What it brings, "Corona Depression"?

A word, "Corona Depression" has been prevailing recently, long lasting unusually isolated condition is the reason, people cannot establish free communications as before. Now we can feel ourselves to be a social living thing, but for natural and smooth communications each other we might have any problem emotionally. It is true that we have a sophisticated way to keep relations in Web site, but acturally not enough. The ideal form of our society would be obliged to change basically, conventional concepts in every section would not work at all. Great changing like Big Bang will definitely happen very soon as a matter of fact, it is just at the corner! Whatever thing may happens on us, we should avoid the most miserable conclusion those we had experienced over 75 years ago, bear in mind the commandment so deeply!

Leitz M-Summilux 50mm/1.4/2nd modification

My favorite equipment for photo shooting is here, Leitz M-Summilux 50mm/1.4/2nd generation on SONY α-9 by way of E-mount. It is true that Leica M lenses are utilizable on E-mount, but as a matter for reglet, most of M lenses are so made to adopt on range finder designed for minimum closing distance at 1m with exception such as Summicron for 70cm. Most of the photographes must feel some inconvenience whenever he or she might try close-up shooting within 1m and 1/12 magnification. On the other hand, recent standard lenses have the capability to come closer to 45 cm and 1/6 for DSL and DSLR bodies. This point is the most unacceptable for the photographers who intend to put M lenses on Mirror-less Digital cameras. In addition, 8mm thickness mount adapter do not have enough space to form helicoid construction inside including mechanical backlashes. In the difficult consideration with every door closed if continued the original M-mount and helicoid mechanism, I have realized that no way is left when insist on the upper Leica original mechanical constructions, the only way to see a brilliant light is just replacing lens barrel case thoroughly into another one satisfying close-up shooting requirement. Consequently, I have selected the most suitable standard lens that often appears at 1 yen in Yahoo Auction, of course lens surfaces are irreversibly invaded by mold colony. KONICA HEXANON 52mm/1.8 produced around 1970 was selected as a donor with enough room for the rear glass. Later maintenance on this lens module proved it's possible to survive again like a Phoenix, as I have another 52mm, this lens unit is worth keeping. Keeping Summilux lens unit precisely vertically onto new lens case with accurate centricity is an absolute condition that cannot be handed over. The angular stopping mechanism in the new barrell case was so modified to obtain maximum movement by grinding it as less as possible, thanks for this effort, minimum distance 370mm and 1/5 close-up shooting could be attained. But for Room temp. polymerizing resin material, this kind of fine work being requiring ultimate precision. Screw in&out rotation of Summilux lens unit makes it possible to be interchangeable between an original helicoid case & new one each other, even a small part of Leica lens is not modified at all. Leica M-Summilux 50mm/1.4 /2nd generation was modified as that should be what it should be if put on DSL camera body with unusually sweat a lot, direct E-mounting without mount adapter leading to less mechanical backlash. Hope that has been stuck for half a century on Summilux has realized! Spherical aberration correction on this lens is outstandingly different, S shape curve inverts between 1.4 and 2.0, no other lens including those for larger format does not have the same. Probably, this correction has much to do with the resolution of Atmosphere. This is why I insist only on this Leica Summilux 50mm/1.4/ 2nd generation. Though I recommend the performance of Zeiss Plannar 50mm/1.4 as most of the photographer does, I dare prefer Mandler's work to Plannar.

New Year will come

Major hotels and department stores are prepared for Xmas sale and New Year celebration with some brilliant decorations. But the pedestrian outside are very few not because of cold weather but because of self-restraint order by the Authority. I really feel all the commercial distribution economy are clogged and stopped, almost dead as if we are in War condition. I'm anxious about that this tendency might come down to Great Depression once happened in 1930 caused by US and lead to WW-2. Now we should have the concept not to rob but shar resources each other. So, any killing weapon should be deserted including Nuclear missiles. Establishment of logistics route all through the world is the first and all the borders between countries should be eliminated immediately now because any border cannot be observed from Space shuttle. Otherwise, we would kill each other as we had been experienced historically, do we do the same again, so stupid to repeat? World wide military balance should not be destroyed, keep any borders as they are now.

MD Zoom Rokkor 50~135/3.5

Without discipline I have stretched my habitual tacticles onto Minolta MD Zoom Rokkor 50~135/3.5 in Yahoo Auction, I bid it at 741 yen then no competitor appeared. Switching over period to New MD model has often green colored "feet" indication and it's specific barrel design makes it easy to disassemble focusing module lens grass removed thoroughly just only by removing decorating and indicating front ring. Mold colony was observed in the chamber between focusing module and zooming front as usual. Green feet indicator MD model do not have Maco construction and it relates on some disadvantage of close-up shooting, 1.5m is the limitation for 135mm condition is applied in 50mm setting. As I have no experience to come across with MD 50~135/3.5 in the market, this model with yellow feet letter indicated had not been produced by Minolta as a matter of fact? Result of shooting test revealed the capability of this new commer, sharpness, resolution and color are good enough for me except excessive close-up shooting distance. As I am keeping standard focus lenses at hand that cover upper disadvantage, inconvenience in the specific close up would be compensated?

Anti-camera shaking system

Not a few automobiles are in some sitting dack condition on the Highway outside with heavy snowfall weather, so radio news tells, in addition, 2nd wave of cold front is coming down from Asia Main Land today. No other victims would not appear in any harder condition, so I hope, but the threaten by COVID-19 does not disappear even now, increasing instead! Experimental photo shooting test comparing the capability of anti-camerashake system and conventional tripod fixation revealed an apparent difference at all. Such kind of phenomenon were checked even under pixel magnification. Also the tendencies were observed both in close-up and tele-photo situation. So, however more improvement might be established in the anti-camera shaking system, it will never exceed an old mechanical fixation system, "Tripod". Anyway, hand-holding and Tripod fixation are basically different each other. So, now is not the time to desert conventional method.

The 1st cold front from the Asian Main Land

Cold winter is in the air this morning. The first cold front comes down from the Asian Land as usual, Brrr!. Probably temperature outside will not exceed 10 degree celsius today. Though I'm not a reptile, cold weather inhibit me to go outside, a hesitative devil whispers behind my ears, "Cancel an appointment for lunch with my friend. ". Because of finding out some mold colony in the zoom lens maintained and serviced the other day, I'll disassemble it again on Konica Hexanon 35~70/3.5 2nd generation model.

Old standard lenses on SONY E-mount

I noticed that was the case, tens of modified standard lenses are prepared for SONY E-mount after deserting all the camera equipment I had been piling for half a century. My son has the same hobby habit as myself and he gave me some of the second handed SONY E-mount camera bodies one by one, Nex-3, Alpha 64oo, Alpha 7-3 and Alpha 9 as a matter of fact, this is the reason why I am keeping E-mount lenses now even after I had determined to retire from camera and photo hobby a year ago. As I had modified several Minolta lenses including Zoom ones into Canon EOS mount with 44.00mm flange back distance. Minolta SLR flunge back is 43.50, so Physical discrepancy exists as the lack of 0.50mm distance to establish the definite infinity focusing. Most of the people in the field define that any Minolta SLR lens have no way to modify to adapt another flange connection those exceed 43.50mm. Some engineer who have experienced to disassembling Minolta lenses should know the critical fact and truth that every Minolta SLR lens has tolerance to establish infinity position and this adjusting mechanical construction covers 0.50mm distance leading to establish infinity on Canon EOS mount with 44.00mm flunge back. So, tens of Minolta SLR lenses had been modified into adaptation with 44.00mm flunge back, just before the period the period of time, no prevailing of Mirror-less models. Consequently, over 20 of modified Minolta SLR lenses were left unsold behind. Now, K&F Concept EOS/NEX lens mount adapter make it possible to apply them on Sony Alpha 9 by chance, it was a good Gospel for me as a matter of fact. Standard fixed focus length lenses of 12 pieces in total here are almost from old range finder cameras connecting with Sony E-mount flange base.

Minolta Zoom Rokkor 35-70/3.5 Macro overhaul

It has been several years since I disassembled for cleaning and maintenance Minolta Zoom Rokkor 35-70/3.5 Macro and an actual shooting test and careful checking revealed some poor performance. Consequently, I determined to do that yesterday. Front focusing module was relatively easily removed and the most dirty part exists there invaded by mold. Breathing action caused by the movement of the zooming module invites mold spores let inside this is why this chamber has tendency to get dirty. I applied full overhaul this time including rear condensing module. As for my disappointment, secondary lens from the rear was fixed on the case by means of circular spring wire that might cause uncertainty for precise holding. Unexpectedly, the rear surface of front lens piece of the ilis chamber was invaded by mold attack and several trials for cleaning with solvent were required. It goes without describe here that the original performance of this cute Minolta Zoom lens was obtained with some surprise, resolution, sharpness and color balance of cleaned one are above words at all, comparable with focus fixed ones. I should do full overhaul much more earlier before I judge it as an ordinary Zoom lens, not so good one, I feel some shame. I would like to carry this one with me for the time being. In addition, Web site information told me that the original designing was not done by Leitz GMBh in West Germany but done by Minolta and also production was done in Japan though some of this 35-70 Zoom lens, earlier production without Macro function were produced with different bayonet mount, for Leica-Flex in OEM by Minolta.

With 2 old lenses at Hattori-Ryokuchi-Park in Toyonaka

I felt that winter is around the corner early in morning today at Hattori-Ryokuchi-Park in Toyonaka, but in the daytime not our butt off. I invited two old lenses, one is Konica Hexanon 45 mm/1.6 originally fixed on Konica EE matic S16, and another is Minolta Rokkor TC-100/4.0, Triplet mountain Rokkor. Both of them were produced over 50 years ago but fully disassembling for maintenance by myself recovered their original fine conditions optically. Color & resolution with sharpness are enough for my use even on Digital Imaging surface of SONY Alpha 9.