Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9 (M40x1): Uncoated triplet from 1940s

My oldest and most unusual lens.

This German lens was made (by Optisches Werk Ernst Ludwig) for Exakta and Praktiflex SLRs as a low-cost standard lens. It had different names: 

• Victar 1:2,9 F=5cm Ludwig-Dresden
• Anastigmat Victar 1:2,9 F=5cm
• Victar 1:2,9 F=5cm
• Praktiflex Anastigmat 1:2,9 F=5cm (OEM for Praktiflex)
• Practicar 1:2,9 f=50mm (Export)

I have the Anastigmat Victar 1:2,9 F=5cm version for Praktiflex with the M40x1 mount from the 1940s. And there is no serial number at all.

There is a claim that the lens has 4 elements in 3 groups, but I don't think so. The 1939 price catalog lists 3 elements for the Praktiflex Anastigmat 50/2.9. The 50/2.9 successors of this lens, called Meritar and Peronar, also have only 3 elements. However, the f/2.9 is quite fast for the a triplet.

(the optical design is similar to this one)

This lens also had no optical coating, which makes it something special today.

The lens is tiny. It (on the right) is smaller than the Индустар-50 (Industar-50) 50/3.5 (on the left) and the Индустар 50-2 (Industar 50-2) 50/3.5 (in the middle):

There is a cutout for mirror movement.

The aperture has 13 blades. Almost an even circle, but you have to consider the age.

Note that the lenses are almost colorless (no coating).

The focusing mechanism is quite good. When focusing, the front part does not rotate, so you can change the aperture without fear of losing focus. The mentioned Industars are much worse in this aspect.

The M40x1 (that's right, not M39x1 or M42x1) mount with the 44mm flange focal length (smaller than the 45.5mm of M42x1) for the first Praktiflex SLRs is very rare, so it's not so easy to adapt it to modern cameras, although it's possible.

Of course, this lens is not suitable for general use now, but its own nature is interesting.

I've wanted a triplet lens for a long time. I already have the Riconar 55/2.2, but it's not a triplet. The Victar is now the first triplet I've ever owned. The copy is not perfect, but it is playable.

See also related notes:

• My triplet lenses (2024-08) (2024-08-27)
• Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50/3.5 (M40x1): Uncoated (non-T) version (2024-05-30)
• ISCO Iscovitar 50/2.8 (M42x1/45.5): Triplet with simple focusing mechanism (2024-05-21)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: Samples [1] - FF (2024-04-16)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: Finding a cap (2024-01-17)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: With close focus (helicoid) adapter [2/2] (2023-10-16)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: With close focus (helicoid) adapter [1/2] (2023-10-14)
• Lenses without cemented elements (2023) (2023-10-12)
• Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5 (M39x1/44): Very rare wide-angle triplet (2023-10-05)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: My experience [2/2] (2023-09-30)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: My experience [1/2] (2023-09-29)
• Anastigmat Victar 50/2.9: Old lenses and contrast (2023-09-14)
• Praktiflex M40x1 lenses on modern cameras (2023-08-25)

Image albums:

• ISCO-Göttingen Iscovitar 50/2.8
• Staeble-Werk Choro R 35/4.5
• Staeble-Kata E 45/2.8
• Victar 50/2.9

Near Lake Ilchir (August 2008)

Aircraft сontrails over one of the lakes near Lake Ilchir, August 2008.

Pentax K10D (10MP, 1.5x crop factor) + DA 18-55/3.5-5.6 AL (i.e. first version) @ 18mm (28mm equiv.)

Image albums:

• History

Uvex Pheos One (9192370)

The Uvex i-3 safety glasses (spectacles) are good, but they do get scratched up a lot. So I replaced them with Uvex Pheos One (9192370).

Simpler but cheaper.

(a picture from somewhere on the internet)

See also related notes:

• Uvex Pheos One (9192370): After one year (2024-08-04)

Image albums:

• Bicycle

Molykote 33 Light: application for lenses

I purchased Molykote 33 Light grease primarily for lens applications.

The 33 Light reminds me of GM Special Lubricant High Temperature grease, they have a similar consistency (NLGI 1). However, there are important differences:

1. GM provides better lubrication. Apparently because of the PTFE.

2. Molykote does not separate or bleed, unlike GM.

3. Molykote is almost odorless.

This is why I switched to using Molykote 33 Light. The first application was on the Pentacon 30/3.5 lens. It had never been disassembled, the original grease had dried up, so the focusing ring was too stiff.

The focusing mechanism of this lens is like the "inverted" mechanism of the Индустар-61Л/З (Industar-61L/Z) on which I tested the greases.

First impressions after using Molykote 33 Light are good. But I wish there was a PTFE additive for even lighter movement.

See also related notes:

• Molykote 33 Light grease (2023-07-03)
• Pentacon 30/3.5 (M42x1) (2023-05-01)
• Industar-61L/Z-MC 50/2.8 and Pentax M 50/4 Macro (2023-04-15)
• Смазка GM Special Lubricant High Temperature (12345879) (2021-03-01)

Image albums:

• Pentacon 30/3.5

SZ Viewer: "lacks permission android.permission.BLUETOOTH"

The updated version of SZ Viewer may display an error message: UID ... / PID ... lacks permission android.permission.BLUETOOTH 

This is a problem with some Chinese Android 12+ devices: mainly Xiaomi, but other brands are also affected (Oppo, etc.). It is caused by an incorrect implementation of the Bluetooth stack (permissions).

There is a workaround, but I don't plan to try it right now. SZ Viewer users can either manually roll back to an older version, or hope that the manufacturers will fix the Bluetooth bug of their devices.

See also related notes:

• SZ Viewer A1-2023-10-18 (Android) (2023-10-18)

A traveling cat (1980s)

A traveling cat.

This photo was taken in the 1980s. The tent in the background with its blurred logo looks like the old Polish Rymarzy Krakow tent.

See also related notes:

• Старая, но хорошая польская палатка (2017-06-21)

Image albums:

• History

My Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8 and infinity focus

My Mosler Photoguard (Tokina OEM) 35/2.8 focuses beyond infinity, which is inconvenient. I've tried different T[2]-mount adapters, but there's no difference. At the same time, I don't want to disassemble the lens to adjust it now.

So I chose the simplest way. I put some pieces of thin foil between the T[2]-mount adapter and the lens and corrected (returned back) the orientation of the lens with the screws of the adapter.

It looks not very good, but focusing became almost at infinity.

But in the future, of course, it would be nice to adjust the lens.

See also related notes:

• Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8 and Tokina Wide Angle 35/2.8 (preset) (2023-04-21)
• Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8 (2022-11-01)

Image albums:

• Lens accessories
• Mosler Photoguard 35/2.8

34960-81A00 vs 34960-81A20: VSS for my Jimny

One Jimny owner offered to swap my 34960-81A00 vehicle speed sensor (VSS) for his 34960-81A20. Since I have several 34960-81A00 sensors, I of course agreed.

On the left is the 34960-81A00 (for 4.09 + 205/70R15 or 4.3 + 175/80R16), on the right is the 34960-81A20 (for 5.375 + 175/80R16).

Using the diagnostic software (speed value for ECM) and GPS, I made a comparison.

Stock: final drive ratio 4.09 + 205/70R15 (about 26") tires, now: 5.375 + 30".

With the 34960-81A00 (stock) VSS:

("Скорость" means "Speed" in km/h, I forgot to change the language)

VSS shows 60 km/h at 51 km/h. Quite an overestimate.

With the 34960-81A20 VSS:

("Скорость" means "Speed" in km/h, I forgot to change the language)

VSS shows 48 km/h at 50 km/h.

This way the readings are closer to the real speed. The only bad thing is that the indicated speed is lower than the real one. But this is on the diagnostic, whereas the speedometer readings are the same as the real speed.

Of course, with bigger wheels (32"/34") the indicated speed will be lower, but now I use only 30" for long distances.

So I left the 34960-81A20 installed on my Jimny. And I need to correct the speed coefficient for the RIF-500 trip computer.

By the way, the automatic transmission control module of my Jimny doesn't use VSS at all. Instead, it receives a fake signal from an NE555 pulse generator to enable 4th gear and lock up the torque converter even when the low range of the transfer case is engaged.

See also related notes:

• Поправка скорости/пробега Multitronics RIF-500 (для моего Suzuki Jimny) (2013-02-28)

Image albums:

• Suzuki Jimny

Angarsk, Storm (2004, July 16)

Angarsk, storm (sometimes referred to as a hurricane), 2004, July 16.

Pentax Optio 450 (4MP, 1/1.8").

Image albums:

• Angarsk

Angarsk: 10 panoramic photo set from 1969 (and 2023)

A rare set of Angarsk panoramic photos from 1967-1969 (exact year is not stated): 10 photos and 3 covers. Size of a photo is about 230x88 mm. Printing quality is quite good.

(see also sets of 8 cards 1974, 12 cards 1974, 10 views 1956, 16 cards 1986)

And also my panoramic (equirectangular projection) photos of the same places (June 2023).

Disclaimer: My photographs are nothing more than a documentation of reality.

Cover-1: Ангарск (Angarsk)

Cover-2: Дом культуры "Нефтяник" (House of Culture "Petrochemist")

Cover-3: Стадион "Ангара" (Stadium "Angara")

1. Проспект Ворошилова (Voroshilov Prospect)

2. Ул. Чайковского (Tchaikovsky Street)

3. Дворец культуры "Современник" (Place of Culture "Sovremennik"/"Contemporary")

4. Улица Горького (Gorky Street)

5. Школа № 20 (School #20)

6. Дом пионеров (A Young Pioneer House)

7. Проспект Карла Маркса (Karl Marx Prospect)

8. Городская центральная библиотека (Municipal Central Library)

9. Плавательный бассейн (Swimming pool)

10. Ул. Ленина (Lenin Street)

See also related notes:

• Angarsk: another set of 10 photo cards from 1969 (and 2024) (2024-06-15)
• Angarsk: 40 years of the Angarsk Construction Department (1948-1988) (2023-09-06)
• Angarsk: 12 photos from 1975 (and 2023) (2023-08-07)
• Angarsk: 10 photo card set from 1969 (and 2023) (2023-07-26)

Image albums:

• Angarsk

Rockbros [compact] bicycle bell

A compact bicycle bell from Rockbros.

They call it "hidden design". The bell looks like a ring that wraps around the handlebar. So you can literally ring the ring.

The hex key for the mounting bolt is included.

It looks really compact on the bike.

The "hammer" is quite far away from the bell, so it won't ring accidentally when driving on a bad road.

Image albums:

• Bicycle

M42x1 - Sony FE/E adapter (5 mm)

This is a thin adapter for M42x1 lenses and Sony FE/E mount cameras.

Often such adapters are very thin: 1-1.5mm, but this one is the rare 5mm version:

It's not just an adapter for M42x1 (like this one). It is an adapter with a short flange focal distance. In this case it's 18mm (Sony FE/E) + 5mm (the adapter) = 23mm instead of the standard 45.5mm for M42x1 lenses. This means that a standard M42x1 lens focuses beyond infinity.

Such thin adapters are used for various experiments and homemade things (adapted lenses, macro equipment, etc.). I use it for a rather rare old lens (with a simple adaptation).

See also related notes:

• M39x1/44: Braun [Super] Paxette II lens mount (2023-09-20)
• Praktiflex M40x1 lenses on modern cameras (2023-08-25)
• M42x1-M39x1 adapter (4.5mm) (2023-08-15)

Image albums:

• Lens accessories

SZ Viewer A1-2023-07-08 (Android)

SZ Viewer (Android) changes:

1. Target API level 33 (Android 13). This is the Google Play requirement starting September 2023.

2. Bluetooth functionality now requires permission to find nearby devices (Android 12+). See for more information: Bluetooth permissions

3. Ability to access system Bluetooth settings from the "Select Bluetooth device" dialog.

4. New values for some modules (ESP, ABS, AMT).

See also related notes:

• Nokia 5.3 (2025-01) (2025-01-29)
• SZ Viewer: "lacks permission android.permission.BLUETOOTH" (2023-07-20)
• SZ Viewer: общая информация (2014-02-15)

Image albums:

• On-board diagnostics