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2025-02-28

End of my control over tonigy.com

I registered my oldest domain, tonigy.com, in March 2001. The Tonigy software is long outdated, but I still keep the domain and the almost original website.

However, I have decided not to renew the tonigy.com domain in March 2025. So the domain will soon have nothing to do with me.

If you want to download the final version of Tonigy and get the free registration key, visit https://malykh.com/soft/tonigy/ 

I have set up a redirect from tonigy.com to https://malykh.com/soft/tonigy/




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2025-02-27

SZ Viewer A1: That's all Folks

My developer profile and SZ Viewer A1 app have been removed from Google Play as promised.




I haven't distributed SZ Viewer A1 as APK files since 2022. APK files you find on websites may contain malware. So I strongly recommend to switch to another application.



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2025-02-21

SZ Viewer A1: Final Google Play statistics

The final statistics of SZ Viewer A1 according to Google Play.

Top "installed audience" of all time: 31734 users (in September 2024)
Top "install base" of all time: 36589 devices (in September 2024)

Google Play ratings by country (top 10):

Australia: 5
Georgia: 5
Netherlands: 5
Taiwan: 5
Germany: 4.9
Sri Lanka: 4.9
Indonesia: 4.9
Thailand: 4.9
Poland: 4.8
Brazil: 4.8
...
All countries / regions: 4.5

2025-02-19

Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Firmware update

The Viltrox AF 28/4.5 has a USB-C port on its flange.




I expected to be able to update the firmware using the USB-C port (like the Viltrox 20/2.8). However, when I connected the 28/4.5 to a PC, no new devices were detected. In fact, I was beginning to think the lens was broken.

I also noticed that there are no firmware files to download, just links to the App Store and Google Play. 



Yes, this lens updates its firmware via Bluetooth with a mobile application. The USB-C port is for powering the lens during the update.

I successfully updated the firmware from v1.05 to v1.06 using Viltrox Lens application for Android:




I dislike using a mobile application to control hardware. Are you sure that the application will still be available in a few years and that you can run it on modern mobile devices?

In addition, the Viltrox application requires you to create an account. The serial number of a lens is linked to your personal data in an unknown service. This can be used against you.



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2025-02-16

Samsung NX 50-200/4-5.6: Samples [1] - APS-C - 200mm

Camera: Samsung NX300M (1.5x crop factor, 20MP)
Lens: Samsung NX 50-200/4-5.6 at f/5.6-f/9, 200mm.

The profiled lens (distortion/vignetting) correction is disabled.








(see also Baikal chipmunks)

2025-02-14

Pentax Q: Useless mirrorless camera

The Pentax Q series was a very strange line of mirrorless cameras. These cameras are based on small sensors: 1/2.3" (5.6x crop factor, 12MP) for the first Q and Q10 models and 1/1.7" (4.6x crop factor, 12MP) for the last Q7 and Q-S1 models.

The sensors are small even for [modern] mobile phones. For an interchangeable lens camera, the sensors are terrible. The next level is 1" sensors (Nikon 1 and Samsung NX mini), which have a 2.7x crop factor - much more in comparison.

I cannot recommend the Pentax Q camera for everyday use... But I bought a used Pentax Q (the first model with 1/2.3" sensor) with the 02 Standard Zoom Pentax Q 5-15/2.8-4.5 lens.




Of course, I tried the Pentax Q for usual shooting and I still don't understand who would want to use it nowadays. But my purpose is different, I just want to do some experiments.

2025-02-11

DDR4 3000 vs DDR4 3600

I have upgraded my PC's memory. Out of interest, I repeated the tests.

Before: DDR4 32(16x2)GB 3000 CL16-17-17-36-69 1T (GDM on)
After: DDR4 64(16x4)GB 3600 CL16-20-20-39-83 1T (GDM on)

In the compile test, the difference is almost invisible. Maybe 1-3% performance gain.

In the ART/Raw test, the difference is noticeable, but quite small: about 6-7% performance gain.

2025-02-08

Sapphire Nitro/Nitro+ RX470/RX480 8GB SKUs

One of the differences between Sapphire Nitro and Sapphire Nitro+ (at least RX470/RX480 based) graphics cards is that Nitro+ cards have the dual BIOS switch: you can choose between faster ("Default") and slower ("Silent") modes.

Although the cards share the same name, there are some performance differences depending on the SKU.

Also note that the RX470 is part of the RX470-RX570-RX580 2048SP models (with 2048 stream processors). While the RX480 is part of the RX480-RX580-RX590 GME models (with 2304 stream processors).

Sapphire Nitro RX470 8GD5:

11256-17: Engine clock: 1140 (1236 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz
11256-26: Engine clock: 1140 (1216 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz

Sapphire Nitro+ RX470 8GD5:

11256-02: Engine clock: 1121 (1260 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  926 (1206 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"
11256-07: Engine clock: 1121 (1216 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  926 (1206 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"
11256-14: Engine clock: 1121 (1216 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz in "Default";  926 (1206 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 1750 MHz in "Silent"

Sapphire Nitro RX480 8GD5:

11260-20: Engine clock: 1202 (1306 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz
11260-23: Engine clock: 1202 (1276 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz

Sapphire Nitro+ RX480 8GD5:

11260-01: Engine clock: 1208 (1342 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  1120 (1266 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"
11260-07: Engine clock: 1208 (1306 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  1120 (1266 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"
11260-10: Engine clock: 1208 (1276 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  1120 (1266 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"


My RX480 card is the Sapphire Nitro+ RX480 8GD5 with SKU 11260-01 (fastest version of the Sapphire Nitro+ RX480 8GD5).



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2025-02-06

Sony a7c: Three years with the camera

I have had the Sony a7c FF mirrorless camera for 3 years. And I like it a lot! It is a very good camera, pleasant to use.




The best thing is the full frame sensor. Even though the sensor is rooted in the A7III (2018), its characteristics are still good. The resolution and the noise level are sufficient for most tasks.

The second best thing is the lack of a mirror, it is not an SLR. It is possible to mount a lot of lenses of different production time. Focusing via the display or the EVF is accurate. And there is an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with all lenses.

I like the look of the Sony a7c. It's closer to a rangefinder camera and doesn't look like an SLR with a pseudo-pentaprism cover. And the Sony a7c is quite compact for an FF camera.

The Sony a7c shoots a good 4K@24/25 video. And the recorded gyro data allows for strong video stabilization in post-production.

I am not considering about a new camera. The Sony a7cR is nice, but the sensor readout is too slow.

Overall, I would like to see a camera similar in size to the Sony a7c, but with a higher resolution sensor with a much faster readout. A global shutter is a dream, but today it is too expensive and worse in noise. And I want to a native low ISO (ISO50 or even lower).

2025-02-04

Honda Two-Motor Hybrid-Electric Powertrain (2014-2024)

A brief description of Honda's two-motor hybrid powertrain (sometimes called i-MMD), all generation for the time: Honda Two-Motor Hybrid-Electric Powertrain

This article refers to the US market, but the general information is useful as well.

2025-02-02

Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/4.5

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens: Viltrox AF 28/4.5 at f/4.5

When I started testing the Viltrox 28/4.5, I found a few more drawbacks. First, its minimum focusing distance (MFD) is quite long, making it unsuitable for macro-style photography. Second, it is prone to flare.

Due to a fake diaphragm there are some sunstars.

There is no profile embedded in the metadata of images taken with this lens. Ok, distortion is very low, but if someone wants to correct vignetting automatically? Only with an external profile. But after non-electronic MF lenses, it is not a problem for me.










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