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2023-09-27

Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6 (M39x1/44): Telephoto lens for [Super] Paxette II

The Staeble-Telexon -E- 1:5,6/85 is a telephoto lens for Braun [Super] Paxette II rangefinder cameras, characterized by the M39x1 mount with an unusually large flange focal length of 44mm.




Made by Staeble-Werk, [West] Germany.




The letter -E- in the name indicates support for coupled rangefinder (which is on Super Paxette II cameras as opposed to just Paxette II). 



Perhaps the "E" comes from the German word "Entfernungsmesser" (rangefinder).


(the movable rear part for rangefinder control)

I don't know the year of the lens, probably 1956-1958 (or later).

When focusing, the whole front part (together with the aperture ring) rotates. For a rangefinder (not SLR) camera this is ok.




The scale is in feet and meters, the minimum focusing distance is slightly less than 1.5m.

The aperture ring with clicks (it surprised me) in the positions: f/5.6 - f/8 - f/11 - f/16 - f/22 - f/32.




The aperture has 10 blades:




This is not a particularly rare lens, it can be found in catalogs and manuals of the time:


(it cost 75 DM in the 1950s)

However, there is no optical design information, only a claim that there are 4 elements (Linsen) in the lens.




By chance, I found such a "Telexon" mention in the magazine "Реферативный журнал"/"Referativnyĭ zhurnal" (1961):




So the Telexon 135/3.8 is a 4-element lens with a cemented front group. If the name (Telexon) refers to the optical design, then the Telexon 85/5.6 must have a similar design. Most likely something like the Wrayflex Lustrar 90/4:


(optical design of the Wrayflex Lustrar 90/4)

Of course, the f/5.6 of this Telexon is quite slow. But for what it is, this lens is tiny for 85mm. 

The Индустар/Industar-26M 50/2.8 (on the left) and the Staeble-Telexon 85/5.6 (on the right).




(see also my 85mm lenses)

By the way, my copy of the Telexon looked good, but the focus ring was too stiff. I took it apart and cleaned it, there was very old grease in the threads on the back for the rangefinder. The lens is easy to disassemble, but must be reassembled correctly (to preserve the thread positions). It's a pleasure to use the lens now.

Posted by malykh в 00:00 0 comments

2023-09-26

Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018): Five years

I've had my Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018) for five years.




Now it's in an unusual configuration: 27.5x2.8 tires in the rear and 27.5x3.0 in the front. Other than that, the components remain the same as in 2021.

I keep wanting to put 29" wheels on it, but it's not going to happen yet.

Posted by malykh в 00:00 0 comments

2023-09-25

Risespray 11/2.8 vs Zenitar-K 16/2.8: Two fisheyes

I have two fisheye lenses for a full-frame sensor/film: the Risespray 11mm f/2.8 (Sony FE) and the Зенитар/Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 (Pentax K).


(The Zenitar on the right with the Pentax K-Sony FE/E adapter).

I compared these two lenses.


At f/8 (with the Zenitar it's more like f/6-f/7 relative to the fully open f/2.8 aperture):

1.

(Risespray 11/2.8)


(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

2.

(Risespray 11/2.8)


(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

3.

(Risespray 11/2.8)


(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

4.

(Risespray 11/2.8)


(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

The Risespray has a wider angle of view. The Zenitar has correspondingly more magnification (at the same focusing distance). 

If these focal lengths (11mm and 16mm) are correct, the Risespray is closer to stereographic projection and the Zenitar is closer to equisolid projection.


At f/2.8:

At such short focal lengths, there is certainly no strong background blur.

5.

(Risespray 11/2.8)


(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

6.

(Risespray 11/2.8)


(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)


The Risespray has a shorter minimum focusing distance, so the maximum magnification is higher than with the Zenitar. Of course, the viewpoints are different:

7.

(Risespray 11/2.8)


(Zenitar-K 16/2.8)

Posted by malykh в 00:05 0 comments

2023-09-24

Meroca Bottom Bracket Wrench (44/16 and 46/24)

A bottom bracket wrench from Meroca.




44mm 16 notches (for Shimano Hollowtech II BB) and 46mm 24 notches (for SRAM DUB BB).

The wrench is as light as if it were plastic. But it is made of light alloy. The thickness is 3mm.

I have a feeling that the wrench is not durable and strong enough. Hope it can unscrew a BB a few times.



See also related notes:
Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 00:10 0 comments

2023-09-23

Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: Full-frame lens

I've been wanting to try a 35/1.4 lens for a long time, specifically on a full frame sensor. So I found an option that cost me $135. Yes, it is for full frame.

This lens is only available for mirrorless: for Leica L, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony FE mounts. I have the Sony FE version.




This lens model is often known as the Pergear 35/1.4 (see Pergear 35mm F1.4 and Review: Pergear 35mm 1.4 - The cheapest 35mm fullframe lens), but in my case it's the Cheecar FF 35mm F1.4 II (CL-Mil3514N):




Funny thing is that the early copies had a typo: MUTI instead of MULTI. On this one, the typo is gone.




There was also a first version of this lens (with a slightly different body), often known as the Andoer 35/1.4.




My lens is the second version. I actually ordered the silver one, but the black one arrived. I didn't return it to the seller and kept it.

The aperture has 10 blades:




The aperture ring with clicks: f/1.4 - f/1.7? (unmarked) - f/2? (unmarked) - f/2.4? (unmarked) - f/2.8 - f/3.2? (unmarked) - f3.5? (unmarked) - f/4 - f/5.6 - f/8 - f/16. Again, there is no f/11 (it happens on Chinese lenses).




At first glance, the aperture markings don't look quite accurate (taking the fully open aperture as f/1.4).  I haven't checked the actuality of f/1.4, but it looks faster than f/1.8-f/2.

The filter thread is 43mm, it is small.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with Chinese lenses, the hard stop of the focusing ring has a focus beyond infinity. The scale is also beyond infinity.




The minimum focusing distance is about 0.30m.

The lens has 7 elements in 5 groups. It probably looks something like this:


(this is the design of another 35/1.4 lens)

The lens is quite small, especially for f/1.4. Compared to the Samyang AF 35/2.8 FE:




The lens body is slippery, so not enough grip makes it difficult to mount and remove the lens from the camera.

The lens is interesting, but of course it has optical flaws.

Posted by malykh в 00:04 0 comments

2023-09-22

Angarsk, 18-22 (September 2004)

Angarsk, building of the house number 22 in the 18th microdistrict, September 2004. See also Microdistricts of Angarsk (February 2004)




Pentax Optio 450 (4MP, 1/1.8") @ 39mm (187mm equiv.)



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

2023-09-21

My cameras (2023)

My photo cameras (2023):




Far row (left to right):

Samsung NX10 (announced 2010), 14.6MP, 1.5x crop factor 
Samsung NX2000 (announced 2013), 20MP, 1.5x crop factor
Sony a7c (announced 2020), 24MP, full frame


Near row (left to right):

Samsung NX300 (announced 2013), 20MP, 1.5x crop factor
Ricoh GR (announced 2013), 16MP, 1.6x crop factor


Only one is a modern camera, the other four were announced at least 10 years ago.

Posted by malykh в 00:01 0 comments

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
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