malykh.com notes

At f/1.5, the lens is contrast and easy to focus. I was slightly disappointed with how it performed on a digital camera, but on a film camera, it is funnier.

See also related notes:

TTArtisan 75/1.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/1.5 (2025-11-17)
TTArtisan 75/1.5 (M42x1/45.5): Homage to Biotar 75/1.5 (2025-10-27)

Image albums:

TTArtisan 75/1.5

2026-07-03

RoadFisher 55/8 (Nikon F): Wooden, focus-free lens

This is a wooden lens.

It is named the RoadFisher 55mm f/8. But it came in a box by Caye (Cangye Imaging Technology).

The body is [partially] made of wood.

There are several mount options. I would prefer a Pentax K or an M42x1 mount, but those options are unavailable. So, I chose the Nikon F mount because I have an adapter with the correct flange focal distance. This is very important for a focus-free lens.

There is no focusing ring, the lens is focus-free. There is no aperture ring, the aperture is fixed. And, there is no filter thread. And no front cap included.

The lens is not too large, but it is not a pancake lens either. It's slightly smaller than some 50/2, 50/1.8, or 50/1.7 SLR lenses.

It looks like the lens has just 1 optical element in 1 group. In any case, you should not expect good optical quality. The lens is just for fun.

A 30mm version is also available, but only for mirrorless mounts due to the short flange focal distance.

See also related notes:

My lenses by mount (2026-07) (2026-07-07)

Image albums:

RoadFisher 55/8

2026-07-01

Forte Fortepan FP100

This is a B&W negative 35mm (135) film.

It is Forte Fortepan FP100 (ISO 100), made in Hungary. And, of course, it is expired (2005-10).

(Sunny 16 rule)

I have already tried using it. To be sure, I exposed it as ISO 32. I developed it with Pyrocat-HDC (22°C, 1:1:100, 14:30). Result is good.

See also related notes:

Pentax Super A: ISO scale (2026-06-21)

Image albums:

Photographic film

2026-06-29

Fouriers HA-S005-NT

This is an inner tube expander (compressor plug) for bike forks, Fouriers HA-S005-NT.

Image albums:

Bicycle

2026-06-27

Kenko Soft 45/4.5: Samples [2] - Instax Mini - f/11

Camera: NONS SL42 II (Instax Mini, 0.57x "crop" factor)

Film: Fujifilm Instax Mini ISO 800

Lens: Kenko Soft 45/4.5 + NFE 1.89x (48 mm equiv.)

When closed to f/11, this soft focus lens functions as a standard prime lens. However, the camera's built-in light meter tends to cause overexposure at this aperture. Perhaps the aperture marking on the lens is incorrect. Alternatively, the lens may transmit more light than usual due to its simple optical design. I took this into account after taking a few shots.

See also related notes:

Kenko Soft 45/4.5: 45mm soft focus lens (2025-09-03)
NONS SL42 (II): NFE, Pentax K lenses (2025-08-25)
NONS SL42 (II): "Instax Mini" SLR camera (2025-05-27)
Instax film sizes (2025-04-11)

Image albums:

Kenko Soft 45/4.5

2026-06-25

Spark SD52: User manual (Chinese, English)

This is the user manual for the Spark SD52 (SD52-NW, SD52-CW) headlights, in Chinese and in English.

See also related notes:

Фонарик Spark SD52-NW (2017-01-02)

Image albums:

Electronics

2026-06-23

Chain checkers

I have two chain checkers (for bikes).

1. This no-name one is too optimistic, showing zero wear on an old chain.

2. This Toopre TL-217 is better.

I verify it with several 11/12 speed chains: new, worn, and worn out. The measurement results are correct.

Image albums:

Bicycle

2026-06-21

Pentax Super A: ISO scale

The markings on the Pentax Super A ISO film speed scale:

Ranges with 1EV step:

6 - 12 - 25 - 50 - 100 - 200 - 400 - 800 - 1600 - 3200

8 - 16 - 32 - 64 - 125 - 250 - 500 - 1000 - 2000

10 - 20 - 40 - 80 - 160 - 320 - 640 - 1250 - 2500

See also related notes:

Forte Fortepan FP100 (2026-07-01)

Image albums:

Pentax Super A

2026-06-19

Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5: Samples [4] - 1/1.7" - f/4.5

Camera: Pentax Q7 (1/1.7", 12MP)

Lens: Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5 at f/4.5 (161 mm equiv.)

It was a challenging combination: an old, wide-angle, triplet lens and a small sensor. I tried this lens with the Pentax Q, but the results were unusable. The Pentax Q7 works better because it has a higher resolution and easier focusing.

See also related notes:

Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5 (M39x1/44): Very rare wide-angle triplet (2023-10-05)

Image albums:

Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5

2026-06-17

malykh-tm800 installer (2009)

I found a built installer of malykh-tmp800 for Windows: https://github.com/malykhcom/malykh-tm800/tree/main/distr

The installer includes a standalone version of Java 6. The tools are in Russian.

It's quite funny that this installer and tools from 2009 work in modern Windows. Of course, they should also work in Windows XP, and possibly Windows 2000.

See also related notes:

malykh-tm800 (2006-2009) source code (2026-06-05)

Image albums:

2026-06-15

Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.4[WT] mounted

I successfully mounted the Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.4[WT] tires onto the wheels tubeless.

This time, I used the "Filmore" tubeless tire valves. However, I have some concerns about the included stem nuts (lock rings), so I took them from the other valves.

The tire carcass width is 62.5 mm (2.46") at 3 bar (the i27 rim). This is wider than the 29x2.6 Vittoria e-Barzo Trail tire on the same rim! So there was a question about compatibility with the RockShox SID SL fork.