AP Compact: Developing tank (2x135, 1x120, etc.)

I decided to go back to film photography. And I chose B&W negative film because I wanted to develop the film at home myself.

Since I had no developing equipment, I first bought a developing tank.

This is an AP Compact tank.

It contains two reels ("spirals"). Each reel is adjustable to take 35mm, 126, 127, 120, 220 film. The reels use the twin-ball ratchet system for easy film loading.

The tank can hold one or two rolls of 35mm (135) film. Or it can hold one roll of 120/220 film. I may shoot 120/220 film in the future, I like the 6x9 (56x84mm) format. The 6x9 frame diagonal is more than twice as large as the 36x24mm (135) frame diagonal!

It is more likely that I will start by developing only one roll of 135 film. The minimum capacity for this is 375mL.

See also related notes:

• Kiev-6S: Budget medium format film camera (2025-06-11)
• B&W film development (2025-03) (2025-03-11)
• First photofilm: Agfa Aviphot Pan ISO 200 (2024-05-06)

Image albums:

• Photographic film

SZ Viewer A1-2024-04-23 (Android)

SZ Viewer (Android) changes:

1. The warning message about the emulation has been made permanent.

2. The "Clear DTC Codes" button has been removed from the "Temperature" tab.

3. The "Clear DTC Codes" action is now also available in the option menu (except for the "Temperature" tab).

4. The "Clear DTC Codes" action is now available on the DTC tab (as a button and as an item in the option menu).

The action is enabled after the first module scan.

Clearing in the DTC tab is rather slow, so be patient.

I hope to speed it up later.

This change means that the Android version is now able to clear DTCs for modules that previously required a PC version. This may seem like a small change, but I think it is important because I do not define SZ Viewer as a "dashboard", but as a DTC reader.

5. A toast after DTC clearing now includes the module title. This is for consistency with the DTC tab.

See also related notes:

• SZ Viewer: общая информация (2014-02-15)

Image albums:

• On-board diagnostics

Samsung NX 16/2.4: Samples [1] - APS-C

Photos taken with the Samsung NX20 (1.5x crop factor, 20MP), the Samsung NX500 (1.5x crop factor, 28MP), and the Samsung NX 16/2.4 at f/2.4-2.5. The profiled lens (distortion) correction is disabled.

(NX20)

(NX20)

(NX20)

(NX20)

(NX20)

(NX500)

(NX500)

See also related notes:

• 16-20-30 (добавлен Samsung NX 16/2.4) (2012-11-09)

Image albums:

• Samsung NX 16/2.4

Pentax K 30/2.8: "Wide angle photographic lens" patent

As far as I know, the patent US3955883A (1976) describes the Pentax K 30/2.8 lens.

See also related notes:

• Pentax K 30/2.8: ad (2023-09-15)

Image albums:

• Pentax K 30/2.8

Vivitar V3800N: Film SLR camera with Pentax K mount

After disappointments with cheap old rangefinder film cameras, I decided to buy a newer film SLR. I was interested in a SLR with Pentax K mount, because I own several Pentax lenses (K/M series).

I chose the Vivitar V3800N.

(The Vivitar V3800N with the Pentax K 30/2.8 and non-original strap)

This is a Chinese SLR camera from 2000-2010.

The main feature is the fully mechanical shutter, which shortest speed is 1/2000 (it is very good) and x-sync 1/125. The camera works without battery. The battery is only needed for the TTL light meter.

The lens mount has no electrical contacts, the K/M series Pentax lens works well with aperture selection on the lens only. And of course there is only manual focus.

There is no program mode, but you can select the aperture and shutter speed with the help of the TTL light meter, if you do not forget to install a cheap and easy to find LR44 battery.

All in all, I like the Vivitar V3800N. But I am a bit disappointed by the cheap feeling plastic of the body. The camera feels like a fragile object, I should be very careful while shooting.

See also related notes:

• Mitakon [Zhongyi] Creator 35/2 (Pentax K): The lens that can break your film camera (2025-05-03)
• Pentax Super A: My new film camera (2025-04-21)
• Vivitar V3x00: Light meter limitation (2025-04-15)
• Vivitar V3600: Rare film camera (2) (2025-03-03)
• Developing a color C-41 film as a B&W negative (2024-11-23)
• Vivitar V3800N: Viewfinder (2024-07-28)
• Vivitar V3600: Rare film camera (2024-07-23)
• Olympus E-PL1: 14-42/3.5-5.6 lens (2024-07-07)
• Vivitar V3800N: Film memo holder (2024-06-18)
• Vivitar V3800N: More details (2024-06-11)
• First photofilm: Agfa Aviphot Pan ISO 200 (2024-05-06)
• Steinheil Quinon 50/2 (M39x1/44): "Planar" version (2024-05-02)

Image albums:

• Pentax K 30/2.8
• Vivitar V3800N

Jupiter-3 50/1.5: Samples [1] - FF

Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Jupiter-3 50/1.5 at f/1.5.

And sunstar at f/11:

See also related notes:

• Юпитер-3 (50/1.5): частичная переборка (2022-05-01)

Image albums:

• Jupiter-3 50/1.5

Replacing the fuel filler neck [Jimny]

In 2015 I removed a fuel filler neck protector to wash the body of my Suzuki Jimny Sierra. Unfortunately, it turned out that the filler neck was rusted. I didn't put the protector back on after the wash, so I checked the filler neck regularly.

In 2019 it looks rusted, but without holes:

I recently replaced the fuel filler neck. The part number is 89201-81A01 (or 89201-81A02), I installed a used one in good condition (from JB23W, 2002).

All parts came off quite easily, I cleaned bolts and hose clamps in EDTA-Na2 solution before installing.

Maybe I will also clean the neck in EDTA-Na2. Just to prove the concept.

See also related notes:

• The fuel filler neck: Cleaning in EDTA-Na2 [1] (2024-04-29)

Image albums:

• Suzuki Jimny

Baykal Port-2 (2006)

Lake Baikal, the source of the Angara River, Baykal Port, early 2006.

Pentax *ist Ds (1.5x crop factor, 6MP) + unknown manual focus lens

See also a panorama.

See also related notes:

• Baykal Port (2006) (2023-03-13)

Image albums:

• Baikal

Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: Samples [1] - FF

Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9 at f/2.9.

See also related notes:

• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9 (M40x1): Uncoated triplet from 1940s (2023-07-24)

Image albums:

• Victar 50/2.9

Epson Perfection 4490 Photo

I have been scanning documents, photos and films with the Epson Perfection 4490 Photo flatbed scanner since 2006. Its driver and software (Epson Scan) still work on Windows 10.

Before this scanner, I tried to scan films with a handmade adapter for a digital camera. But then I scanned films only with the scanner. Scanning with the Epson 4490 is slow, especially at the highest resolution, but the result is quite good even today.

For scanning films, a film holder should be used. And there is an additional (upper) lamp in the lid. Unfortunately, the lamp of my scanner is not bright enough anymore.

On the preview images are almost invisible:

After scanning, there is a lot of noise in the image.

The result is completely useless.

I was looking for a new lamp, but it is difficult to find one. I thought about buying a similar used scanner, but I am not sure if its lamp will work well.

So I keep the scanner for normal non-film scanning, while I want to go back to digitizing films with a digital camera.

See also related notes:

• JJC FDA-S1: Digitizing 135 film (2024-07-22)

Image albums:

• Scanning

Vintage beakers from East Germany

I found a pair of beakers (600ml). They are vintage ones from East Germany (GDR/DDR).

Jenaer Glas, Rasotherm.

I already use these beakers for some tasks. But their graduation is rather imprecise.

Image albums:

• History

Pentax DA L 18-55/3.5-5.6: Samples [1] - FF

Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Pentax DA L 18-55/3.5-5.6. Since the lens is designed for APS-C (crop factor 1.5x), it can only be used as a 28-55mm on FF. The aperture was fully open: f/4-5.6 depending on the focal length.

Of course, the profiled lens correction is disabled. And there are no EXIF aperture and focal length data.

See also related notes:

• Pentax DA L 18-55/3.5-5.6: Using on FF (2024-03-19)
• Pentax DA L 18-55/3.5-5.6 (K) (2024-02-15)

Image albums:

• Pentax DA 18-55/3.5-5.6

EDTA-Na2: Hose clamps from Jimny

In addition to the bolts, I also cleaned hose clamps from my Jimny.

Before cleaning:

After cleaning in EDTA-Na2 solution.

See also related notes:

• Replacing the fuel filler neck [Jimny] (2024-04-18)

Image albums:

• Suzuki Jimny

"Zoom View Finder 1.08-1.60x" magnifier.

The viewfinder of the Pentax K-m is rather poor for manual focusing, especially after mirrorless cameras.  I used to use magnifiers on the Pentax DSLRs, but I sold them. So I bought a cheaper alternative called "Zoom View Finder":

It is a universal thing, it includes adapters for SLRs of different manufacturers (and Pentax, of course).

The main feature of the magnifier is the zoom. It is possible to change the magnification factor from 1.08x to 1.60x, as mentioned.

I haven't tried the magnifier yet, because I rarely use the Pentax k-m.

See also related notes:

• "Zoom View Finder 1.08-1.60x": Using for the Pentax K-m (2024-08-20)

Image albums:

• Photo