Angarsk: 10 views from 1956 (and 2023)

A small (138x91 mm) postcard "Виды Ангарска" (Views of Angarsk), 1956 (the town was 5 years old):

The views themselves are tiny, about the size of a postage stamp. But a 1200-2400DPI scan reveals some details.

As far as I know, this is the title card, and the views themselves were available as separate postcards, but I don't have any. So let's take a look at the low-resolution views.

I've also included similar views that I took in 2023.

Disclaimer: My photographs are nothing more than a documentation of reality.

1.

2.

3.

Unfortunately, trams are rare here today, so only the bus is on the photo.

4.

5.

6.

This view definitely exists as a separate postcard (higher resolution, of course):

7.

8.

9.

10.

See also related notes:

• Angarsk: 11 views from 1956 (and 2025) (2025-06-27)
• Angarsk: 40 years of the Angarsk Construction Department (1948-1988) (2023-09-06)
• Angarsk: 12 photos from 1975 (and 2023) (2023-08-07)
• Angarsk: 10 photo card set from 1969 (and 2023) (2023-07-26)
• Angarsk: 10 panoramic photo set from 1969 (and 2023) (2023-07-13)
• Angarsk: 16 photo card set from 1986 (and 2023) (2023-07-01)

Image albums:

• Angarsk

Leica Q3: crop-to-zoom

In the past, digital "zoom" was not taken seriously, but today's high pixel count sensors allow for a pretty good crop.

For example, the latest Leica Q3 has a crop-to-zoom mode (introduced in the Q2).

The 60MP full frame sensor with the excellent 28/1.7 lens allows cropping to the following equivalent focal lengths and apertures:

28/1.7 (1x): 60.3MP

35/2.1 (1.25x crop): 38.6MP

50/3 (1.79x crop): 18.9MP 

75/4.6 (2.68x crop): 8.4MP

90/5.5 (3.21x crop): 5.8MP 

20 years ago, 6MP was a very good level for amateur DSLRs (the Canon 300D was introduced just in 2003 for under $1000).

Is the 75/4.6 or 90/5.5 equivalent too slow? At least, it's on par with budget zooms. For example, the Sony FE 28-60/4-5.6 from the Sony a7c kit is even slower.

For comparison, the long focus module on the iPhone 14 Pro [Max] has a 77/24 lens equivalent (yes, that's right, f/24 - very slow) and 12MP.

See also related notes:

• Fujifilm GFX100RF: Cropping (2025-03-21)

Image albums:

• Photo

ART: Demosaicing and red color (of Ricoh GR)

The choice of demosaicing algorithm can affect the red color of small areas. I noticed this in ART with Ricoh GR DNG files.

For example, one fragment and different algorithms (see 1 and 2).

Fast, AMaZE, RCD, LMMSE, VGN4 (300%):

This local red is more saturated with Fast and, unexpectedly, with AMaZE, but worse with the other algorithms.

And even when using the "False Color Suppression Steps" (FCSS) option (value 1 or higher) with AMaZE, the red loses saturation.

FCSS=0 and FCSS=1 (300%):

Considering that the Ricoh GR is prone to moiré, this makes processing more complex because FCSS is not suitable for all images. A solution would be to use a sensor with a larger number of pixels.

See also related notes:

• RawTherapee (2022) и ART (2022-03-30)
• RawTherapee 4.0.10.36 и новые алгоритмы дебайеризации (2013-04-10)
• RawTherapee 3.0.0 (алгоритмы дебайеризации) (2011-07-31)

Image albums:

• Photo

ProsKit 8PK-2062: Precision [flat head] screwdriver set

The Зубр "Часовщик" (Zubr Chasovshchik/Watchmaker) precision screwdriver set is pretty bad. So first I bought the Phillips screwdriver set (ProsKit 8PK-2063). And recently I added a set of flat head screwdrivers: ProsKit 8PK-2062

There are 6 screwdrivers: 1.4mm, 1.6mm, 1.8mm, 2.0mm, 2.4mm, 3.0mm (flat heads).

Here are both sets (ProsKit 8PK-2063 and 8PK-2062):

These are good enough for me (to service lenses), but sometimes I'd like to have a 1.0mm/1.2mm flat head screwdriver.

See also related notes:

• ProsKit 8PK-2063 набор маленьких ("часовых") крестовых отверток (2022-03-26)
• Зубр "Часовщик" набор отвёрток для точных работ (2022-03-15)

Image albums:

• Tools

Samsung NX300: HDMI output

My Samsung NX300 has a defective screen. I wanted to use the LCD magnifier to shoot outdoors, but it's too small for the camera.

This time I decided to output the NX300 screen via HDMI (micro-HDMI, type D). And to use my mobile phone connected via HDMI-USB adapter (a cheap, simple model) as an external monitor:

Unfortunately, the NX300 doesn't output live view via HDMI. It only displays captured photos and videos:

(Android application for the USB camera)

Surprising, since the same old (2013) Ricoh GR can output live view via HDMI.

As for working with a mobile phone via Wi-Fi, Remote Viewfinder is inherently badly made. It doesn't work for me (I don't want to shoot in JPEG).

See also related notes:

• 3" LCD Magnifier on Samsung NX300 (2023-04-07)
• Samsung NX300: AMOLED degradation (2023-03-03)
• Увеличитель для экрана фотокамеры NX500 (2017-02-22)
• Samsung NX300 и Wi-Fi (2014-04-21)
• Ricoh GR: субъективные впечатления (2014-03-19)

Image albums:

• PC
• Samsung NX300/NX300M

Ford XG-3-A: application to lenses

This Ford XG-3-A silicone grease is not suitable for use on the threads of the lens.

The grease consistency is too high, it does not provide sufficient lubrication. However, it can be used for the guides found in lenses.

See also related notes:

• Силиконовая смазка Ford XG-3-A (2016-09-12)

Image albums:

• Oil

Kenwood KDC-X5100BT: Firmware V116 (2018)

The latest firmware version for the Kenwood KDC-X5100BT CD/USB receiver is 116 (2018).

It is still available for download.

The list of changes is "concise":

===

(15.03.2018)

Improved stability.

(18.10.2017)

Improved stability when changing the source.

(18.04.2017)

Improved stability.

===

See also related notes:

• Автомагнитола Kenwood KDC-X5100BT (выбор сделан) (2017-11-14)

Image albums:

• Electronics

Angarsk: 12 photo card set from 1974 (and 2023)

Another set of Angarsk photo cards from 1974: 12 photos and a cover. And as well my photos of the same places taken in May 2023. (see also set of 8 cards)

I didn't remove artifacts (color streaks, spots, etc.) from the 1974 photos. The print quality is quite poor.

Also, I can't take bird's-eye photos, so my modern photos are taken from the ground.

Cover: Ангарск. Улица Социалистическая (Angarsk. Sotsialisticheskaya/Socialist street)

1. Проспект К.Маркса (Karl Marx Prospect)

2. Площадь В.И.Ленина (Lenin Square)

3. Улица М.Горького (Gorky Street)

4. Улица П.И.Чайковского (Tchaikovsky Street)

5. Гостиница "Саяны" (Hotel "Sayany"/"Sayan Mountains")

6. В Музее часов (At the Museum of Clocks)

Exterior view of the Museum:

7. Школа-интернат № 7 (Boarding School #7)

Different view of the same building:

8. База отдыха нефтехимиков (Petrochemicals Recreational Base)

9. Детская музыкальная школа (Children's Music School)

10. Улица Ф.Энгельса (F.Engels Street)

11. Мост через реку Китой (Bridge over the Kitoy River)

12. Профилакторий нефтехимического комбината (Preventorium/Sanatorium of the Petrochemical Plant)

See also related notes:

• Angarsk: 40 years of the Angarsk Construction Department (1948-1988) (2023-09-06)
• Angarsk: 12 photos from 1975 (and 2023) (2023-08-07)
• Angarsk: 10 photo card set from 1969 (and 2023) (2023-07-26)
• Angarsk: 10 panoramic photo set from 1969 (and 2023) (2023-07-13)
• Angarsk: 16 photo card set from 1986 (and 2023) (2023-07-01)

Image albums:

• Angarsk

Pentacon 30/3.5 (M42) and Pentax M42-K Adapter

The Pentacon 30/3.5 has M42x1 mount, but mounting it on a Pentax K camera with a standard adapter is problematic.

This lens has a very narrow flange that touches the adapter only.

The lens on the adapter does not rest on the K-mount flange of a camera. This causes play (backlash) of the lens on the camera.

I encountered this when trying to use the Pentacon 30/3.5 on a Samsung NX camera. I didn't have any M42x1 to NX adapters left, so I combined M42x1-K and K-NX adapters. Because of the lens play, it was noticeable that the focus plane moved. This may be the reason for the complaints about the image quality of the Pentacon 30/3.5 on Pentax cameras.

Of course, it is possible to use the Pentacon 30/3.5 with a flanged Pentax K adapter, but it won't focus to infinity.

See also related notes:

• Pentacon 30/3.5 (M42x1) (2023-05-01)
• Использование M42x1 на Pentax K (2016-06-22)

Image albums:

• Lens accessories
• Pentacon 30/3.5

Yaesu VHF radio stations

For off-road competitions and team trips I needed a VHF radio station, so in 2010 I bought a Yaesu VX-170.

Then I had the idea to use a stationary station instead of the VX-170, so I bought a Yaesu FT-1900:

But the FT-1900 was not installed stationary [in the Suzuki Jimny], it was rarely used as a "portable" station with external power supply (through a connector).

It has been a long time since I have taken part in an off-road competition. And now I do not participate in team trips and do not plan to join any. So I have sold both Yaesu radios. Only simple LPD radio stations are left for local communication.

See also related notes:

• Соревнования (2009-2012) (2013-09-19)
• Nanfone NF-6600 (LPD-радиостанции) (2013-03-06)
• Yaesu VX-120 или VX-170? (2010-04-17)

Image albums:

• Radio