2024-05-10
Pentax M 50/4 Macro: Samples [1] - FF - f/4
Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Pentax M 50/4 Macro at f/4.
2024-05-09
Meyer-Optik Helioplan 40/4.5 (M42x1/45.5): Simple dialyte lens
I bought a broken Braun Super Paxette II BL camera, but the purpose of the purchase was the four lenses that came with the camera. Three of them are lenses for this Paxette camera: the Staeble-Telexon 135/3.8, the Staeble-Lineogon 35/3.5, the Steinheil München Quinon 50/2. The fourth lens was a surprise to me.
It is a Meyer-Optik Görlitz Helioplan 1:4.5/40 (with the red V-mark):
The lens from the 1950s. Nowadays, it seems to be quite slow, but it has a rare optical design.
It is a simple dialyte lens with 4 elements in 4 groups, almost symmetrical.
Although the lens came to me with the Paxette camera, it is not related to the Paxette series. My copy has the M42x1/45.5 mount. Of course, this mount is more universal than the "Paxette" M39x1/44 mount.
The Helioplan 40/4.5 is a non-retrofocus lens. The 40mm focal length is almost the limit for non-retrofocus lenses on 35mm SLR cameras. So the rear part is quite protruding. You should check if the mirror of an SLR camera doesn't hit the rear part of the lens.
The aperture has 10 blades. In some values, the aperture has a star shape.
This is a preset aperture lens. The aperture ring is single, but it's outer part can be slid forward to set the limit of the aperture closing (reminds me of the Pentacon 30/3.5).
It locks at the following positions: f/4.5, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22. The aperture ring rotates from f/4.5 to the locked position (marked by the red dot) without clicking.
The filter thread is 40.5mm. The front part of the lens (with the filter thread) doesn't rotate during focusing. The minimum focusing distance is about 0.5m.
The lens body looks bad (due to metal oxide), but all mechanics (aperture, focusing) work fine. Ironically, even in this condition, the Helioplan 40/4.5 (especially for M42x1/45.5) costs more than I paid for all four lenses and the camera.
See also related notes:
- Filter thread: 40.5x0.5 vs 40.5x0.75 (2024-09-13)
- Meyer-Optik Helioplan 40/4.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/4.5, f/11 (2024-05-13)
Image albums:
2024-05-08
2024-05-07
Steinheil Quinon 50/2: Samples [1] - FF
Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Steinheil Quinon 50/2 at f/2.
And a sunstar at f/11:
2024-05-06
First photofilm: Agfa Aviphot Pan ISO 200
I shot the first roll of photographic film with the Vivitar V3800N SLR. It is a roll of Agfa Aviphot Pan ISO 200.
Then I developed the film (in the AP Compact developing tank). I used a Rodinal clone developer: 1+50 (i.e. 1/50 ratio by volume), 12 min at 25°C.
Overall, the film developed well. Although there were some flaws as I didn't have any experience with this type of developing tank. Some images have "spots/stains" that are the result of the film being in contact with itself.
(the Pentax K 30/2.8 at f/4)
Other images are good.
(the Pentax K 55/1.8 at f/8)
(the Pentax K 55/1.8 at f/4)
The Vivitar camera (the light meter, the shutter) works well, but some of the gaps between frames of the film were unexpectedly large. I don't know the reason yet.
I also tried to overexpose the film a bit. Especially since the shortest shutter speed of 1/2000 is not fast enough outdoors at ISO 200. This forced me to use a ND 4x filter for some shots. I would prefer an ISO 25/50 film.
Anyway, shooting B&W film with a simple camera and developing it at home turned out to be fun.
See also related notes:
- AP Compact: Developing tank (2x135, 1x120, etc.) (2024-04-24)
- Vivitar V3800N: Film SLR camera with Pentax K mount (2024-04-20)
Image albums:
2024-05-05
2024-05-04
Samsung NX 45/1.8: Samples [1] - APS-C
Photos taken with the Samsung NX300M (1.5x crop factor, 20MP), the Samsung NX500 (1.5x crop factor, 28MP), and the Samsung NX 45/1.8 at f/1.8-2. The profiled lens (distortion) correction is disabled.
(NX300M, f/1.8)
(NX500, f/1.8)
(NX300M, f/1.8)
(NX500, f/1.8)
(NX500, f/2)
(NX500, f/2)
(NX500, f/2)
2024-05-03
Poor extension tubes (MF Sony FE)
This are typical Chinese non-electronic extension tubes. They come in many variations with different mounts.
There are two main parts: one with a camera mount, the other with a lens mount. In this case, both are Sony FE mounts. No electronic contacts, of course.
These parts have threads. Looks like M57x0.75, but I could be wrong.
And there are three intermediate tubes with the same threads. They are marked with the numbers 1, 2, 3.
It is possible to use these tubes to get the desired total length.
The shortest option uses the mount parts without intermediate tube.
The longest option uses the mount parts with all three intermediate tubes. The total (i.e. maximum) length is 64.3mm.
The extension tubes have few disadvantages.
1. The lens orientation relative to the camera changes depending on the intermediate tubes, and it is always wrong.
2. I don't know about other mounts, but the lenses have a lot of play on the Sony FE lens mount part. For example, with the Samyang 35/2.8 FE lens. It is just for demonstration, this lens doesn't work with the tube.
It is very annoying. I tried these tubes to estimate the length for the desired magnification. But for regular use I would prefer other tubes.
2024-05-02
Steinheil Quinon 50/2 (M39x1/44): "Planar" version
I bought a broken Braun Super Paxette II BL camera, but the purpose of the purchase was the four lenses that came with the camera. The first one is the Staeble-Telexon 135/3.8. The second is the Staeble-Lineogon 35/3.5. The third is the Steinheil München Quinon 1:2 f=50mm.
This is a lens from the late 1950s. There is an advertisement from 1957 February:
There were two M39x1 versions of the Quinon 50/2. The first was for the Leica M39x1/28.8:
This is a lens of the Sonnar (Sonnare) family: 7 elements in 3 groups. This lens is quite expensive today.
My Quinon 50/2 is a different version, it is actually M39x1/44 (for a Paxette camera). It has 6 elements in 4 groups.
It is an evolution of a Double Gauss: an asymmetric Planar (also known as Biotar or Xenon).
(similar optical design)
This Planar (Paxette) version is much cheaper than the Sonnar (Leica) version.
The rear part is protruding:
I think it is because of the 50 (52) mm focal length instead of the more common 58mm of SLR Biotar lenses.
The aperture has 12 blades:
The aperture ring has click stops at f/2, f/2.8, f/4, f/5,6, f/8, f/11, f/16.
The filter thread is 40.5mm. The front part of the lens (with the filter thread) rotates during focusing. The minimum focusing distance is about 1m. The front (threaded) part doesn't rotate when the aperture is changed.
So now I have 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm lenses for a Paxette camera. The only pity is that it is impossible to use this Quinon 50/2 with a Pentax K-mount SLR (and I mean a film SLR first).
See also related notes:
- Filter thread: 40.5x0.5 vs 40.5x0.75 (2024-09-13)
- Steinheil Quinon 50/2: Samples [2] - FF - f/2 (2024-09-02)
- Meyer-Optik Helioplan 40/4.5 (M42x1/45.5): Simple dialyte lens (2024-05-09)
- Steinheil Quinon 50/2: Samples [1] - FF (2024-05-07)
Image albums:
2024-05-01
Staeble-Lineogon 35/3.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/3.5
Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Staeble-Lineogon 35/3.5 at f/3.5.
See also related notes:
Image albums:
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