be achieved. The only solution would be to rotate the bellows through 90 degrees, and have the bellows rails on the side of the grip.

This worked perfectly, although take-up of such a specialised item continued to be low (see lower down on this page).

Clicking on the image opens a larger copy of it.

Tispigriff-U Production Numbers

In August 2019 I received from Martin Grahl of Novoflex further fascinating information on this seldom-seen product. Inventory cards show the numbers produced, and the dates. Martin Grahl has sent me a photograph of the inventory cards for the “TISBIG–U” / “BAL–U 6×6”. He tells us “these old inventory cards ... tell us how many pieces of the front and rear standards and the front mount came to NOVOFLEX’ parts depot.”

[Bal-U_Zahlens.jpg]

Click on this image to see it larger.

Translation of key terms:
“Vordere Anschluß” = “Front mount” or “Front connector”
“Hintere Standarte” = “Rear standard”
“Vordere Standarte” = “Front standard”
“Zugang” = “Incoming”
“Abgang” = “Outgoing”
“Bestand” = “Remaining”

Martin comments,

“I did not find any older or later cards, so I think it’s safe to assume that no more than 42 pieces of these bellows have been made.

“You can see that there is no further outward stock movement after the annual stock-taking in 1974.

“The TISBIG-U bellows were advertised in pricelists as early as October 1969, and had been discontinued by early 1975.”

Thank you, Martin, for this fascinating information!

The results of tests with this lens (on the standard grip) can be seen here.

To go back to the review of the 240mm Noflexar, click here.

To return to the overview of Novoflex lenses, click here.

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