Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens: Viltrox AF 20/2.8 at f/2.8
The profiled lens (distortion/vignetting) correction is disabled.
See also related notes:
Image albums:
2024-09-05
External optical viewfinder (35mm)
A modern external optical viewfinder (35mm FOV):
For mounting in a camera shoe.
It is made in China and quite cheap. Expect it to be all plastic. I think even the optical elements are some kind of plastic.
I tried it a little. Unfortunately, while the image is quite good, the frame limit is not clear, it depends on the position of the eye relative to the viewfinder.
Also, it is difficult to mount the viewfinder in the shoe of some old cameras. It looks like the adapter part of the viewfinder is too wide.
2024-09-03
Far Manager vs Midnight Commander: Keyboard shortcuts
For many years I used file managers with two-panel (usually text-based) user interfaces. Starting with the classic Norton Commander, then Volkov Commander, File Commander/2 (for OS/2), and even muCommander (for macOS).
And today I still use Far Manager (for Windows) and Midnight Commander (for Linux).
I have prepared a keyboard shortcut memo for frequently used actions.
Far Manager vs Midnight Commander
Find file (in tree): Alt-F7 vs Meta-?
Find file (in panel): Alt+... vs Meta-s (or Ctrl-s)
Paste panel path: Ctrl+[ (left) Ctrl+] (right) vs Meta-a (active) Meta+A (inactive)
Paste file name: Ctrl+Enter vs Meta+Enter
Paste file path+name: Ctrl+F vs Ctrl+Shift+Enter
Previous command: Ctrl+E vs Meta-p
Next command: Ctrl+X vs vs Meta-n
Command history: Alt+F8 vs Meta-h
Directory history: Alt+F12 vs Meta+H
File attributes (chmod): Ctrl+A vs Ctrl-x c
Change another panel to the same directory: Alt-F1/F2 and select disk vs Meta-i
Reread/refresh panel: Ctrl+R vs Ctrl+r
Show directory size (short): F3 vs Ctrl+Space
Show directory size (detail): Ctrl-Q vs Ctrl+x i
Hide panels: Ctrl+O vs Ctrl+o
To enter Meta combinations, I prefer to use the Esc key instead of the Alt modifier key.
Also, Esc followed by a number key ("1", "2"..."9", "0") works as F1-F10 in Linux. This is very useful for those awful modern notebook keyboards.
2024-09-02
Steinheil Quinon 50/2: Samples [2] - FF - f/2
Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens: Steinheil Quinon 50/2 at f/2
2024-08-31
Viltrox AF 20/2.8 (FE): Ultra wide angle autofocus lens
Without a fisheye lens, the widest lens I own for FF has a focal length of 28mm (the Pentax K 28/3.5). My experience with the Pentax DA 14/2.8 (for APS-C, 21mm equivalent) and the Samsung NX 16/2.4 (for APS-C, 24mm equivalent) has shown that I generally do not need such a wide angle. But sometimes there are tasks where an ultra wide angle lens (24mm or wider) could be useful.
I would prefer an old manual focus 20mm/24mm lens made for film cameras, but they are too expensive and the image quality is usually not very good. So I decided to buy a modern, inexpensive autofocus lens (for Sony FE). This is the Viltrox AF 20/2.8 FE.
It costs me about $110. And it is my second autofocus lens for Sony (after the Samyang AF 25/2.8).
The Viltrox AF 20/2.8 is quite compact (for 20mm) and light. The filter thread is 52mm.
The lens has 10 elements in 8 groups:
The aperture has 7 blades.
The maximum magnification is 0.17x (as mentioned, I didn't check it).
It comes with a removable hood (PL-56).
But in my opinion the hood is impractical and useless. So I removed it from the lens and don't use it at all.
Overall, it is a nice lens. It works well. The image quality is also good (as expected for a modern lens).
See also related notes:
- Viltrox AF 20/2.8: Firmware update (V1.1.2) (2024-11-16)
- My AF lenses for Sony FE (2024-10) (2024-10-07)
- Viltrox AF 20/2.8: Samples [1] - FF - f/2.8 (2024-09-08)
Image albums:
2024-08-30
Kenda 28/29x1.9-2.35 tube
After the tire (and the inner tube) got punctured, I glued the tube and bought a spare inner tube.
This time it is a rather heavy Kenda 28/29x1.9-2.35 tube. It weighs 256 grams by my measurement. While the Kenda 29x1.9/2.3 Super Lite weighs about 178-188 grams.
See also related notes:
- 29x2.1 wheels: First puncture (2024-08-07)
- Kenda 29x1.9/2.3 Super Lite tubes (2024-06-05)
Image albums:
2024-08-28
Angarsk: 4 photo cards from around 1966
A set of Angarsk photos of unknown origin from around 1966 (or later): 4 photos. And there are also my photos of the same places (August 2024).
Disclaimer: My photographs are nothing more than a documentation of reality.
1.
This is a standard architectural project of a school of that time. There are several very similar schools, but the surrounding objects are different from the picture. The reason is simple: the picture is horizontally mirrored.
The right version:
2.
The movie theater helps to determine the time period. There are two movie posters:
"Девушка из джунглей": Das Mädchen aus dem Dschungel/The girl from the jungle (East Germany).
"Стряпуха": Stryapukha/The cook (USSR).
Both movies were released in the USSR in 1966. See also the set of photos from 1966 (or later).
By the way, today there is no movie theater in the building for many years.
3
.
4.
See also related notes:
Image albums:
2024-08-27
My triplet lenses (2024-08)
These are triplet (3 element) lenses that I own:
From left to right:
See also related notes:
- Staeble-Kata E 45/2.8 (M39x1/44): Standard triplet for Braun Super Paxette II (2024-06-24)
- ISCO Iscovitar 50/2.8 (M42x1/45.5): Triplet with simple focusing mechanism (2024-05-21)
- Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5 (M39x1/44): Very rare wide-angle triplet (2023-10-05)
- Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9 (M40x1): Uncoated triplet from 1940s (2023-07-24)
2024-08-26
SZ Viewer A1-2024-08-26 (Android)
SZ Viewer (Android) changes:
1. Faster "Clear DTC Code" action in the "DTC" tab.
2. Support for D13A engine control module (1.3 DDiS, Suzuki Swift AZG413D).
3. Support for ABS/ESP control module 52129438AC (Jeep Cherokee/Liberty KJ).
2024-08-25
Pentax K 35/3.5: Samples [2] - APS-C - f/3.5
Camera: Pentax K-m (1.5x crop factor, 10MP)
Lens: Pentax K 35/3.5 at f/3.5
See also related notes:
Image albums:
2024-08-23
Samyang Remaster Slim
New Samyang Remaster Slim AF module (for Sony FE mount).
The RS AF module itself contains only electronics and mechanics for AF without optical elements.
And there are three dedicated optical modules-lenses: 21/3.5, 28/3.5, 32/2.8. The optical modules can be changed quickly on the RS AF module.
2024-08-20
"Zoom View Finder 1.08-1.60x": Using for the Pentax K-m
Finally, I attached the "Zoom View Finder" magnifier to the Pentax K-m (I bought the magnifier for this camera).
The main disadvantage is that you have to adjust the diopter after changing the zoom factor. So you cannot use the magnifier with a camera that does not have a diopter adjustment.
With the magnifier, I cannot see the Pentax K-m viewfinder at a glance. I have to move my eye to see the whole frame and viewfinder information.
The good thing is that the magnifier really helps with manual focusing, even with the Pentax K-m's rather poor viewfinder. Of course, it is not at the level of a good film camera or a modern mirrorless camera.
See also related notes:
- "Zoom View Finder 1.08-1.60x" magnifier. (2024-04-11)
- Pentax K-m: Manual focus lenses (2024-01-23)
- Pentax K-m: 10MP CCD DSLR (2023-12-23)
Image albums:
2024-08-18
Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II: Samples [2] - FF - f/1.4
Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens: Cheecar FF 35/1.4 II at f/1.4
2024-08-17
M39x1/45.2 film SLR cameras
Film SLR cameras with the M39x1/45.2 mount:
Зенит (Zenit/Zenith), 1952-1956
Зенит-C (Zenit/Zenith-S), 1955-1961
Зенит-3 (Zenit/Zenith-3), 1960-1962
Кристалл (Kristall/Crystal), 1961-1962
Зенит-3М (Zenit/Zenith-3M), 1962-1970
Зенит-Е (Zenit/Zenith-E), earlier versions, 1965-1967
Film SLR cameras with an M39x1/45.2 adapter available:
Старт (Start), 1958-1964
Зенит-7 (Zenit/Zenith-7), 1967-1971
See also related notes:
- Zenit-3M: M39x1/45.2 SLR (2025-08-29)
- Zenit-S: film SLR camera (2025-03-31)
- USSR film still camera mounts (2024-07-16)
2024-08-15
Staeble-Kata E 45/2.8 and Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6: Lens cap replacement
The Staeble-Kata E 45/2.8 and the Staeble-Telexon E 85/5.6 not only look similar, but also use the same size caps.
I already have experience with universal caps, so this time I bought other ones: FH-34/F34 (34mm inner diameter).
The caps fit both Staeble-Kata and Staeble-Telexon lenses.
See also related notes:
2024-08-14
Jeep Cherokee KJ: OEM front ABS sensor and Iljin hub
After reading DTCs from the ABS control module on my Jeep Cherokee KJ, I found that the front right ABS sensor has failed. I decided to replace it with a used OEM ABS sensor.
Overall, it is a fairly simple job. But there were some tasks to solve.
1. Both Iljin ABS sensors are mounted with pentagon bolts (instead of the usual hex bolts):
To remove the bolt, I used a T30 Torx bit.
To mount a sensor after that, I used the OEM hex bolt (with H5 hex head).
2. An ABS sensor was stuck. It was difficult to remove. And I broke its plastic body:
To remove the broken remaining part, I used a screw. Sometimes it is better to heat a screw before screwing it into the plastic fragment to be extracted.
The plastic fragment was completely removed with pliers.
Since I added this ABS control module support to SZ Viewer, it was nice to check the OEM sensor right away.
The sensor obviously reacts to metal:
But when I mounted the sensor and tried to drive, there was no data from the sensor:
At least the C1015 DTC was gone. This means that the ABS sensor circuit is fine.
Later I found claims that the OEM front sensors (52128694AF and 52128695AF) don't work with the Iljin front hubs (IJ123040, IJ123093) because of the different body shape of the sensors! This seems to be true.
Of course it is impossible to find Iljin sensors as dedicated parts. Looks like I have to replace the front right hub assembly. Once again (after about 80000 km).
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