Konica Hexanon 40mm/2.8 transplantation

2 pieces of donor, Konica EE Matic 40mm/2.8 were destroyed because of the intention of lens survival. As smaller as possible and as lighter as possible were the basic concept for the first time and the weight 80 gr was attained with some ugly appearance a bit. Almost of the cylinder fuselage parts made of brass material were removed for the purpose mentioned, losing focusing ring, iris controlling ring and decorative name plate including mechanical shutter construction. Because the resultant shape does not make a good impression to others, determined I to try another attempt based on a different concept, keeping it's original appearance on different circumstance with the least modification. As it's original focusing system was inside of it's lens cylinder, putting it with satisfaction of requirement, accomplishment of infinity position was not so difficult task for me even if the original lens body is obliged, not to be changed. Only the mechanical shutter mechanism removal resulted into the body weight  owes at 160 gr as a matter of fact. Helicoid releasing stop position for the latter model was enlarged angularly intending more close up shooting from 900mm to 650mm. No performance difference was observed between them, very natural result going without mentioning.
Triplet lens design & construction provides clean, clear and transparent imaging on the digital sensor, Barrel-shaped distortion, field curvature, corner image flow and bignetting are observed in exchange. From a different point of view, such kind of disadvantage could be made use of different purpose and effectiveness, making only center portion outstanding. Though recent sophisticated designed autofocusing lens with high price covers all the disadvantages at all like a ideal in a instruction book, I would take former ones. The cheaper equipment, the more fun for geriatric.

Suitable hood depth on a lens

A lens hood set on Konishiroku Hexanon 48mm/2.0 was re-fabricated to fit well as long as possible under the condition of infinity focusing helicoid position and iris at the most closed diameter. The length of hood is the most important requirement to avoid unnecessary light noise at any time, transparent and clear picture is desired only when indispensable condition is satisfied. This concept does not accept any other opinion however sophisticated lens coating technology might be invented. It's internal surface was carefully reinforced with Non-reflective blanket. The lens is the most favorite one because of it's superb performance if compared with recently manufactured standard lenses. Focusing procedure is done by not an electrically controlled stepping motor but my own finger with my surely corrected optical signal into my brain. 6 elements in 5 group designing of this small lens is well corrected 5 aberrations, I have no complaint on this point. Only 160 gr weight makes it possible to be selected as the first choice whenever I go out for shooting. The history of this Hexanon had been mounted on Konica Auto S-Ⅱ old range finder camera. All the unnecessary parts when used on mirror-less camera was removed thoroughly including iris indicating ring except showing mark only on 5.6 position. The rate of iris opening that affect on focusing depth leading to "Bokeh" is recognized actually in EVF before shooting, so iris opening indication numerically is not always necessary, the picture on the back monitor shows everything. Also, straight focusing hericoid mechanism is removed for the convenience and the reduction of mechanical slipping resistor. Rotating helicoid focusing attitude does no harm on the procedure. As a conclusion, I desire nothing more on this pretty lens and I would like to continue this as long as my hobby would last from now.

Ultimate standard Zoom Lens Minolta 28-85

Cool & refreshing morning we have in Osaka, it's the first time this season, in spite of hottest daytime yesterday. The heat in the daytime would be reduced gradually day by day and rain after rain. I'll be more active in shooting photos seeking the object wherever it will be. I must the specific opportunity to be checked my work, making multiple pieces of 5 pieces.
New comer arrived from a conscious seller in Yahoo Auction, Minolta MD Zoom 28-85/3.5-4.5 at the lowest price 100 yen. The item looks used reasonably but handled with best care, no mark of mold was found or scratches, it means the lens has been used continuously under the Sun ultraviolet lay. Consequently, I will continue this lens without any discrimination leading to the intention of the former user. From the wide range 28 to the actual requirement of telephoto side 85 with good performance means that no more desire is hoped if this Zoom Lens is equipped on the camera body no matter how it is a silver salt film body or Digital one.

Adjustable rate of Spherical Aberration

Several 85 mm focal length lenses have been produced by Minolta, Varisoft Rokkor 85 mm/2.8 has some outstanding situation among them, the performance of adjustable rate of the correction in Spherical aberration. Though there is a easy way to control it by inserting holed plate on the light source, Minolta's Varisoft lens is designed with different way, forming the adjusting lens module at the most posterior part of the construction, the module moves antero-posteriorly as long as 8 mm when adjusted actually. As the focusing performance and the change of aberration correction are completely some different phenomena, two types of helicoid construction are designed in tandem, this is why it has longer cylinder fuselage length. As the rate of Aspherical aberration drifts according to the iris opening condition, the distribution of correction should be done with the deeper consideration on the interactive relations, it requires most difficult and professional like keen observation at all, yes, it is so difficult as to make me enthusiastic emotionally. At that time, over half a century ago, the engineers in Minolta's researching and development had enthusiastic energy to make us excite ultimately. Now, we can see their efforts by utilizing Digital Imaging format so easily without employing exaggerated professional measuring devices and equipment, we are living now in the fantastic paradise world.

New comer Tokina 60-300 Zoom

As for my surprise I could have bid and no competitor appeared on the item, Tokina SZ-X 630 60-300/4-5.6 Zoom lens was obtained at only 100 yen. However cheaper price it might be, any instrument and device and machinery should be handled gently enough to perform it's potential and capability, this is my way of dealing them. Recently, young engineer sometimes has an different idea and treats it off-handle leading to loosing accuracy. Anyway, this new comer lens would be handled with best care so long as I am in this world.
The seller told me, "This is  quite a new one without any used history, so take it to the shooting site, only once is enough!". Because I could take his intention by this sentence, I would report the result of the shooting in very near future rewarding his thought.
Comparison of 300mm lenses, Minolta MC Rokkor -HF 300/4.5, Minolta MD Zoom 100-300/5.6 and Tokina 60-300/4-5.6. Weight distribution and center of gravity balance with camera body is good for avoiding camera-shake.

Ancestral tomb

In spite of hottest season these days, I visited my ancestral tomb today before noon at Shitaderamachi around Nipponbashi. Pics shown are taken at Temma-Tenjin at Minamimorimachi. After this affair, we came to Osaka Imperial Hotel for lunch, celebrating my elder sister's 74th birthday, Chines Dishes served there were all well designed and seasoned.

Completed Minolta Rokkor TC 100/4

Taking relatively long time to re-set 13 iris blade in the adequate position, finally I have succeeded in completing fairly well. Though the construction of this old Minolta lens is merely Triplet with less correction of aberrations, less grass materials and less number of reflective surfaces make the light signal easy to arrive at the imaging surface, leading to purely transparent and clean pics. Clean and transparent light source or well corrected light signal by sophisticated computer analysis, which is the better on Earth? Old lenses have some disadvantage compared with recent designed and expensive ones, less picture quality when used at iris fully opened position, flare, halo and ghost are the criminals. On the other hand, such kind of disadvantages might be utilized intentionally, as some specific Physical properties those are not contained in recent ones. Shortage might be changed into specific advantage, depending on the intentions of photographers.

Minolta Rokkor TC 100/4

So pretty lens for mountain climbing use Rokkor TC 100/4 Triplet was obtained at 1,000 yen. Because of the oil invasion into iris blades, the function was lost in addition to moderate mold development as usual. As for external appearance, no hitting, no scratches and no parts loosing, with genuine hood was good gospel this time. After removing sticky oil on the every iris blade, complicated like puzzling procedure is waiting, reassembling them firmly at an adequate position with keeping precise opening rate according to an original marking on the fuselage, now I'm on the way to complete it killing free and boring time. Before that, lens surfaces are kept clean and transparent utmost by my  desperate efforts.

Minolta MD Zoom 35-70 on SONY Alpha 7

Very smart, cute and old standard zoom lens designed by Ernst Leitz Co. and manufactured by Minolta is at hand equipped on Sony Alpha 7 digital format. Judging from the reports, the performance is superb though with less magnification, zooming ratio to double and slight spindle shape distortion. Remembering my desire for actual using focus length, the range is enough. There exists some difficulty while SLRD period because of Minolta's 43.5 mm, shorter flange back length, but now is the paradise period for any old lenses with some smaller lens back and flange back, yes, mirror box length has reduced with sophisticated recently established EVF technology. Next weapon to be enjoyed is this pretty one, reporting later.

Minolta MD Zoom 100-300/5.6 cleaning

 Not so busy but not so free condition while Bon-holidays made me determine to disassemble the lens unit thoroughly in Minolta MD Zoom Rokkor 100-300/5.6 into the depth of zooming lens unit inside. Though the performance had been recovered enough by cleaning front and rear unit to satisfy my requirement under the condition of Photoshop application program, very slight mist in the zooming unit that could not be cleaned until disassembled completely was there. After some interval to be at a loss which way to choose do or not do, I came to the conclusion to proceed the way however difficult and however much barrier might exist on the way. I have realized after doing that the number of constructive parts are not so many and relatively easy to reassemble with precise optical adjustments such as iris closing position and final infinity position, boring time today will be killed by this complicated reassembling procedure of this Minolta Zoom lens.

Iga Ueno Castle after Rainfall

I visited Iga-Ueno to shoot photos from Ueno-Castle place, just immediately after rainfall and fine cremate with some mist in the mountain. Though I could meet with the specific timing, the result was not so favorable, an old Minolta TC-Rokkor 135/4 triplet tele-photo lens was invited for the purpose in addition, Minolta MC-Rokkor-PG 50/1.4 was accompanied together for ordinary use. As the reviews say the performance of latter lens is superb with no way to complaint. To tell the truth, not a few old silver salt period lenses have been thrown away for long time, just prepared not tested and not used at all, I must oblige myself use them at any rate, once they had been prepared to be used and tested for myself and by myself, over 20 in number are waiting for my determination.

Rubicon 2 dr front lower arm extension

Lack of steering stability while straight running in Rubicon obliged my son replace front lower arm into 1 cm longer one in order to increase caster action. Now he is in test running, but remember here not only caster angle but also camber and toe-in values will be changed at the same time together if only lower arm length is extended. Let's see what will happen, though I'm afraid of getting himself into deep darkness, because he is not an experienced engineer to belong with some researching and developing division of the constructor. As for my opinion, he should not be suffered from product imperfections, he should enjoy his own life by utilizing Rubicon instead. I hope his effort will not become in vain.