Angarsk Construction Department: 25th anniversary medal

This medal commemorates the 25th anniversary (1948-1973) of the Angarsk Construction Department (Ангарское управление строительства).

The medal features an artistic rendering. It is inspired by a real-world fountain.

See also related notes:

• Angarsk: 40 years of the Angarsk Construction Department (1948-1988) (2023-09-06)

Image albums:

• Angarsk

Pentax Q 01 8.5/1.9 Standard Prime

The Pentax Q 01 8.5/1.9 Standard Prime is the only AF prime lens for the Q series. I prefer prime lenses to zoom lenses, so I searched for this one. Fortunately, this (used) lens is neither too rare nor too expensive.

On the Pentax Q (1/2.3"), it is equivalent to a 47mm lens - a true standard lens. The f/1.9 aperture makes it the fastest lens in the Q series.

It is quite small, especially compared to the Pentax Q 02 Standard Zoom.

The filter thread is the 40.5x0.5 (like old lenses, not modern ones).

The lens has 8 elements in 5 groups. 

(source)

(source)

Like all AF Pentax Q lenses, it has a built-in leaf shutter, with speeds up to 1/2000. This is typical of a leaf shutter, but the speed is too slow for sunny weather. To address this, the lens has a built-in ND4 filter that can be controlled via the camera settings. Alternatively, you can switch to the electronic shutter.

The aperture (the leaf shutter) has 5 blades.

See also related notes:

• Filter thread: 40.5x0.5 vs 40.5x0.75 (2024-09-13)

Image albums:

• Pentax Q 01 8.5/1.9 Standard Prime

Kenko Soft 45/4.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/4.5

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)

Lens: Kenko Soft 45/4.5 at f/4.5

It seemed to me that the lens likes sunny weather very much.

See also related notes:

• Kenko Soft 45/4.5: 45mm soft focus lens (2025-09-03)

Image albums:

• Kenko Soft 45/4.5

Pentax Q "Unique Lenses"

I now have the entire so-called "Unique Lenses" series for Pentax Q cameras (earlier, I only had three of them).

From left to right:

Pentax Q 03 3.2/5.6 Fish-eye

Pentax Q 04 6.3/7.1 Toy Lens Wide

Pentax Q 05 18/8 Toy Lens Telephoto

Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens

My rating for how fun they are to use:

1. Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens

2. Pentax Q 03 3.2/5.6 Fish-eye

3. Pentax Q 04 6.3/7.1 Toy Lens Wide

4. Pentax Q 05 18/8 Toy Lens Telephoto

But keep in mind that I prefer wide angles to long focal lengths.

See also related notes:

• Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens (2025-08-21)
• Pentax Q 03, 04, 05 lenses (2025-07-27)
• Pentax Q 05 18/8 Toy Lens Telephoto (2025-07-05)
• Pentax Q 04 6.3/7.1 Toy Lens Wide (2025-06-13)
• Pentax Q 03 3.2/5.6 Fish-eye (2025-05-23)

Image albums:

• Pentax Q 03 3.2/5.6 Fish-eye
• Pentax Q 04 6.3/7.1 Toy Lens Wide
• Pentax Q 05 18/8 Toy Lens Telephoto
• Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens

Toopre TL-221 bottom bracket wrench

Here's another bottom bracket wrench: the Toopre TL-221.

Unlike the Meroca wrench, this one is compatible with five types of bottom brackets.

FSA-386 (48.5-49.3/16), DUB16T (46/24), BB-9100 (39/16):

44MM (44/16), BBR-60 (40.5-41/16):

See also related notes:

• Meroca Bottom Bracket Wrench (44/16 and 46/24) (2023-09-24)

Image albums:

• Bicycle

Kenko Soft 45/4.5: M42 adapter

The Kenko Soft 45/4.5 lens has a so-called P-mount. This simple mount has an M42x1 thread, and the flange focal distance is 55 mm. 

My lens did not come with an adapter. So, I had to find a suitable one. Initially, I planned to combine two adapters, a T2-M42 and an M42-NEX, to create a hybrid adapter. Unfortunately, the parts turned out to be incompatible.

A simpler solution is to use an M42x1 extension tube. The difference in flange focal distance is 9.5 mm (55-45.5). Of course, a shorter tube can be used, but that affects the minimum focusing distance (and focusing will be above the infinity).

I found a 9mm M42x1 extension tube and added a 0.5mm shim.

It works well.

There are two drawbacks. First, the scales of the lens are oriented incorrectly in this case. Second, the outer diameter of the extension tube is small, so it's impossible to hold the tube to screw the lens in and out. Holding the lens to screw it in and out is also inconvenient due to the aperture and focusing rings.

See also related notes:

• Kenko Soft 45/4.5: 45mm soft focus lens (2025-09-03)
• Cheap T2-M42 adapter and Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8 (2023-03-21)
• Fotga Адаптеры для M42, M39, Nikon F - Sony FE/E (2022-04-05)

Image albums:

• Kenko Soft 45/4.5

Mir-26B 45/3.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/3.5

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)

Lens: Mir-26B 45/3.5 at f/3.5

The blur of the out-of-focus area is interesting. However, as a 45/3.5 lens, the Mir-26B is heavy and bulky (82mm filter thread!) for an FF camera, let alone one with a smaller sensor.

See also related notes:

• NONS SL42 (II): Medium-format (P6) lenses - Biometar, Vega, Mir (2025-07-29)

Image albums:

• Mir-26B 45/3.5

Sony a7c: v2.02 firmware

My Sony a7c warns me about firmware version 2.02:

After the recent update to version 2.01, it's like a bug fix.

===

Improves the operational stability of the camera

===

See also related notes:

• Sony a7c: Firmware updated to v2.01 (2025-06-05)
• Sony a7c: v2.01 firmware (2025-04-19)
• Sony α7c (Alpha 7C, a7c) (2022-03-18)

Image albums:

• Sony a7c

Reverse Comp seatpost

The Reverse Comp seatpost (31.6x350 mm):

Its weight is 339g.

I installed it as a replacement for the Reverse Style Lite (31.6x400 mm). The Reverse Style Lite is lighter (283g), but it has no offset, and I don't like its saddle clamp.

See also related notes:

• Подседельный штырь Reverse Style Lite (2020-12-05)

Image albums:

• Bicycle

NONS SL42 (II): MC7 x2 teleconverter

The NONS Format Extender (NFE) for the NONS SL42 (II) camera is not optimal in terms of optical quality. As an alternative, I would like to use a different 2x teleconverter.

It is a generic Pentax K (APK) version of the 2X TELEPLUS MC7 teleconverter. This teleconverter has 7 optical elements and provides rather good image quality.

To mount the MC7 teleconverter to the NONS SL42 (II), I removed the diaphragm actuator.

Again, a test with the ISCO-Göttingen Iscovitar 50/2.8 (M42x1 lens).

With the NFE. ND4 filter, f/8, 1/250:

With the MC7 teleconverter. ND4 filter, f/8, 1/250:

Unfortunately, the MC7 teleconverter is not compatible with the NONS SL42 (II). There is a significant vignetting. It's frustrating because the MC7 teleconverter, at least, has much less chromatic aberration. This difference is very noticeable in the scans.

See also related notes:

• NONS SL42 (II): NFE, Pentax K lenses (2025-08-25)
• NONS SL42 (II): "Instax Mini" SLR camera (2025-05-27)
• ISCO Iscovitar 50/2.8 (M42x1/45.5): Triplet with simple focusing mechanism (2024-05-21)

Image albums:

• Lens accessories
• NONS SL42 (II)

Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens: Samples [1] - 1/2.3" - f/9

Camera: Pentax Q (1/2.3", 12MP)

Lens: Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens (f/9 only)

The lens has a fixed focus, it is set at approximately 1 to 1.5 meters (at least my copy). Therefore, the lens is definitely not for landscapes.

There is also a significant loss of sharpness off-center. This creates a nice effect that compensates for the large depth of field.

The shutter speed limit is 1/100 when the ISO increases (for Auto-ISO). Together with f/9, a considerable amount of light is required to capture noise-free images. I noticed the same problem with the Pentax Q 05 18/8 Toy Lens Telephoto.

See also related notes:

• Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens (2025-08-21)
• Pentax Q 05 18/8 Toy Lens Telephoto (2025-07-05)

Image albums:

• Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens

Kenko Soft 45/4.5: 45mm soft focus lens

This is my other soft focus lens.

It is the Kenko MC Soft 45mm 1:4.5.

While it's not as rare as the Kiyohara Soft VK70R, I like that it has a wider angle of view.

The Kenko Soft 45/4.5 has 2 optical elements in 1 group. There is also a built-in protective element in front of the aperture.

The aperture has 10 blades:

The clickless aperture ring goes from f/4.5 to f/22. The filter thread is 52mm.

Information about the T[2]-mount of the Kenko Soft 45/4.5 is incorrect. The Kenko Soft 45/4.5 has a so-called P-mount (M42x1/55). It is an "intermediate" mount between the T[2]-mount (M42x0.75/55) and the M42x1/45.5 mount. Despite its M42x1 thread, the flange focal distance is 55 mm, similar to the T[2]-mount.

Unfortunately, my copy of the lens did not come with an adapter. I had to find one before I could start using the lens.

See also related notes:

• Kenko Soft 45/4.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/4.5 (2025-09-21)
• Kenko Soft 45/4.5: M42 adapter (2025-09-15)

Image albums:

• Kenko Soft 45/4.5

Maxxis 27.5x1.75/2.4 tubes

Maxxis 27.5x1.75/2.4 bike inner tubes.

Since they are "welterweight", each tube weighs 199g (without packaging). 

Image albums:

• Bicycle