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2025-06-23

Pentax Q 04 6.3/7.1 Toy Lens Wide: Samples [1] - 1/2.3" - f/7.1

Camera: Pentax Q (1/2.3", 12MP)

Once again, I'm having trouble focusing. The image quality is specific. There is also noticeable barrel distortion.












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Posted by malykh в 18:19 0 comments

2025-06-21

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 40/4.5 (M42x1): Non-retrofocus lens

The Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:4,5 f=4cm (40mm f/4.5) with M42x1/45.5 mount.




Despite its focal length being shorter than 43 mm, it was designed as a non-retrofocus lens for SLR cameras. Because of this, it has a rather protruding back.




According to the serial number, the lens was manufactured in 1949.

The Tessar 50/3.5 (on the left) and the Tessar 40/4.5 (on the right):



Posted by malykh в 08:48 0 comments

2025-06-19

Suzuki Every [Wagon]: Automatic transmissions

The DA17V/DA17W Suzuki Every [Wagon] (2015-present) can be equipped with one of the following types of automatic transmission: 4AT, 5AGS (Auto Gear Shift, AMT, for the DA17V Every only, until 2024), or CVT (since 2024).




One simple way to determine the type of automatic transmission is to look at the gear selector (as with the Alto). All three types have the conventional symbols P-R-N-D, but there are some differences.

1. The 5AGS has +/- M symbols that stand for manual gear control.




2. The 4AT has 2 and L symbols indicating the gear shift limit positions.




3. The CVT has an L symbol, but not a 2 symbol.




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Posted by malykh в 08:05 0 comments

2025-06-17

Calibrite ColorChecker Classic Mini

The Calibrite (formerly X-Rite) ColorChecker Classic Mini.



This small, 63.5 x 109.0 mm target is the most affordable option with 24 patches (by Calibrate). I'm going to use it to create DCP profiles for use in ART.



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Posted by malykh в 09:28 0 comments

2025-06-15

Mitakon [Zhongyi] Creator 35/2: Samples [1] - FF - f/2

Camera: Sony a7c (FF, 24MP)

Like its sibling, the Mitakon 85/2, this lens produces a smooth background blur. However, its other qualities are questionable.








Posted by malykh в 08:37 0 comments

2025-06-13

Pentax Q 04 6.3/7.1 Toy Lens Wide

The Pentax Q 04 Toy Lens Wide (6.3mm, f/7.1) is another lens from the so-called "Unique Lenses" series for Pentax Q cameras. This is the second lens from this series that I have purchased for my Pentax Q, after the Q 03 Fish-Eye. On the Pentax Q (1/2.3"), it is equivalent to a 35mm lens.




The Q 04 is slightly smaller than the Q 03 Fish-Eye but slower (f/7.1 vs f/5.6).

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/7.1 aperture value). Second, a Pentax Q camera recognizes the focal length (6.3mm) 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 4 elements in 3 groups. Since the flange focal distance of the Pentax Q mount is rather large (9.2 mm) for a mirrorless camera with such a tiny sensor, this wide-angle lens is retrofocus, which is more typical of an SLR.  The simple optical design and diffraction due to the slow aperture result in poor image quality. The Q 04's image quality is worse than that of the Q 03 Fish-Eye lens.

This lens is called the "Toy Lens" because its image quality resembles that of cheap plastic "toy" film cameras.
Posted by malykh в 12:06 0 comments

2025-06-11

Kiev-6S: Budget medium format film camera

When I decided to start shooting film again, I planned to use both 135 (35mm) and 120 (~6cm) format films. So I bought a development tank that supports both formats.

Of course, shooting with 135-format film is easier. There are many cameras available for it. However, I recently acquired the Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar MC 80/2.8 lens and wanted to test it with 120 film.

Consequently, I bought a Kiev-6S (Киев-6C/Kyiv-6S) film camera manufactured in 1983. It is a budget medium format (6x6) SLR with a Pentacon Six (P6) mount, which is called the Bayonet-B (Байонет-Б/Mount-B) in this case.




Compared to the Pentax Super A, the Kiev-6S is bulky, large, and heavy.

The camera came with a complete factory kit, including two viewfinders and a Vega-12B 90/2.8 lens. The 6x6 frame size is 56x56 mm, so the diagonal is approximately 79 mm. A 90/2.8 lens for 6x6 is equivalent to a 49/1.5 lens for FF.

I use the Kiev-6S with the waist-level viewfinder and the Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar MC 80/2.8 lens.




The camera is in good condition and has seen little use. I shot one roll of film, and the images turned out well, with consistent interframe spacing (important for Kiev-6S/60 models). The main problem is achieving accurate focus. It is harder than I expected.

One notable feature of the Kiev-6S is its shutter release button, which is designed for left-handed use. I have no problems with it.

Posted by malykh в 19:57 0 comments

2025-06-09

Mitakon [Zhongyi] Creator 35/2: Adapting for Pentax film cameras

The Mitakon [Zhongyi] Creator 35/2 with Pentax mount can damage a film camera. This is due to the absence of a groove for the stop-down indicator. Therefore, I modified the lens for use with a film camera.

I removed the mount and cut it with a drill and file (I used the M42-Pentax K adapter as a template).





This groove moves the stop-down indicator when the lens is mounted.




The modified lens worked well when tested with the Pentax Super A, despite my sloppy work.




One rhetorical question: Why couldn't Zhongyi, the manufacturer, do such a simple thing itself?

Posted by malykh в 16:16 0 comments

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
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