Finally, the five-door Suzuki Jimny is available for the Japanese domestic market (JDM) under the name Jimny Nomade.
It is still produced in India and then imported to Japan from India.
2025-01-30
2025-01-29
Nokia 5.3 (2025-01)
The Nokia 5.3 is still with me. As I wrote before, only Android 11 is available for this phone.
Modern Android versions themselves are not necessary for me. But Google Play requires to update an application periodically. To update SZ Viewer A1 to target Android 13 and Android 14, I used other people's mobile devices. And it is not convenient, so I looked for a new mobile phone.
Fortunately, these updates don't bother me anymore. I can keep using the Nokia 5.3 and beyond.
2025-01-28
Zarya: Scale focus film camera with interchangeable lenses
I liked the FED-2 film camera, but the copy was not good. I was looking for a good FED-2 copy, but I found a Zarya (Заря, Dawn) camera:
It is a simplified version of the FED-2. It lacks of a self-timer and a rangefinder. Focusing is done by a distance scale. However, the Zarya has the M39x1/28.8 mount, so it is possible to use M39 rangefinder lenses (with scale focusing, of course).
The mechanics of the Zarya are very similar to the FED-2, but the appearance is quite different (and unusual for me). The viewfinder placement eliminates horizontal parallax. And the higher coldshoe allows for easier access to the shutter speed knob with an accessory attached.
The Zarya was produced between 1959 and 1961 (1959-1960 I think). So it has the modern shutter speed values: 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 (+Bulb).
The first digit of the Zarya's serial number stands for the year of production: 9 for 1959 or 0 for 1960. My copy is from early 1959, it has some specific early details (the viewfinder, the advance knob, the coldshoe, the film pressure plate).
Now I have two M39x1/28.8 film cameras: the Zorki-6 and the Zarya.
See also related notes:
- Certos rangefinder (A) (2025-08-15)
- Zarya: Details of the rare 1959 version (2025-05-19)
- Zenit-S: film SLR camera (2025-03-31)
Image albums:
2025-01-26
Old graphics card for Gyroflow [RX480]
For several years I used a GeForce GT710 2GB based graphics card because there was no application for me that required a better graphics card.
But the great v1.6 of Gyroflow forced me to think about replacing the graphics card.
In total, Gyroflow can use the GPU for three stages: video decoding, video processing, video encoding.
Note that video encoding with GPU is faster, but it can produce a worse result than CPU. But you can try to compensate it by increasing the bitrate.
On the GT710, GPU video decoding and GPU video encoding were slightly faster than CPU, but GPU video processing was slower than CPU! When I tested videos from my Sony a7c (4K@25fps), I could only get 2-3fps video rendering (GPU-CPU-GPU stages). This is very slow for practical use.
When I temporarily replaced the GT710 with a Radeon HD7770 card, I got 6-10fps (GPU-GPU-GPU stages). This is much better. But the HD7770 card only has 1GB of memory, which is generally not enough (even compared to 2GB).
So I bought another graphics card. This is a used Radeon RX480 8GB based card. I chose a Radeon card because of the problems with Nvidia drivers.
With the RX480 card I get 25+fps video rendering in Gyroflow (GPU-GPU-GPU). This is good enough for me.
And I have no problems with VirtualBox.
2025-01-24
Viltrox AF 28/4.5 (FE): Wide-angle pancake lens
This is my third autofocus lens for the Sony a7c.
The Viltrox AF 28/4.5 (FE). It is a disputed lens, but I found it interesting.
The main attraction of this lens is its size. The lens is very small even for a pancake lens. However, it is an autofocus lens. Moreover, it is an autofocus only lens. There is no possibility of manual focus: no ring at all (not mechanical, not electrical).
Since this is a full frame lens, the 28mm focal length is practical for everyday use. It reminds me of the Ricoh GR, which I like.
The lens is quite slow: f/4.5. I find it tolerable for FF, because the APS-C equivalent is f/3 - not much worse than the f/2.8 of the Ricoh GR. But don't expect fast autofocus in low light.
Unfortunately, f/4.5 is the only aperture. There is no aperture control. The camera displays f/4.5 and cannot change it, even in Av/M modes. For me, this is the main drawback. I would like to be able to use f/8: even two apertures (f/4.5 and f/8) would be enough.
It is funny that there is an octagonal diaphragm imitation:
Is it for better sunstars? I haven't tested it yet.
What I like most is the slider to use the lens without a cap. It protects the front optical element:
It is very practical! Fast opening/closing and small size.
And, by the way, there is no filter thread.
The lens has 6 elements (2 ED, 2 aspherical) in 6 groups.
(It looks as if the background image of the lens is reversed/mirrored. The largest optical element is actually closest to the camera)
I can compare the Viltrox 28/4.5 with my Samsung pancake lenses: the Samsung NX 30/2 (left) and the Samsung NX 20/2.8 (right).
Of course, the NX 30/2 is optically much better (in my opinion), but it is equivalent to the 45mm (it is not a wide-angle lens). The NX 20/2.8 (equiv. to FF 30/4.2) is optically comparable to the Viltrox 28/4.5.
And what the Sony a7c looks like with the Viltrox 28/4.5:
See also related notes:
- Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens (2025-08-21)
- Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Firmware update (PC) (2025-07-21)
- Pentax Q: My experience (2025-03-05)
- Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Firmware update (2025-02-19)
- Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/4.5 (2025-02-02)
Image albums:
2025-01-22
Jeep Cherokee KJ: ABS/ESP working again
A few months ago I replaced the front right wheel hub. This was due to ABS/ESP trouble codes (C1015, C101C, C101F). This is caused by a broken ABS sensor, but the Iljin front hubs are not compatible with the original OEM sensors.
I chose the Iljin hub again, but this time I bought it as Iljin IJ123040 (instead of SNR R186.29).
The replacement made ABS/ESP work. All wheel signals are in the diagnostic:
See also related notes:
Image albums:
2025-01-19
Helios-40 85/1.5: Samples [2] - FF - f/1.5
Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens: Helios-40 85/1.5 at f/1.5
Overall, the Helios-40 can be considered a fun lens. However, I am not a fan, so I sold mine in 2024. I would prefer the Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f/1.5, but it is so overpriced. Maybe take a look at the TTArtisan 75/1.5? Not today.
2025-01-17
2025-01-16
VirtualBox and Nvidia drivers (Windows 10)
I use VirtualBox on Windows 10 to run Linux and older Windows in guest VMs.
One day, the VMs started crashing. At first I didn't see the dependency (it was some software and hardware changes before), but then I remembered that I had updated the driver for my NVidia GT710 graphics card.
There is a recommendation to disable 3D acceleration in guests, but that didn't help. I temporarily replaced the GT710 with an AMD HD 7770. Now the VMs no longer crash.
So the Nvidia driver broke VirtualBox in Windows 10.
2025-01-12
Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018): OEM (WTB) saddle troubles
When I started riding my Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018), I noticed that my pants were wearing out and tearing at a higher rate.
The tear looks like this:
I think it is because of the grooves on the saddle (OEM WTB).
The grooves are notches with sharp edges. They act like the teeth of a file. Note that the tear is higher on the right side.
I decided to replace the saddle to save the following pants.
2025-01-11
RockStar/AstrHori 35/1.8: Samples [2] - FF - f/1.8
Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens: RockStar/AstrHori 35/1.8 at f/1.8
The lens could be very interesting for me, but unfortunately the color rendition is very poor. It is very difficult to get natural colors, at least with my Sony a7c. Could this be a lens for black and white photography?
See also related notes:
Image albums:
2025-01-10
Zorki-6: Rangefinder film camera (another copy)
The Zorki-6 is obviously not a great rangefinder camera. But it is simple and quite reliable for a camera from the USSR. The main problem is the age of the copies. The Zorki-6 cameras were made in the years 1959-1966: about 60 years ago. Being a cheap camera, it's often not well maintained.
My first copy had some shutter problems, so I returned it to the seller. And in 2024 I bought another one:
This copy is much better. It works pretty well. As I recommended, it is the 1964-1966 version.
See also related notes:
- Zenit-S: film SLR camera (2025-03-31)
- Zarya: Scale focus film camera with interchangeable lenses (2025-01-28)
Image albums:
2025-01-08
SZ Viewer W1-2025-01-08 (Windows), L1-2025-01-08 (Linux)
SZ Viewer (Windows, Linux) changes:
1. Support for D16A engine control module 33980-55P2*/33920-55P0 (1.6 DDiS diesel engine of FIAT origin).
2025-01-07
SZ Viewer A1-2025-01-07 (Android)
SZ Viewer (Android) changes:
1. Support for D16A engine control module 33980-55P2*/33920-55P0 (1.6 DDiS diesel engine of FIAT origin).
2025-01-05
Thuraya-4 launched
Thuraya-4 has launched yesterday
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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 sends up Thuraya 4 for the first launch of the new year
Success for SpaceX as Falcon 9 launched the Space42 Thuraya 4 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 8:27 p.m. ET. This was the first launch for Falcon 9 in the new year, and was the 20th flight and recovery for this Falcon 9 first stage booster, and SpaceX’s 341st recovery of an orbital-class rocket.
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2025-01-04
Risespray 11/2.8 Fisheye: Samples [3] - FF - f/2.8
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