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2025-06-07

Pentax A 35-70/4: Samples [2] - FF - 70mm - f/4

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)
Lens: Pentax A 35-70/4 at 70mm and f/4

There is slight pincushion distortion at 70mm. This focal length provides the greatest magnification.











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Posted by malykh в 15:33 0 comments

2025-06-05

Sony a7c: Firmware updated to v2.01

I updated the firmware on my Sony a7c to version 2.01.



Several weeks later, it still works well. I haven't noticed any changes. The FTP transfer, which I use often, is still working properly without any reconfiguration.



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Posted by malykh в 15:26 0 comments

2025-06-03

Lenses for the Praktiflex and Praktica (PDF)

Here is a PDF of Christian Großmann's "Objektive der Praktiflex und Praktica":


The PDF contains descriptions of M40x1 and M42x1 lenses. It also contains useful production year data. According to the data, for example, my Carl Zeiss Tessar 30/3.5 was made in 1947, which is what I expected.



Posted by malykh в 08:47 0 comments

2025-05-31

My digital cameras (2025-05)

This is a list of all the digital cameras I have owned or currently own.

Fixed lens cameras:



Interchangeable lens cameras:



My interest in old digital cameras has waned. Of the modern cameras, I considered the Ricoh GR III and the Sony ZV-1. However, I doubt that I will buy either one.

I am interested in the Fujifilm GFX100S, but even a used one is too expensive.

Posted by malykh в 20:06 0 comments

2025-05-29

Pentax Q 03 3.2/5.6 Fish-eye: Samples [1] - 1/2.3" - f/5.6

Camera: Pentax Q (1/2.3", 12MP)
Lens: Pentax Q 03 3.2/5.6 Fish-eye (f/5.6 only)

It's great that there's a native fish-eye lens. However, the lack of autofocus is limiting. I usually use manual focus lenses without issue, but this combination is challenging. One positive is the ability to focus quite closely. The image quality is satisfactory overall, provided that you can focus accurately.










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Posted by malykh в 07:03 0 comments

2025-05-27

NONS SL42 (II): "Instax Mini" SLR camera

My new (used) camera: the NONS SL42 (second version).




It is rather large and bulky. The camera compared with the Pentax Super A:




It is a very unusual camera. First, it is an instant camera compatible with Fujifilm Instax Mini film. Second, it is an SLR with interchangeable lenses.

While it is an SLR, its design differs from that of an ordinary SLR. The SL42 uses a leaf shutter instead of a focal plane shutter. The shutter is placed in front of the mirror.




Additionally, the mirror does not flip up. It slides sideways. There is a lever on the front of the camera.




Before shooting, you should move the lever (so called viewfinder slider). This cocks the shutter and moves the mirror into place. Since the shutter is in front of the mirror, the shutter opens to allow you to see the image in the viewfinder.

When you press the release button, the shutter closes. Then, the mirror slides to the side, and the shutter opens again to expose the film. This sequence of events creates a rather long lag between pressing the button and the start of exposure. You should take this into account.

There is a button to eject the film. Film exposure and film ejection (with development) are independent actions. Therefore, you can easily take multiple exposures.

The frame is horizontal (landscape orientation) and the film is ejected from the right side.

The camera has a passive EF mount. There is no electronic connection with the lens. The EF mount was chosen for its short flange focal distance, which allows for the use of different adapters.




The main drawback is the small "throat size" of the leaf shutter. The frame size of Instax Mini film is approximately 46x62 mm (~76mm diagonal). This size is too large for the leaf shutter's small throat. Even when using a medium format lens, significant vignetting will most likely occur.

The camera kit includes a NONS Format Extender (NFE) to solve this problem.




It is a ~2x teleconverter (EF mount to EF mount) specially designed to work with the camera. The NFE allows you to use lenses for 135 film (36x24mm frame size) with minimal or negligible vignetting. However, the NFE decreases the intensity of the light (by about -2EV) and affects image quality.

The kit also contains an M42-EF adapter.




That is why the camera is called the SL42. The manufacturer recommends mounting an M42 lens. You can use an M42 lens with or without the NFE, depending on the level of vignetting you are willing to accept.

Another problem is the very small mirror. Consequently, the visible area of the viewfinder is much smaller than the image field. This does not depend on whether you use the NFE. By the way, the small viewfinder does not allow you to estimate the level of vignetting.

The camera has a built-in light meter. It is not TTL. The sensor is located on the front.



The meter is coupled with the shutter speed dial. A nearby tiny screen displays the recommended aperture value to manually set on the lens for the selected shutter speed.




Since the meter is not TTL, it displays incorrect aperture values when NFE is used (the values must be corrected by -2EV). For easier use, the meter can be switched to NFE mode by quickly pressing the eject button 4 times (the screen indicates NFE). However, this switching process is inconvenient and can result in accidental film ejection.

The Bulb mode is supported. You can also screw in a cable release. When the shutter is open in the Bulb mode, the screen displays the current exposure time in seconds. Nice!

Also note that the native speed of Instax film is ISO 800 (rather high), and the fastest shutter speed is 1/250 (rather slow). According to the Sunny 16 Rule, you should use f/28 outdoors in sunny conditions without NFE, and use f/14 with NFE.

The camera has an internal battery that charges via a USB-C port.




The main power switch is nearby, but its location is inconvenient.

Posted by malykh в 10:38 0 comments

2025-05-25

Neolux N472 vs N472KIT

The Neolux N472 contains only an H4 bulb:





The Neolux N472KIT, on the other hand, is a mini box:





In addition to fuses and other lamps, it contains an H4 bulb.




The H4 bulbs are different. The bulb from the N472 is made in China (on the left), while  the bulb from the N472KIT is made in India (on the right).







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Posted by malykh в 09:14 0 comments

2025-05-23

Pentax Q 03 3.2/5.6 Fish-eye

The Pentax Q 03 Fish-eye (3.2mm, f/5.6) lens is one of the so-called "Unique Lenses" (I prefer to call them all "toy lenses" though) for Pentax Q cameras. I got the 03 lens for my Pentax Q (just for fun).




The lens is tiny.




It is an electronic lens with manual focus. It lacks a built-in leaf shutter and aperture control. Therefore, it behaves similarly to that of a manual focus lens with an adapter, with a few exceptions. First, a Pentax Q camera saves EXIF data with lens information (including the permanent f/5.6 aperture value). Second, a Pentax Q camera recognizes the focal length (3.2mm) for the sensor-shift image stabilization (SR).

The focusing ring is mechanical, but overly sensitive. There is no distance scale, and the ring rotates far past the infinity (which is also unmarked). The depth of field is large, focusing is difficult.

The lens has 6 elements in 5 groups. Overall, the image quality is rather poor. However, the lens has a fairly large angle of view. And, of course, as expected for a fish-eye lens, there is strong barrel distortion.

Posted by malykh в 07:33 0 comments

2025-05-21

Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar MC 80/2.8: Samples [1] - FF - f/2.8

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)

This version of the Biometar was made to mount on cameras with the MF 6x6 frame (56mm x 56mm, with a diagonal of ~79mm) as a normal prime lens. However, I use it on an FF camera as a short telephoto lens.








Posted by malykh в 15:14 0 comments

2025-05-19

Zarya: Details of the rare 1959 version

The Zarya film camera itself is rather uncommon, and my copy is even rarer.




The first digit of the serial number indicates the year of manufacture. I only saw two options: 9 for 1959 and 0 for 1960. Mine is from 1959.

My Zarya has details that differ from those of later versions.

It has a larger front viewfinder window.




There is no knurling around the viewfinder eyepiece.




The film speed memo on the shutter shutter winding/cocking knob is also different.




For comparison, the film speed memo of a FED-2, which is the same as on later Zarya models:



It has a differently shaped cold shoe.




It also has a rare type of pressure plate.





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Posted by malykh в 07:58 0 comments

2025-05-17

Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8: T2-M42 adapter modification

The Mosler Photoguard (Tokina) 35/2.8 lens is incompatible with ordinary T[2]-Mount-M42 adapters. The lens cannot be fully screwed into these adapters.

I took one of these adapters and modified it.

Here is the M42 part of the adapter after filing:




Then, after painting:




The assembled adapter:




Finally, the adapter mounted to the Photoguard lens.




The lens screws in fully, so focusing to infinity is possible.

Posted by malykh в 08:05 0 comments
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