End of my control over tonigy.com

I registered my oldest domain, tonigy.com, in March 2001. The Tonigy software is long outdated, but I still keep the domain and the almost original website.

However, I have decided not to renew the tonigy.com domain in March 2025. So the domain will soon have nothing to do with me.

If you want to download the final version of Tonigy and get the free registration key, visit https://malykh.com/soft/tonigy/ 

I have set up a redirect from tonigy.com to https://malykh.com/soft/tonigy/

Also note that the source code of Tonigy is available since December 2023.

See also related notes:

• Tonigy source code [OS/2, 2001-2002] (2023-12-03)
• Tonigy 20+ лет (2021-12-03)

SZ Viewer A1: That's all Folks

My developer profile and SZ Viewer A1 app have been removed from Google Play as promised.

I haven't distributed SZ Viewer A1 as APK files since 2022. APK files you find on websites may contain malware. So I strongly recommend to switch to another application.

See also related notes:

• R.I.P. SZ Viewer A1 (2024-12-30)

Image albums:

• Internet

SZ Viewer A1: Final Google Play statistics

The final statistics of SZ Viewer A1 according to Google Play.

Top "installed audience" of all time: 31734 users (in September 2024)

Top "install base" of all time: 36589 devices (in September 2024)

Google Play ratings by country (top 10):

Australia: 5

Georgia: 5

Netherlands: 5

Taiwan: 5

Germany: 4.9

Sri Lanka: 4.9

Indonesia: 4.9

Thailand: 4.9

Poland: 4.8

Brazil: 4.8

...

All countries / regions: 4.5

Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Firmware update

The Viltrox AF 28/4.5 has a USB-C port on its flange.

I expected to be able to update the firmware using the USB-C port (like the Viltrox 20/2.8). However, when I connected the 28/4.5 to a PC, no new devices were detected. In fact, I was beginning to think the lens was broken.

I also noticed that there are no firmware files to download, just links to the App Store and Google Play. 

Yes, this lens updates its firmware via Bluetooth with a mobile application. The USB-C port is for powering the lens during the update.

I successfully updated the firmware from v1.05 to v1.06 using Viltrox Lens application for Android:

I dislike using a mobile application to control hardware. Are you sure that the application will still be available in a few years and that you can run it on modern mobile devices?

In addition, the Viltrox application requires you to create an account. The serial number of a lens is linked to your personal data in an unknown service. This can be used against you.

See also related notes:

• Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Firmware update (PC) (2025-07-21)

Image albums:

• Viltrox AF 28/4.5 FE

Samsung NX 50-200/4-5.6: Samples [1] - APS-C - 200mm

Camera: Samsung NX300M (1.5x crop factor, 20MP)

Lens: Samsung NX 50-200/4-5.6 at f/5.6-f/9, 200mm.

The profiled lens (distortion/vignetting) correction is disabled.

(see also Baikal chipmunks)

See also related notes:

• Бурундуки на Байкале (2015-08-14)
• Samsung NX 50-200/4-5.6 III ED OIS: впечатления (2014-01-31)

Image albums:

• Samsung NX 50-200/4-5.6

Pentax Q: Useless mirrorless camera

The Pentax Q series was a very strange line of mirrorless cameras. These cameras are based on small sensors: 1/2.3" (5.6x crop factor, 12MP) for the first Q and Q10 models and 1/1.7" (4.6x crop factor, 12MP) for the last Q7 and Q-S1 models.

The sensors are small even for [modern] mobile phones. For an interchangeable lens camera, the sensors are terrible. The next level is 1" sensors (Nikon 1 and Samsung NX mini), which have a 2.7x crop factor - much more in comparison.

I cannot recommend the Pentax Q camera for everyday use... But I bought a used Pentax Q (the first model with 1/2.3" sensor) with the 02 Standard Zoom Pentax Q 5-15/2.8-4.5 lens.

Of course, I tried the Pentax Q for usual shooting and I still don't understand who would want to use it nowadays. But my purpose is different, I just want to do some experiments.

See also related notes:

• Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens (2025-08-21)
• Pentax Q: Fujifilm NP-50 battery (2025-07-11)
• Pentax Q 05 18/8 Toy Lens Telephoto (2025-07-05)
• Pentax Q 04 6.3/7.1 Toy Lens Wide (2025-06-13)
• My digital cameras (2025-05) (2025-05-31)
• Pentax Q 03 3.2/5.6 Fish-eye (2025-05-23)
• Pentax Q: Non-electronic lens support (2025-04-07)
• Pentax Q: My experience (2025-03-05)

Image albums:

• Pentax Q (series)

DDR4 3000 vs DDR4 3600

I have upgraded my PC's memory. Out of interest, I repeated the tests.

Before: DDR4 32(16x2)GB 3000 CL16-17-17-36-69 1T (GDM on)

After: DDR4 64(16x4)GB 3600 CL16-20-20-39-83 1T (GDM on)

In the compile test, the difference is almost invisible. Maybe 1-3% performance gain.

In the ART/Raw test, the difference is noticeable, but quite small: about 6-7% performance gain.

See also related notes:

• Scala+Gradle: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 vs 5700X (2024-12-22)
• ART: AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700 vs 5700X (2024-11-30)

Sapphire Nitro/Nitro+ RX470/RX480 8GB SKUs

One of the differences between Sapphire Nitro and Sapphire Nitro+ (at least RX470/RX480 based) graphics cards is that Nitro+ cards have the dual BIOS switch: you can choose between faster ("Default") and slower ("Silent") modes.

Although the cards share the same name, there are some performance differences depending on the SKU.

Also note that the RX470 is part of the RX470-RX570-RX580 2048SP models (with 2048 stream processors). While the RX480 is part of the RX480-RX580-RX590 GME models (with 2304 stream processors).

Sapphire Nitro RX470 8GD5:

11256-17: Engine clock: 1140 (1236 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz

11256-26: Engine clock: 1140 (1216 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz

Sapphire Nitro+ RX470 8GD5:

11256-02: Engine clock: 1121 (1260 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  926 (1206 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"

11256-07: Engine clock: 1121 (1216 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  926 (1206 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"

11256-14: Engine clock: 1121 (1216 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz in "Default";  926 (1206 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 1750 MHz in "Silent"

Sapphire Nitro RX480 8GD5:

11260-20: Engine clock: 1202 (1306 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz

11260-23: Engine clock: 1202 (1276 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 1750 MHz

Sapphire Nitro+ RX480 8GD5:

11260-01: Engine clock: 1208 (1342 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  1120 (1266 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"

11260-07: Engine clock: 1208 (1306 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  1120 (1266 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"

11260-10: Engine clock: 1208 (1276 Boost) MHz, Memory clock: 2000 MHz in "Default";  1120 (1266 Boost) MHz, Memory clock 2000 MHz in "Silent"

My RX480 card is the Sapphire Nitro+ RX480 8GD5 with SKU 11260-01 (fastest version of the Sapphire Nitro+ RX480 8GD5).

See also related notes:

• Old graphics card for Gyroflow [RX480] (2025-01-26)

Sony a7c: Three years with the camera

I have had the Sony a7c FF mirrorless camera for 3 years. And I like it a lot! It is a very good camera, pleasant to use.

The best thing is the full frame sensor. Even though the sensor is rooted in the A7III (2018), its characteristics are still good. The resolution and the noise level are sufficient for most tasks.

The second best thing is the lack of a mirror, it is not an SLR. It is possible to mount a lot of lenses of different production time. Focusing via the display or the EVF is accurate. And there is an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with all lenses.

I like the look of the Sony a7c. It's closer to a rangefinder camera and doesn't look like an SLR with a pseudo-pentaprism cover. And the Sony a7c is quite compact for an FF camera.

The Sony a7c shoots a good 4K@24/25 video. And the recorded gyro data allows for strong video stabilization in post-production.

I am not considering about a new camera. The Sony a7cR is nice, but the sensor readout is too slow.

Overall, I would like to see a camera similar in size to the Sony a7c, but with a higher resolution sensor with a much faster readout. A global shutter is a dream, but today it is too expensive and worse in noise. And I want to a native low ISO (ISO50 or even lower).

See also related notes:

• Gyroflow v1.6: Important update for Sony cameras (2024-12-28)
• Sony a9 III: Full-frame with global shutter (2023-11-13)
• Sony a7c II and a7cR (2023-08-30)
• Sony a7c: видеовозможности (2022-06-08)
• Sony α7c (Alpha 7C, a7c) (2022-03-18)

Image albums:

• Sony a7c

Honda Two-Motor Hybrid-Electric Powertrain (2014-2024)

A brief description of Honda's two-motor hybrid powertrain (sometimes called i-MMD), all generation for the time: Honda Two-Motor Hybrid-Electric Powertrain

This article refers to the US market, but the general information is useful as well.

See also related notes:

• Honda i-MMD - "двухмоторный" гибрид Fit/Jazz e:hev (2021-04-18)

Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/4.5

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)

Lens: Viltrox AF 28/4.5 at f/4.5

When I started testing the Viltrox 28/4.5, I found a few more drawbacks. First, its minimum focusing distance (MFD) is quite long, making it unsuitable for macro-style photography. Second, it is prone to flare.

Due to a fake diaphragm there are some sunstars.

There is no profile embedded in the metadata of images taken with this lens. Ok, distortion is very low, but if someone wants to correct vignetting automatically? Only with an external profile. But after non-electronic MF lenses, it is not a problem for me.

See also related notes:

• Viltrox AF 28/4.5 (FE): Wide-angle pancake lens (2025-01-24)

Image albums:

• Viltrox AF 28/4.5 FE

Five-door Jimny for JDM

Finally, the five-door Suzuki Jimny is available for the Japanese domestic market (JDM) under the name Jimny Nomade.

It is still produced in India and then imported to Japan from India.

See also related notes:

• Five-door Jimny (introduced) (2023-01-13)

Image albums:

• Suzuki Jimny

Nokia 5.3 (2025-01)

The Nokia 5.3 is still with me. As I wrote before, only Android 11 is available for this phone.

Modern Android versions themselves are not necessary for me. But Google Play requires to update an application periodically. To update SZ Viewer A1 to target Android 13 and Android 14, I used other people's mobile devices. And it is not convenient, so I looked for a new mobile phone.

Fortunately, these updates don't bother me anymore. I can keep using the Nokia 5.3 and beyond.

See also related notes:

• Nokia 5.3: Broken (2025-03-25)

Zarya: Scale focus film camera with interchangeable lenses

I liked the FED-2 film camera, but the copy was not good. I was looking for a good FED-2 copy, but I found a Zarya (Заря, Dawn) camera:

It is a simplified version of the FED-2. It lacks of a self-timer and a rangefinder. Focusing is done by a distance scale. However, the Zarya has the M39x1/28.8 mount, so it is possible to use M39 rangefinder lenses (with scale focusing, of course).

The mechanics of the Zarya are very similar to the FED-2, but the appearance is quite different (and unusual for me). The viewfinder placement eliminates horizontal parallax. And the higher coldshoe allows for easier access to the shutter speed knob with an accessory attached.

The Zarya was produced between 1959 and 1961 (1959-1960 I think). So it has the modern shutter speed values: 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 (+Bulb).

The first digit of the Zarya's serial number stands for the year of production: 9 for 1959 or 0 for 1960. My copy is from early 1959, it has some specific early details (the viewfinder, the advance knob, the coldshoe, the film pressure plate).

Now I have two M39x1/28.8 film cameras: the Zorki-6 and the Zarya.

See also related notes:

• Certos rangefinder (A) (2025-08-15)
• Zarya: Details of the rare 1959 version (2025-05-19)
• Zenit-S: film SLR camera (2025-03-31)

Image albums:

• Zarya

Old graphics card for Gyroflow [RX480]

For several years I used a GeForce GT710 2GB based graphics card because there was no application for me that required a better graphics card.

But the great v1.6 of Gyroflow forced me to think about replacing the graphics card.

In total, Gyroflow can use the GPU for three stages:  video decoding, video processing, video encoding.

Note that video encoding with GPU is faster, but it can produce a worse result than CPU. But you can try to compensate it by increasing the bitrate.

On the GT710, GPU video decoding and GPU video encoding were slightly faster than CPU, but GPU video processing was slower than CPU! When I tested videos from my Sony a7c (4K@25fps), I could only get 2-3fps video rendering (GPU-CPU-GPU stages). This is very slow for practical use.

When I temporarily replaced the GT710 with a Radeon HD7770 card, I got 6-10fps (GPU-GPU-GPU stages). This is much better. But the HD7770 card only has 1GB of memory, which is generally not enough (even compared to 2GB).

So I bought another graphics card. This is a used Radeon RX480 8GB based card. I chose a Radeon card because of the problems with Nvidia drivers.

With the RX480 card I get 25+fps video rendering in Gyroflow (GPU-GPU-GPU). This is good enough for me.

And I have no problems with VirtualBox.

See also related notes:

• Sapphire Nitro/Nitro+ RX470/RX480 8GB SKUs (2025-02-08)

Image albums:

• Video

Viltrox AF 28/4.5 (FE): Wide-angle pancake lens

This is my third autofocus lens for the Sony a7c.

The Viltrox AF 28/4.5 (FE). It is a disputed lens, but I found it interesting.

The main attraction of this lens is its size. The lens is very small even for a pancake lens. However, it is an autofocus lens. Moreover, it is an autofocus only lens. There is no possibility of manual focus: no ring at all (not mechanical, not electrical).

Since this is a full frame lens, the 28mm focal length is practical for everyday use. It reminds me of the Ricoh GR, which I like.

The lens is quite slow: f/4.5. I find it tolerable for FF, because the APS-C equivalent is f/3 - not much worse than the f/2.8 of the Ricoh GR. But don't expect fast autofocus in low light.

Unfortunately, f/4.5 is the only aperture. There is no aperture control. The camera displays f/4.5 and cannot change it, even in Av/M modes. For me, this is the main drawback. I would like to be able to use f/8: even two apertures (f/4.5 and f/8) would be enough.

It is funny that there is an octagonal diaphragm imitation:

Is it for better sunstars? I haven't tested  it yet.

What I like most is the slider to use the lens without a cap. It protects the front optical element:

It is very practical! Fast opening/closing and small size.

And, by the way, there is no filter thread.

The lens has 6 elements (2 ED, 2 aspherical) in 6 groups.

(It looks as if the background image of the lens is reversed/mirrored. The largest optical element is actually closest to the camera)

I can compare the Viltrox 28/4.5 with my Samsung pancake lenses: the Samsung NX 30/2 (left) and the Samsung NX 20/2.8 (right).

Of course, the NX 30/2 is optically much better (in my opinion), but it is equivalent to the 45mm (it is not a wide-angle lens). The NX 20/2.8 (equiv. to FF 30/4.2) is optically comparable to the Viltrox 28/4.5.

And what the Sony a7c looks like with the Viltrox 28/4.5:

I like it.

See also related notes:

• Pentax Q 07 11.5/9 Mount Shield Lens (2025-08-21)
• Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Firmware update (PC) (2025-07-21)
• Pentax Q: My experience (2025-03-05)
• Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Firmware update (2025-02-19)
• Viltrox AF 28/4.5: Samples [1] - FF - f/4.5 (2025-02-02)

Image albums:

• Viltrox AF 28/4.5 FE

Jeep Cherokee KJ: ABS/ESP working again

A few months ago I replaced the front right wheel hub. This was due to ABS/ESP trouble codes (C1015, C101C, C101F). This is caused by a broken ABS sensor, but the Iljin front hubs are not compatible with the original OEM sensors.

I chose the Iljin hub again, but this time I bought it as Iljin IJ123040 (instead of SNR R186.29).

The replacement made ABS/ESP work. All wheel signals are in the diagnostic:

See also related notes:

• Jeep Cherokee KJ: OEM front ABS sensor and Iljin hub (2024-08-14)
• Jeep Cherokee KJ: ABS control module and SZ Viewer (2024-08-09)
• Jeep Cherokee KJ: ABS/ESP trouble codes (C1015, C101C, C101F) (2024-07-25)
• Cherokee KJ: электроника и передняя правая ступица (2016-09-16)

Image albums:

• Jeep

Helios-40 85/1.5: Samples [2] - FF - f/1.5

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)

Lens: Helios-40 85/1.5 at f/1.5

Overall, the Helios-40 can be considered a fun lens. However, I am not a fan, so I sold mine in 2024. I would prefer the Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f/1.5, but it is so overpriced. Maybe take a look at the TTArtisan 75/1.5? Not today.

See also related notes:

• Гелиос-40 (85/1.5) и бленда (2022-05-14)

Image albums:

• Helios-40 85/1.5

Twin Peaks Theme on Piano ( Falling + Laura Palmer's Theme )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEVbkWjeSBM

VirtualBox and Nvidia drivers (Windows 10)

I use VirtualBox on Windows 10 to run Linux and older Windows in guest VMs.

One day, the VMs started crashing. At first I didn't see the dependency (it was some software and hardware changes before), but then I remembered that I had updated the driver for my NVidia GT710 graphics card. 

There is a recommendation to disable 3D acceleration in guests, but that didn't help. I temporarily replaced the GT710 with an AMD HD 7770. Now the VMs no longer crash.

So the Nvidia driver broke VirtualBox in Windows 10.

See also related notes:

• Old graphics card for Gyroflow [RX480] (2025-01-26)