malykh.com notes

2024-06-10

Pentax K 28/3.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/3.5

Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Pentax K 28/3.5 at f/3.5.

See also related notes:

Pentax K 28/3.5, K 30/2.8, K 35/3.5: опять к старой теме (2022-05-22)

Image albums:

Pentax K 28/3.5

2024-06-09

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5: Maintenance of my copy

When I first started using the Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5, I noticed that it could not focus further than about 1 meter. I even thought that my way of adapting M40x1/44 lenses was wrong.

But then I compared the appearance of my copy and other copies (found on the Internet). And the optical unit of my lens is moved forward even when focusing to infinity.

Obviously, the lens was assembled incorrectly, so I partially disassembled the lens to fix it.

First I found the right start of the multi-start thread of the helicoid. This made it possible to focus to infinity, but also to focus beyond infinity.

Second, I found the right number of turns of the single-start thread of the helicoid. This allowed the lens to focus properly.

The lens after these corrections:

The part with the focus limiters:

Looks like someone removed the close focus limiter. Now the lens can focus much closer than 0.6-0.7m.

This copy also allows the aperture ring to be turned beyond f/3.5 (without actually changing the aperture).

I found some photos of lenses with the same behavior. I decided to keep it. It doesn't bother me because the aperture ring is pretty stiff to turn.

Now the lens is fully usable.

See also related notes:

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5 (M40x1): Uncoated (non-T) version (2024-05-30)
Praktiflex M40x1 lenses on modern cameras (2023-08-25)

Image albums:

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5

2024-06-08

Lenses from USSR (2024)

I have shot a lot with lenses made or designed in the USSR. I had different models: Индустары (Industars), Гелиосы (Helioses), Юпитеры (Jupiters), Миры (Mirs), Таиры (Tairs), Веги (Vegas), Зенитары (Zenitars), and even Вариозенитар (Variozenitar). But I am not a fan of them.

Now I have only a few 50mm Industars (26M, 50, 50-2 - all Tessar-like), just because they are too cheap to sell.

I use the Industar-50 (rangefinder M39x1/28.8 version, 1958) to check the adjustment of M39x1 adapters and cameras.

The main problem with USSR lenses is the high variance of copies, poor mechanics, and overall bad quality (latter ones are even worse). The only advantages for me were price and availability.

I don't plan to get any more USSR lenses.

See also related notes:

Filter thread: 40.5x0.5 vs 40.5x0.75 (2024-09-13)
Industar-26M 50/2.8: Samples [1] - FF - f/2.8 (2024-06-19)
Lenses I owned (2004-2024) (2024-06-17)

Image albums:

2024-06-07

Samsung NX 60/2.8 Macro: Samples [1] - APS-C - f/2.8, f/4, f/5

Photos taken with the Samsung NX20 (1.5x crop factor, 20MP), the Samsung NX300M (1.5x crop factor, 20MP), and the Samsung NX 60/2.8 Macro at f/2.8, f/4, f/5. The profiled lens (distortion) correction is disabled.

(NX300M, f/2.8)

(NX20, f/2.8)

(NX20, f/4)

(NX20, f/2.8)

(NX300M, f/5)

(NX300M, f/2.8)

See also related notes:

Samsung NX 60mm f/2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA: мои впечатления (2014-04-28)

Image albums:

Samsung NX 60/2.8 Macro

2024-06-06

Pentax Auto Extension Tube Set K: Tube #3 (26mm)

Chinese extension tubes for Sony FE (MF) are very poor and almost unusable. Their only purpose is to estimate the needed tube length. And after some estimation, I decided to find an original Pentax extension tube.

The difference is that a Chinese tube is mounted between the camera and a Pentax K - Sony FE adapter, while a Pentax tube is mounted between a Pentax K - Sony FE adapter and a Pentax lens.

This is the extension tube #3 of the Pentax Auto Extension Tube Set K.

The set contains 12, 19, 26mm tubes. So this tube #3 is 26mm long. It is enough for my tasks.

This set is called "Auto" because it supports the stop-down indicator and aperture control of the Pentax K mount (only mechanical, there is no electronic).

This means that I can control the aperture with a Pentax K - Sony FE adapter (model 1, model 2). It is very convenient for open aperture focusing.

See also related notes:

Pentax M 50/4 Macro + 26mm extension tube (2024-06-21)

Image albums:

Lens accessories

2024-06-05

Kenda 29x1.9/2.3 Super Lite tubes

This is the first step to 29x2.1 wheels for my Cannondale Cujo 1.

Kenda 29x1.9/2.3 Super Lite bike inner tubes:

Tubes like these are what I use now: Kenda Super Lite 27.5x3.0.

I weighed these new 29" tubes (with a valve cap): 188g, 188g, 178g. Almost 100g lighter than the Super Lite 27.5x3.0.

See also related notes:

Kenda 28/29x1.9-2.35 tube (2024-08-30)
29x2.1 wheels: First puncture (2024-08-07)
Cannondale Cujo 1: 29x2.1 wheels mounted (2024-07-13)
Koozer XM1850 (622x27) wheelset (2024-06-29)
Kenda Small Block Eight 29x2.1 tires (2024-06-23)

Image albums:

Bicycle

2024-06-04

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/3.5

Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5 at f/3.5.

See also related notes:

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5 (M40x1): Uncoated (non-T) version (2024-05-30)

Image albums:

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5

2024-06-03

Olympus E-PL1 shutter count

How to see shutter count on E-PL1

===

This is how to see shutter count on E-PL1:

Camera should be off, then:

1. press and hold the menu button and then press power on

2. enter menu and go to lcd brightness menu

3. press "info", then "ok",

4. repeat step 3 one more time, olympus interface info will appear (

5. press in sequence... up, down, left, right, shutter, up

6. voila! shutter count is in page 2 (R = xxxxx)

===

My copy:

R : 005982 (shutter count)

It is noteworthy that IBIS is broken with such a small shutter count. This is a common problem with Olympus cameras.

See also related notes:

Olympus E-PL1: Malfunctions (2024-03-22)
Olympus E-PL1: Micro 4/3 mirrorless camera (from 2010) (2024-02-29)

Image albums:

Olympus E-PL1

2024-06-02

[SMC] Pentax FA 43/1.9 Limited: Two versions

Information about two versions of the [SMC] Pentax FA 43/1.9, both made in Japan: http://stevenlinss.blogspot.com/2014/10/pentax-fa-4319-limited.html (In Chinese), English translation .

Image albums:

Pentax Limited

2024-06-01

Pentax K 35/3.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/3.5

Photos taken with the Sony a7c (FF, 24MP) and the Pentax K 35/3.5 at f/3.5.

See also related notes:

Pentax K 35/3.5 lens (K): Retrofocus wide-angle Tessar (2024-02-23)

Image albums:

Pentax K 35/3.5

2024-05-31

Old service manual and VirtualBox (again)

A Suzuki Grand Vitara service manual (I needed it for ECM pinout) is made using 15 year old technology (bundle of HTML files) instead of a plain PDF (portable through time). Same case as the Jeep KJ 2007 service manual. And again, I use Windows XP (with its MS IE browser) running in VirtualBox.

This is the easiest way for me. And it works.

See also related notes:

Suzuki N32 (Grand Vitara JB632W) ECM pinout (2024-05-23)
Инструкция по ремонту KJ в Windows XP (2022-11-21)

Image albums:

2024-05-30

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5 (M40x1): Uncoated (non-T) version

I already have a lens for the old M40x1 SLR mount (Praktiflex). It is a triplet called the Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9. I was thinking about a Tessar for the M40x1, but usually these are coated versions (with a red T mark). In the end I chose such the Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3,5 f=5cm:

As you can see, there is no red T mark. So there is no lens coating (or at least I don't see it).

According to the serial number, the lens was made around 1945-1947. So it is as old as the mentioned Victar. These two are my oldest lenses. And both have no lens coating.

The main difference is of course the optical design. The Victar is a triplet. The Tessar is "surprisingly" a Tessar. Today the Tessar is a trademark, not related to the optical design.

The Tessar 50/3.5 has 4 elements in 3 groups.

The aperture has 14 blades.

That is a lot for a 50mm lens! Practically round shape at any aperture.

The aperture ring has no clicks, it turns smoothly (from f/3.5 to f/22).

Although it was a budget lens, the focusing mechanism was quite advanced. The front (threaded) part doesn't rotate when focusing or changing the aperture.

The minimum focusing distance is about 0.6-0.7m according to the scale. But my copy can focus much closer, I think the copy is modified.

Comparison of the Tessar (in the center) with the Industar-50 50/3.5 SLR M39x1 (on the left) and the Industar-50-2 50/3.5 SLR M42x1 (on the right):

The Industars (Tessar-like USSR lens series) are much cheaper: fewer aperture blades and simpler focusing design. The Tessar is much nicer to use. Maybe the rarer Industar-22 50/3.5 (unfoldable M39x1 version for SLR) is closer to the Tessar.

See also related notes:

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 40/4.5 (M42x1): Non-retrofocus lens (2025-06-21)
Lenses for the Praktiflex and Praktica (PDF) (2025-06-03)
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5: Maintenance of my copy (2024-06-09)
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/3.5 (2024-06-04)

Image albums:

2024-05-29

Helios-40 85/1.5: Samples [1] - APS-C - f/1.5

Photos taken with the Samsung NX10 (1.5x crop factor, 14.6MP), the Samsung NX2000 (1.5x crop factor, 20MP), and the Helios-40 85/1.5 at f/1.5.

(NX2000)

(NX10)

It is possible to focus to infinity with the M39x1-M39x1 16.4mm extension tube and a M39x1/28.8 adapter. But 1/4000 (the limit of these NX cameras) is not enough for outdoor use at f1/5 without blowing highlights: