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:

• K&F Concept Pro: Nikon F - Sony FE/E adapter (2024-03-25)

Image albums:

• RoadFisher 55/8

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

Fouriers HA-S005-NT

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

Image albums:

• Bicycle

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

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

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

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

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

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:

• PC

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.

Fortunately, there is some clearance, but it will be problematic in the mud. In any case, I don't like riding in the mud and try to avoid it.

See also related notes:

• Maxxis Rekon Race 29x2.4[WT] (2026-06-01)
• Fillmore tubeless valves (2026-05-23)
• RockShox SID SL Base 3P 110mm (2026-05-07)
• Cannondale Cujo 1: Vittoria e-Barzo Trail 29x2.6 mounted (2025-12-23)
• Koozer XM1850 (622x27) wheelset (2024-06-29)
• Бескамерные покрышки на Cujo 1: вторая попытка (ободная лента и вентиль) (2019-09-13)

Image albums:

• Bicycle

Motorola Edge 50 Pro: OTA works again

After manually updating with Software Fix, my Motorola Edge 50 Pro started receiving over-the-air updates again.

I hope the Android 17 update will be available too.

See also related notes:

• Motorola Edge 50 Pro: Android 16 (2026-05-27)

Image albums:

• Android

Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8: Samples [3] - FF - f/2.8 + close focus (helicoid) adapter

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)

Lens: Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8 at f/2.8

The close focus (helicoid) adapter is used to minimize the focusing distance.

See also related notes:

• Noname Leica M-Sony FE/E close focus (helicoid) adapter (2023-07-30)
• Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8 (2022-11-01)

Image albums:

• Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8

Spoke wrenches

These are the wrenches I use to adjust the tension of a bike's spokes.

Both are usable, but I most often use the one on the right.

Image albums:

• Bicycle

ART stops starting

This behavior occurs with the Windows version. I don't know if there are some issues with other OSes.

Sometimes, there is no visible reaction after starting ART (raw image processor). No window appears. However, you can find ART.exe in the process list. After a delay, the process terminates by itself.

In this case, try to find exiftool.exe and terminate it in the process list. ART uses this process to work with image metadata, but some desynchronization of the processes can occur. 

After terminating exiftool.exe, ART usually starts properly.

See also related notes:

• RawTherapee (2022) и ART (2022-03-30)

malykh-tm800 (2006-2009) source code

This is my small industrial telemetry tool from 2006–2009. It relates to the so-called TM800A protocol and includes an analyzer and an emulator.

Java sources are available: https://github.com/malykhcom/malykh-tm800/

See also related notes:

• malykh-tm800 installer (2009) (2026-06-17)

Pentax K 30/2.8: Samples [3] - Instax Mini - f/5.6

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

Film: Fujifilm Instax Mini Monochrome ISO 800

Lens: Pentax K 30/2.8 at f/5.6 + ND4 + NFE 1.89x (32 mm equiv.)

I was surprised to find the monochrome version of Fujifilm Instax Mini film.

It was interesting, so I tested it with the NONS SL42 II camera. Overall, the monochrome film looks similar to standard color Instax Mini film, but with different dyes (something like Kodak BW400CN). It is [almost] monochrome, not black & white. I noticed a light color cast. Like the color version, the monochrome version requires precise exposure and doesn't tolerate overexposure.

By the way, to take vertical (common for Instax Mini) pictures with the NONS SL42 camera, rotate it so that the film ejection slot is facing up.

See also related notes:

• ND4 filters (2026-05-29)
• 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)
• Pentax K 30/2.8: ad (2023-09-15)
• BW400CN (История) (2016-06-17)

Image albums:

• NONS SL42 (II)
• Pentax K 30/2.8