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2024-05-31

Old service manual and VirtualBox (again)

A Suzuki Grand Vitara service manual (I needed it for ECM pinout) is made using 15 year old technology (bundle of HTML files) instead of a plain PDF (portable through time). Same case as the Jeep KJ 2007 service manual. And again, I use Windows XP (with its MS IE browser) running in VirtualBox.




This is the easiest way for me. And it works.

2024-05-30

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5 (M40x1): Uncoated (non-T) version

I already have a lens for the old M40x1 SLR mount (Praktiflex). It is a triplet called the Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9. I was thinking about a Tessar for the M40x1, but usually these are coated versions (with a red T mark). In the end I chose such the Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3,5 f=5cm:




As you can see, there is no red T mark. So there is no lens coating (or at least I don't see it).

According to the serial number, the lens was made around 1945-1947. So it is as old as the mentioned Victar. These two are my oldest lenses. And both have no lens coating.

The main difference is of course the optical design. The Victar is a triplet. The Tessar is "surprisingly" a Tessar. Today the Tessar is a trademark, not related to the optical design.




The Tessar 50/3.5 has 4 elements in 3 groups.

The aperture has 14 blades.




That is a lot for a 50mm lens! Practically round shape at any aperture.

The aperture ring has no clicks, it turns smoothly (from f/3.5 to f/22).




Although it was a budget lens, the focusing mechanism was quite advanced. The front (threaded) part doesn't rotate when focusing or changing the aperture.

The minimum focusing distance is about 0.6-0.7m according to the scale. But my copy can focus much closer, I think the copy is modified.




Comparison of the Tessar (in the center) with the Industar-50 50/3.5 SLR M39x1 (on the left) and the Industar-50-2 50/3.5 SLR M42x1 (on the right):




The Industars (Tessar-like USSR lens series) are much cheaper: fewer aperture blades and simpler focusing design. The Tessar is much nicer to use. Maybe the rarer Industar-22 50/3.5 (unfoldable M39x1 version for SLR) is closer to the Tessar.

2024-05-29

Helios-40 85/1.5: Samples [1] - APS-C - f/1.5

Photos taken with the Samsung NX10 (1.5x crop factor, 14.6MP), the Samsung NX2000 (1.5x crop factor, 20MP), and the Helios-40 85/1.5 at f/1.5.

(NX2000)

(NX2000)

(NX2000)

(NX2000)

(NX10)

(NX10)

It is possible to focus to infinity with the M39x1-M39x1 16.4mm extension tube and a M39x1/28.8 adapter. But 1/4000 (the limit of these NX cameras) is not enough for outdoor use at f1/5 without blowing highlights:


(NX10)

2024-05-28

Shaman Stone, Angara River (February 2005)

Lake Baikal, the source of the Angara River, the Shaman Stone, February 2005.



Pentax *ist Ds (1.5x crop factor, 6MP) + unknown manual focus lens (looks like the Jupiter-37AM 135/3.5)



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2024-05-27

Albums: Other album for image

There is my very simple image hosting (so called "Albums" at https://malykh.com/album/). A single image can be in multiple albums.

I have updated "Albums" and now links to other albums are shown for such images.





See also related notes:
Image albums:

2024-05-25

ISCO Iscovitar 50/2.8: Samples [1] - FF - f/2.8

Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the ISCO Iscovitar 50/2.8 at f/2.8.

Because the lens focuses by rotating and moving only the front optical element, it doesn't produce a "classic" triplet image with "soap bubbles" and so on. And some soft focus effect is visible.









2024-05-24

Panasonic Lumix S9: Full-frame camera + 26/8 lens

The Lumix S9 is Panasonic's all-new full-frame mirrorless camera.




It is quite small (for the digital full-frame world), but there is no EVF and no mechanical shutter.

But there is IBIS. And a fully articulating screen.




The new Panasonic S 26/8 lens is strange for today.




It has manual focus and no aperture control. But I think it is a lens for fun. And its focal length is obviously a "tribute" to a [main] camera of mobile phones.

Is the f/8 too slow? For example, the modern mid-range Google Pixel 8a has a main camera with an equivalent focal length of 26mm (yes!) and f/1.89. Its sensor size is 1/1.73, 4.7x crop factor. So the equivalent aperture is about f/8.9 (1.89 * 4.7).

Or, f/8 of FF is equivalent to f/4 of M4/3.


By the way, I would buy a similar lens for the Sony FE mount for a reasonable price. I tried the Brightin Star 23/5.6, but it is a junk lens with poor build quality. I also had the Holga [NX] 29/8, it was a very fun lens almost for free. But it is about f/20 instead of (stated) f/8 because of the two apertures. And the Holga is for APS-C, so it is a normal focal length (not a wide angle) lens.

2024-05-23

Suzuki N32 (Grand Vitara JB632W) ECM pinout

The ECM pinout for the the Suzuki N32A (V6 3.2 liter) engine. I found it in a service manual for the Suzuki Grand Vitara JB632W. I hope to use this pinout to start the 33910-79K00 control module.

Version 1:






Version 2:











See also related notes:
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2024-05-22

Holga HL(W)-SSN 29/8: Samples [1] - APS-C

Photos taken with the Samsung NX10 (1.5x crop factor, 14.6MP) and the Holga HL(W)-SSN 29/8 (there is no aperture control).












Image albums:

2024-05-21

ISCO Iscovitar 50/2.8 (M42x1/45.5): Triplet with simple focusing mechanism

I already have two triplets: the Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9 (M40x1) and the Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5 (M39x1/44). I wanted a triplet for the M42x1 mount. I thought about a later Domiplan 50/2.8 (one of the cheapest options), but by chance I found an alternative.

It is an Isco-Göttingen Iscovitar 1:2.8/50, also known as Isco-Göttingen Edixa-Iscotar.




Yes, it is a triplet (i.e. it contains 3 elements in 3 groups). Something like a Cooke triplet:




This is a cheap (for its time) lens with plastic body parts, it feels cheaply built. It reminds me of the Revue 24/4 lens.

The aperture has only 5 blades.




As you can see, my copy obviously needed service or even repair. But so far I only use it at f/2.8. For more stopped down apertures I have other lenses.

There is an "automatic" aperture pin.




But you can switch from the A to M mode to control the aperture directly.



The aperture ring has click stops at f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16.

There is a screw thread near the aperture mechanism.

 

As far as I know, this is for a threaded cable release.


(source unknown)

Maybe for macro photography with bellows (with double cable release)?

The filter thread is 49mm. The front part of the lens (with the filter thread) rotates during focusing. And this simple focusing mechanism is the most interesting part of the lens.

When I started using the lens, its image production at close focus reminded me of the Riconar/Rikenon 55/2.2 lens. Very similar soft focus effect. And the reason is the same! The simple focusing mechanism moves the front optical element only.




And again, the minimum focusing distance is about 0.8m (too far for a 50mm SLR lens). At the shortest distances, a soft focus effect would be too much. And of course, manual focusing is quite difficult.

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