My 40cm Novoflex 'Fernobjektiv' set up and ready to be deployed .... I could never get anything remotely stable using the Pistol Grip section, so set the system up using alternate parts I already had at my disposal. The PN-11 extension ring at the end of the PB-4 bellows gives a better near limit and one avoids extending the bellows device to its full extent. As the front head of the Novoflex ends in 48mm threads, it was a breeze to incorporate a Baader U filter at its rear end, and link together the lens and the required F mount for the bellows unit. The CPU at the very end allows full EXIF data to be recorded. Admittedly a little bit of extravagance but we deserve pandering to ourselves in these bleak times.
In field tests, the 40cm lens head compared favourably in terms of required exposure to the UV-Nikkor. For sharpness the UV-Nikkor wins hands down, which is no big surprise. However the UV-Nikkor despite its manifold attractions is no 400mm ...