Search in the blog:

2025-01-12

Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018): OEM (WTB) saddle troubles

When I started riding my Cannondale Cujo 1 (2018), I noticed that my pants were wearing out and tearing at a higher rate.

The tear looks like this:




I think it is because of the grooves on the saddle (OEM WTB).




The grooves are notches with sharp edges. They act like the teeth of a file. Note that the tear is higher on the right side.

I decided to replace the saddle to save the following pants.



See also related notes:
Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 20:27 0 comments

2025-01-11

RockStar/AstrHori 35/1.8: Samples [2] - FF - f/1.8

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)

The lens could be very interesting for me, but unfortunately the color rendition is very poor. It is very difficult to get natural colors, at least with my Sony a7c. Could this be a lens for black and white photography? 








Posted by malykh в 17:46 0 comments

2025-01-10

Zorki-6: Rangefinder film camera (another copy)

The Zorki-6 is obviously not a great rangefinder camera. But it is simple and quite reliable for a camera from the USSR. The main problem is the age of the copies. The Zorki-6 cameras were made in the years 1959-1966: about 60 years ago. Being a cheap camera, it's often not well maintained.

My first copy had some shutter problems, so I returned it to the seller. And in 2024 I bought another one:




This copy is much better. It works pretty well. As I recommended, it is the 1964-1966 version.

Posted by malykh в 19:17 0 comments

2025-01-08

SZ Viewer W1-2025-01-08 (Windows), L1-2025-01-08 (Linux)

SZ Viewer (Windows, Linux) changes:

1. Support for D16A engine control module 33980-55P2*/33920-55P0 (1.6 DDiS diesel engine of FIAT origin).



See also related notes:
Posted by malykh в 10:14 0 comments

2025-01-07

SZ Viewer A1-2025-01-07 (Android)


1. Support for D16A engine control module 33980-55P2*/33920-55P0 (1.6 DDiS diesel engine of FIAT origin).



See also related notes:
Posted by malykh в 09:26 0 comments

2025-01-05

Thuraya-4 launched

Thuraya-4 has launched yesterday

===
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 sends up Thuraya 4 for the first launch of the new year

Success for SpaceX as Falcon 9 launched the Space42 Thuraya 4 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 8:27 p.m. ET. This was the first launch for Falcon 9 in the new year, and was the 20th flight and recovery for this Falcon 9 first stage booster, and SpaceX’s 341st recovery of an orbital-class rocket.


===



See also related notes:
Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 08:49 0 comments

2025-01-04

Risespray 11/2.8 Fisheye: Samples [3] - FF - f/2.8

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens: Risespray 11/2.8 at f/2.8








Posted by malykh в 17:38 0 comments

2024-12-30

R.I.P. SZ Viewer A1

I have decided to stop releasing the Android version of SZ Viewer (SZ Viewer A1) to the public after February 2025.

Currently, I distribute SZ Viewer A1 only through Google Play.  However, I don't want to verify my developer account as required by Google because it asks for too much personal information to be displayed to users. So my developer account will be removed after 27 February 2025.




At the same time, I have no plans to distribute SZ Viewer A1 as public APK files.

I might release a version of SZ Viewer A1 (in Google Play) before the deadline. But I am not sure. I'm very tired of SZ Viewer after 11 years: I spent a lot of time and resources with no profit and no prospects. It's time to get rid of the dead weight.



See also related notes:
Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 00:30 10 comments

2024-12-28

Gyroflow v1.6: Important update for Sony cameras

The new v1.6 of Gyroflow offers very important features for Sony cameras (including my Sony a7c):

1. It supports IBIS data and lens profiles. So it is possible to record video with IBIS enabled and stabilize it with Gyroflow. Previously, you had to turn off IBIS to work with Gyroflow.




I have already tested it and it works fine. But the preview in Gyroflow with IBIS enabled video is much worse than the rendered result! There is a lot of jitter in the preview that is not present in the result. As far as I understand, the preview doesn't take into account the sensor movements made by IBIS. Anyway, this is a great feature.

2. Gyroflow automatically sets the frame readout time, which is important for rolling shutter correction. At least for the Sony a7c, Gyroflow uses values very close to my measurements.



Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 13:53 0 comments

2024-12-22

Scala+Gradle: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 vs 5700X

Scala+Gradle: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 vs 5700X

My other CPU comparison: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 (very similar to 3700X, Zen 2 based, 8 cores, 3.6/4.4GHz) vs AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (Zen 3 based, 8 cores, 3.4/4.6GHz). The previous comparison was done in the raw image processing program ART.




This time I compared the build time of a Scala project using Gradle (64-bit Java 1.8.0_221). The project is not too big, but it uses macros which slow down the build a lot.

Source lines of code (without blank and comment, calculated with cloc):
Java: 71653 (most of them auto-generated)
Scala: 39151

Java: Oracle JDK 1.8.0_221 (64-bit Server VM)
Scala: 3.3.3
Gradle: 8.11.1

Build time (best result of several attempts):

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700: 55-56 seconds
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X: 49-50 seconds

The performance gain is again around 14-15%.



See also related notes:
Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 11:38 0 comments

2024-12-10

Pentax K 55/1.8: Samples [2] - FF - f/1.8

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens:  Pentax K 55/1.8 at f/1.8











See also related notes:
Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 11:59 0 comments

2024-12-08

Thuraya (2024 state)

At the beginning of 2024, there were two operational Thuraya satellites: Thuraya-2 and Thuraya-3. Unfortunately, the Thuraya-3 satellite was out of service in the spring of 2024. Today, only Thuraya-2 is operational.

This is very bad for Thuraya users in the eastern and northeastern regions. While Thuraya has tried to reconfigure the network to force Thuraya-2 to work in these regions, the network connection may be very poor (SMS only) or non-existent due to the low elevation angle (<10-20°) of the satellite.

You can estimate the actual elevation angle and direction to the Thuraya-2 in your location on the service: https://www.n2yo.com/?s=27825

The launch of the new Thuraya-4 satellite is planned for December 2024. However, the Thuraya-4 is intended to replace the Thuraya-2, so it is not clear if and how soon it will help improve connectivity in the affected regions.



See also related notes:
Posted by malykh в 10:01 0 comments

2024-12-07

SZ Viewer W1-2024-12-07 (Windows), L1-2024-12-07 (Linux)

SZ Viewer (Windows, Linux) changes:

1. Added support for some modules (D13A engine,  ABS/ESP control module 52129438AC).

2. Minor UI changes.

Posted by malykh в 13:47 3 comments

2024-12-06

Scala 3: How to disable significant indentation (Gradle)

Overall, I like the changes in Scala 3. Most of them are actually simplify Scala programming. But I hate significant indentation (indentation-based syntax).

Meanwhile, I have become friends with Haskell's indentation-based syntax, but Scala's significant indentation made the syntax very fragile. It is very annoying.

So I disable significant indentation whenever possible. (With Scala 3) I use Gradle instead of sbt. To turn off significant indentation in a Gradle project:

tasks.withType(ScalaCompile) {
    // disable significant indentation
    scalaCompileOptions.additionalParameters = ['-no-indent']
}

Anyway, programming in Scala 3 tends to make me use braces (curly brackets) even more (in a Rust-way).

Posted by malykh в 14:09 0 comments

2024-12-04

Pentax M 100/4 Macro: Samples [2] - FF - f/4

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)










See also related notes:
Posted by malykh в 18:24 0 comments

2024-11-30

ART: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 vs 5700X

I use the ART raw image processing program. And its speed is important to me.

Recently I changed my CPU: I replaced an AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 (very similar to 3700X, Zen 2 based, 8 cores, 3.6/4.4GHz) with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (Zen 3 based, 8 cores, 3.4/4.6GHz).




I wanted to measure the speed difference in ART. So I prepared a 3.5GB image set: 107 raw files (ARWs from the Sony a7c and DNGs from the Ricoh GR).  I used optimized versions of ART: 1.24.1-14-g3eebab7b1 (Znver2 - optimized for Zen 2) and 24.1-14-g3eebab7b1 (Znver3 - optimized for Zen 3).

Best times (more images per minute is better):

PRO 3700 & Znver2: (377s) ~17.1 images per minute
PRO 3700 & Znver3: (379s) ~16.9 images per minute (just for reference)

5700X & Znver2: (330s) ~19.6 image per minute
5700X & Znver3: (330s) ~19.6 image per minute

So the performance gain is about 14-15%.



Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 19:32 0 comments

2024-11-25

Film camera shutter test

There is a well-known way to test the shutter speeds of a film camera:



It involves using the film camera body as an "external shutter" for a digital camera with a lens. So you can take test pictures with the shutter of the digital camera and then compare the brightness of the pictures with those taken with the shutter of the film camera.

The distinction is whether you place the front of the film camera body or the back of the film camera body in front of the digital camera lens.

I prefer to put the front of the film camera body in front of the digital camera lens. I also use a reverse "macro" adapter/ring to couple the film camera and lens together.

I don't change the aperture during testing. Faster speed is used with higher ISO.

Posted by malykh в 16:09 0 comments

2024-11-24

Renault E-Tech 1.6 Hybrid deadly trouble

The Renault E-Tech Hybrid based on a 1.6l H4M (HR16DE) engine and a DB1 gearbox, has the problem that Renault failed to mention. A seal in the gearbox is badly made and oil leaks internally. At best, the temperature sensor is broken, but the electric motor can also fail and immobilize the vehicle.






In some countries, Renault denies the trouble and you should repair the car at your own expense (and replacing the gearbox is very expensive).

I wouldn't recommend buying a E-Tech hybrid Renault until the recall is initiated by Renault (if they do it at all).



Image albums:
Posted by malykh в 09:03 0 comments

2024-11-23

Developing a color C-41 film as a B&W negative

I wondered what would happen if I developed a color negative film as a black and white negative?

So I bought a "classic" Kodak Gold ISO 200 film:




It is in good, fresh condition (to be developed before 11/2025).




It was originally intended for C-41 processing. But after shooting I developed it as a B&W negative film: 5ml Rodinal clone and 500ml water (very diluted solution 1:100) and stand developed for one hour. And then the usual (sodium thiosulfate based) fixer. There was no bleaching step in the process.

Surprisingly, there are some pictures on the film:




Of course, there is the expected red tint (due to the mask) and the negatives are slightly dark. But I successfully digitized the film with a digital camera.

Film: Kodak Gold ISO 200 (C-41), exposed as ISO100-200, developed as a B&W negative film.
Lens: Pentax K 30/2.8 at f/2.8-5.6








Posted by malykh в 10:44 0 comments

2024-11-16

Viltrox AF 20/2.8: Firmware update (V1.1.2)

As mentioned before, I have only two electronic (AF) lenses with Sony FE/E mount: the Samyang AF 35/2.8 and the Viltrox AF 20/2.8.

It is not possible to update their firmware directly with a Sony camera.

To update the Samyang firmware, you need a docking station (or find someone who has one). So I am still using the outdated v.04 firmware (while v.08 is available).

Meanwhile, the Viltrox AF 20/2.8 has the USB-C port on the mount flange.




And the firmware can be updated by copying the file to a virtual disk. A nice solution.

The lens information on my Sony a7c shows version 01:




The real version information from the virtual DeviceInformation.txt file:




My lens already has the current firmware version V1.1.2 installed.



See also related notes:
Posted by malykh в 20:53 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Blog Archive