Search in the blog:

2023-09-20

M39x1/44: Braun [Super] Paxette II lens mount

I thought there were only three types of M39x1 lens mounts: M39x1/28.8 (Leica rangefinder), M39x1/45.2 (Зенит/Zenit SLRs), M39x1/27.5 (Chaika half-frame camera series). 

But there is another M39x1 lens mount. It was used on the Braun Paxette II (uncoupled rangefinder) and Super Paxette II (coupled rangefinder) 135 film cameras from the 1950s (see 1 and 2), and the latter Braun Super Paxette 35 (from the 1960s). The same mount was also used on the Neidig/DeJUR/Bower cameras.

A special feature of the M39x1 Paxette mount is the rather large (for a rangefinder camera) flange focal distance (FFD): 44mm, like the Praktiflex M40x1 mount. But the SLR Praktiflex needs it for the mirror, while the Paxette has it due to the Pronto leaf shutter (instead of a focal-plane shutter).


It is interesting to use the lens for the Paxette on modern cameras. There are several possibilities, I will show the main ones (for the Sony FE/E mount) using the Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6 lens (by Staeble-Werk for the Paxette).


1. Using a M39x1-M42x1 ring:




This is a commonly available adapter ring. You can then mount the lens on a regular M42x1 adapter (for Sony FE/E in this case).




The first problem is that such a [correct] adapter has a flange focal distance of 45.5mm instead of 44mm. The lens will not focus to infinity. If possible, you can try to reduce the length (thickness) of the adapter.

The second problem is that some lenses for the Paxette have a protruding rear end.



If you use such a lens on an SLR through a M42x1 adapter, the mirror may hit the back of the lens.


2. Adapter from M39x1/44 to M39x1/28.8 (Leica).

Ideally you need a M39x1-M39x1 tube with a length of 44-28.8=15.2mm. This is a rare item, but there have been both mass-produced and homemade ones.

I happen to have a M39x1-M39x1 tube that is exactly 15.2mm:








If you don't have a 15.2mm M39x1 tube, you can use one or more M39x1 extension tubes or "helicoids" or bellows that are close to 15.2mm long (or slightly smaller).

For example, three 5mm M39x1 extension tubes can be used.




The total length would be 15mm with focusing slightly beyond infinity:




This works with this Telexon. But the 5mm tube has a rather short thread, so some Paxette lenses cannot be screwed in completely.


3. Using a M39x1-M42x1 ring and a thin M42x1 adapter.

In this case, you need to compensate for the difference in focal flange distance with M42x1 extension tube(s) or helicoid or bellows.

For example, with the 5mm adapter (for Sony FE/E):



7mm and 14mm M42x1 extension tube(s) are used in this case.

18mm (Sony FE/E FFD) + 5mm (adapter) + 14mm + 7mm = 44mm (Paxette FFD).




All three options:





See also related notes:
Posted by malykh в 00:03 0 comments

2023-09-19

Za Rulem: About Suzuki Samurai/Jimny (1979, 1983, 1988, 1991)

In the Soviet magazine "За рулём" (Za Rulem/Behind the Steering Wheel) apart from advices on "how to keep the brake pads from knocking" or "how to restore the thermostat", there was also some world car news. News about vehicles that couldn't be bought here.

News about the Suzuki Samarai/Jimny:

1979 (#11) - LJ55



1983 (#02) - SJ410



1988 (#02) - SJ410



1991 (#12) - SJ Samurai





Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 00:01 0 comments

2023-09-18

Revue 24/4: My experience [2/2]

(see part 1)

All examples are taken with the Sony a7c (24MP, FF).

And, in my opinion, the Revue 24/4 is well worth using (at f/4) for photographing flowers and so on.










It's a shame that such an optically interesting lens was made in such a cheap Bakelite body with so many flaws.

By the way, there was a multicoated (MC) version of this lens, which is more recent. Perhaps this version is more resistant to flare.



See also related notes:
Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 00:03 0 comments

2023-09-17

Revue 24/4: My experience [1/2]

All examples are taken with the Sony a7c (24MP, FF).

The Revue 24/4 (OEM version of the Enna München Lithagon/Ennalyt 24/4) is an ultra-wide lens, so the first thing you want to do with it is shoot landscapes.




The result is not terrible, although the resolution in the edges and corners is quite low (even at f/8-f/11). Especially since my copy is not the best one. But in the center it's pretty good.




The other problem is the simple (old) optical coating. The lens has no cemented elements, there are 7 of them in 7 groups. This causes a lot of flare.





This has to be taken into account or used as an effect.




But the main use of this lens is to take pictures of subjects (at f/4), including close-ups.






The 24mm gives a different perspective for close-ups than longer focal lengths.

See part 2.


See also related notes:
Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 00:02 0 comments

2023-09-16

St. Petersburg, Kolomyazhsky Prospekt (2004)

St. Petersburg, a view of the Kolomyazhsky Prospekt, 2004:




Pentax Optio 450 (4MP, 1/1.8") @ 7.8mm (37mm equiv.)



Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 00:06 0 comments

2023-09-15

Pentax K 30/2.8: ad

Advertisement of the Pentax K 30/2.8 (source):




And separately, optical design:



This is probably the most mysterious of all my lenses (see 1, 2, 3).

And something I hadn't noticed before. This lens was part of the K-series since 1975 with the name SMC PENTAX 1:2.8/30. After the introduction of the M-series in 1977, it was not replaced by an M lens, but changed name to SMC PENTAX 1:2.8 30mm (M-style, but without the letter M). I have exactly the first version (1:2.8/30) from 1975-1977.

Posted by malykh в 00:05 0 comments

2023-09-14

Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: Old lenses and contrast

One of the problems with old (really old) lenses is low contrast. This is most often caused by simple anti-reflective lens coatings.

I have the Victar 50/2.9 lens, which has no coating at all. When shooting with this lens, there is often no deep black color in the shadows because of the low contrast:



But contrast correction in digital photography is a simple thing. Much easier than color correction, for example.

By black point compensation, you can make the image have a higher contrast:



But then the character of the old lens is partially lost. So it makes sense to do a little compensation. Something between the original and an image with too much contrast:



Maybe even less compensation.

So when I show examples with old lenses, there is often some (but not too much) black point compensation. This has to be taken into account.



Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 00:01 0 comments

2023-09-13

Drag racing, Shelekhov (2003)

Drag racing competitions, Shelekhov, Irkutsk region, 2003 (20 years ago).

As far as I can remember, these were the first official drag races in the Irkutsk region. Before that there were only illegal ones.

The photos are of very poor quality, because they were taken with a bad 0.3MP digital camera (see also: 1, 2).  I have upscaled them to 800x600 with Lanczos3.

The pictures were taken on different days in the summer of 2003.












Posted by malykh в 00:03 0 comments

2023-09-12

My lenses by focal length (2023)

Grouping my prime lenses by focal length, most are 50-55mm:



This doesn't mean that I'm a big fan of that focal length. It's because such lenses were the most popular in the film era.

In second place is the 35mm:



Then 85mm lenses:



30mm lenses and 1.5x crop 20mm (equivalent to 30mm):



1.5x crop 29-30mm lenses, which is equivalent to 45mm:



100-105mm lenses:



And the remaining prime lenses: 11mm, 16mm, 24mm, 28mm, 135mm, 200mm, 500mm.



There is still a 25-45mm zoom left, which is not in these pictures. There are 39 lenses in total.

Grouped by mount:

Pentax K: 15 lenses (including 2 lenses with T[2]-mount), see also My Pentax lenses (+Takumar)
M42x1: 6 lenses
Sony FE: 5 lensed
Samsung NX: 3 lenses
Nikon F: 2 lenses
M40x1: 1 lens


Posted by malykh в 00:05 0 comments

2023-09-11

Reverse polarity converter cable

Some devices (such as guitar equipment, for example) use the "reverse" polarity of the power connector: the barrel is positive polarity, and the pin is negative.



Whereas power supplies usually use the "standard" polarity: the barrel is negative polarity, and the pin is positive. And if there is no polarity switch, they cannot be used directly.

There are reverse polarity converter cables so that you don't have to do any extra work.




In this case for 5.5 x 2.1mm.



Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 00:03 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Blog Archive