Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: My experience [2/2]

(see part 1)

And more examples taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9 lens at f/2.9.

The triplet's traits are visible.

But to fully reveal them, you need to help the lens and reduce the minimum focusing distance.

See also related notes:

• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: With close focus (helicoid) adapter [1/2] (2023-10-14)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: My experience [1/2] (2023-09-29)

Image albums:

• Victar 50/2.9

Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: My experience [1/2]

All examples were taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP).

The Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9 lens is old (from the 1940s), optically simple (it's an uncoated triplet). Therefore, the photos look vintage. But it's not all that bad, the key is to increase the contrast and choose the right scene to shoot.

Landscapes lack resolution at the edges and corners, even with the aperture closed (f/8-f/11).

But in the center, the resolution is surprisingly good, even at f/2.9:

Vignetting is also low.

But it's better for shooting subjects at f/2.9.

A certain softness is present, but there is also background blur.

With small subjects, the "soap bubbles" of a triplet are present.

But a sufficiently large minimum focusing distance will not allow you to get large "bubbles" in the background.

Triplets are very demanding in terms of optical element alignment. It is possible that this is not the best copy. But the level of photographic quality back then was very different from today (this applies to everything: photographic materials, cameras, lenses).

See part 2.

See also related notes:

• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: With close focus (helicoid) adapter [1/2] (2023-10-14)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: My experience [2/2] (2023-09-30)

Image albums:

• Victar 50/2.9

Google Chrome: "All Bookmarks" button/folder/tab

To remove the "All Bookmarks" button/folder/tab from the Bookmarks toolbar of the Google Chrome browser go to link: chrome://flags/#power-bookmarks-side-panel (copy the link and paste it into a new tab) and disable the "Power bookmarks side panel" feature.

That annoying "All Boorkmarks" thing looked like:

Image albums:

• Internet

Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6 (M39x1/44): Telephoto lens for [Super] Paxette II

The Staeble-Telexon -E- 1:5,6/85 is a telephoto lens for Braun [Super] Paxette II rangefinder cameras, characterized by the M39x1 mount with an unusually large flange focal length of 44mm.

Made by Staeble-Werk, [West] Germany.

The letter -E- in the name indicates support for coupled rangefinder (which is on Super Paxette II cameras as opposed to just Paxette II). 

Perhaps the "E" comes from the German word "Entfernungsmesser" (rangefinder).

(the movable rear part for rangefinder control)

I don't know the year of the lens, probably 1956-1958 (or later).

When focusing, the whole front part (together with the aperture ring) rotates. For a rangefinder (not SLR) camera this is ok.

The scale is in feet and meters, the minimum focusing distance is slightly less than 1.5m.

The aperture ring with clicks (it surprised me) in the positions: f/5.6 - f/8 - f/11 - f/16 - f/22 - f/32.

The aperture has 10 blades:

This is not a particularly rare lens, it can be found in catalogs and manuals of the time:

(it cost 75 DM in the 1950s)

However, there is no optical design information, only a claim that there are 4 elements (Linsen) in the lens.

By chance, I found such a "Telexon" mention in the magazine "Реферативный журнал"/"Referativnyĭ zhurnal" (1961):

So the Telexon 135/3.8 is a 4-element lens with a cemented front group. If the name (Telexon) refers to the optical design, then the Telexon 85/5.6 must have a similar design. Most likely something like the Wrayflex Lustrar 90/4:

(optical design of the Wrayflex Lustrar 90/4)

Of course, the f/5.6 of this Telexon is quite slow. But for what it is, this lens is tiny for 85mm. 

The Индустар/Industar-26M 50/2.8 (on the left) and the Staeble-Telexon 85/5.6 (on the right).

(see also my 85mm lenses)

By the way, my copy of the Telexon looked good, but the focus ring was too stiff. I took it apart and cleaned it, there was very old grease in the threads on the back for the rangefinder. The lens is easy to disassemble, but must be reassembled correctly (to preserve the thread positions). It's a pleasure to use the lens now.

See also related notes:

• Staeble-Kata E 45/2.8 and Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6: Lens cap replacement (2024-08-15)
• Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6: Samples [2] - FF - f/5.6 (2024-07-30)
• Staeble-Kata E 45/2.8 and Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6 (2024-07-11)
• Staeble-Kata E 45/2.8 (M39x1/44): Standard triplet for Braun Super Paxette II (2024-06-24)
• Staeble-Telexon 135/3.8 (M39x1/44): The lens for the Braun Super Paxette II (2024-03-26)
• Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6: Samples [1] - FF (2024-03-13)
• Braun Super Paxette II BL: Film rangefinder camera (2024-01-13)
• Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6: My experience [3/3] (2023-11-11)
• Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6: My experience [1/3] (2023-11-07)
• Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5 (M39x1/44): Very rare wide-angle triplet (2023-10-05)

Image albums:

• Staeble-Telexon 135/3.8
• Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6

Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018): Five years

I've had my Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018) for five years.

Now it's in an unusual configuration: 27.5x2.8 tires in the rear and 27.5x3.0 in the front. Other than that, the components remain the same as in 2021.

I keep wanting to put 29" wheels on it, but it's not going to happen yet.

See also related notes:

• Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018): 27.5x3.0" and 27.5x2.8" tires simultaneously (2023-07-27)
• Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018): после трех лет эксплуатации (2021-09-29)
• Мой новый велосипед: Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018) (2018-10-06)

Image albums:

• Bicycle

Risespray 11/2.8 vs Zenitar-K 16/2.8: Two fisheyes

I have two fisheye lenses for a full-frame sensor/film: the Risespray 11mm f/2.8 (Sony FE) and the Зенитар/Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 (Pentax K).

(The Zenitar on the right with the Pentax K-Sony FE/E adapter).

I compared these two lenses.

At f/8 (with the Zenitar it's more like f/6-f/7 relative to the fully open f/2.8 aperture):

1.

(Risespray 11/2.8)

(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

2.

(Risespray 11/2.8)

(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

3.

(Risespray 11/2.8)

(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

4.

(Risespray 11/2.8)

(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

The Risespray has a wider angle of view. The Zenitar has correspondingly more magnification (at the same focusing distance). 

If these focal lengths (11mm and 16mm) are correct, the Risespray is closer to stereographic projection and the Zenitar is closer to equisolid projection.

At f/2.8:

At such short focal lengths, there is certainly no strong background blur.

5.

(Risespray 11/2.8)

(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

6.

(Risespray 11/2.8)

(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

The Risespray has a shorter minimum focusing distance, so the maximum magnification is higher than with the Zenitar. Of course, the viewpoints are different:

7.

(Risespray 11/2.8)

(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

See also related notes:

• Risespray 11/2.8 Fisheye (for full-frame mirrorless cameras) (2023-08-14)
• K&F Concept: Адаптер Pentax K (DA) - Sony FE/E (2022-03-28)
• Зенитар-16/2.8 (2006-12-24)

Image albums:

• Risespray 11/2.8 Fisheye
• Zenitar K 16/2.8 Fisheye

Meroca Bottom Bracket Wrench (44/16 and 46/24)

A bottom bracket wrench from Meroca.

44mm 16 notches (for Shimano Hollowtech II BB) and 46mm 24 notches (for SRAM DUB BB).

The wrench is as light as if it were plastic. But it is made of light alloy. The thickness is 3mm.

I have a feeling that the wrench is not durable and strong enough. Hope it can unscrew a BB a few times.

See also related notes:

• Toopre TL-221 bottom bracket wrench (2025-09-17)

Image albums:

• Bicycle

Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: Full-frame lens

I've been wanting to try a 35/1.4 lens for a long time, specifically on a full frame sensor. So I found an option that cost me $135. Yes, it is for full frame.

This lens is only available for mirrorless: for Leica L, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony FE mounts. I have the Sony FE version.

This lens model is often known as the Pergear 35/1.4 (see Pergear 35mm F1.4 and Review: Pergear 35mm 1.4 - The cheapest 35mm fullframe lens), but in my case it's the Cheecar FF 35mm F1.4 II (CL-Mil3514N):

Funny thing is that the early copies had a typo: MUTI instead of MULTI. On this one, the typo is gone.

There was also a first version of this lens (with a slightly different body), often known as the Andoer 35/1.4.

My lens is the second version. I actually ordered the silver one, but the black one arrived. I didn't return it to the seller and kept it.

The aperture has 10 blades:

The aperture ring with clicks: f/1.4 - f/1.7? (unmarked) - f/2? (unmarked) - f/2.4? (unmarked) - f/2.8 - f/3.2? (unmarked) - f3.5? (unmarked) - f/4 - f/5.6 - f/8 - f/16. Again, there is no f/11 (it happens on Chinese lenses).

At first glance, the aperture markings don't look quite accurate (taking the fully open aperture as f/1.4).  I haven't checked the actuality of f/1.4, but it looks faster than f/1.8-f/2.

The filter thread is 43mm, it is small.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with Chinese lenses, the hard stop of the focusing ring has a focus beyond infinity. The scale is also beyond infinity.

The minimum focusing distance is about 0.30m.

The lens has 7 elements in 5 groups. It probably looks something like this:

(this is the design of another 35/1.4 lens)

The lens is quite small, especially for f/1.4. Compared to the Samyang AF 35/2.8 FE:

The lens body is slippery, so not enough grip makes it difficult to mount and remove the lens from the camera.

The lens is interesting, but of course it has optical flaws.

See also related notes:

• My AF lenses for Sony FE (2024-10) (2024-10-07)
• Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: Samples [2] - FF - f/1.4 (2024-08-18)
• RockStar/AstrHori 35/1.8 (Sony FE/E): Full-frame lens (2024-03-06)
• Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: Samples [1] - FF (2024-02-19)
• Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: My experience [3/3] (2023-10-29)
• Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: My experience [2/3] (2023-10-27)
• Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: My experience [1/3] (2023-10-25)

Image albums:

• Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II