Summitar's performance

Weather Forecast tells that cold temp would last all day long today, so better stay at home if we don't have some specific urgent business. More few days endurance is obliged to get outside for comfortable photo shooting.

A few days have past since I had obtained an old lens produced while WW2 in germany. This marble like equipment gives me an impression.

The light source through lens glass material just before WW2, 85 years ago arrives on the Image Sensor. And on the camera body Ⅲf, Leica DRP is clearly engraved. Deutsches Reichs Patentamt is the meaning. Actuall, it's older than myself, this lens must have arrived at our country passing through under the war fire and explosion, it is survived in front of me. This small goods must last for ever as a living witness of War.

Consulting Leica Lens book, glass coating technology had been invited on Summitar for the first time corresponding to the newly introduced color silver salt film. So, as the innate character of Summitar, not only monochrome film but also color film might be acceptable with enough capability. Actually, color resolution is remarkable at all. Color reproduction is not frivolous but calm and stable---that makes me so satisfied. 

Framework for OM-5

However hard I might look for the frame cage in the Web sites, I could not find out the item that is suitable for OM5. Smaller camera body is acceptable for all the photographers without exception. On the other hand, especially when tele lens is invited, too small and too light body is not always convenient. So to speak balanced holding is indispensable fitting on the palm and fingers.

Concequently, applied I the cage for Fuji-film XT-5 onto DS OM-5 with a small modification, just move the fixing hall anteriorly. All the function of the bottons and dials do not lose with this cage.

A big harvest by a cage on OM-5, now it is possible to grasp the lower part of camera body with a little finger as a matter of fact.

This advantage is so clear when 75~300 zoom lens is invited.

This handling effect makes me want to take pictures, which is very much appreciated. Small and light isn't always a good requirement.

 

New spring days

Unexpected warmer days are lasting since yesterday, it's like an early spring. Change of pressures causes such a remarkable thermal transition so incredibly. Probably, First Spring Wind must blew 3 days ago. Flowers preparing spring season must have frightened. Blooming timing would be enhanced this year. Early cherry blossom and plum will make haste to bloom.

Telephoto and Retrofocus

There is a term Tele-Photo Ratio in the lens design R/D field. It is a ratio that the length of the distance from the anterior surface to image sensor were divided by the actual lens focus distance. The smaller value than 1, the shorter the finished length would be. It must be a good Gospel for the most of the photographer who wanna carry less burdenning. But, things aren't going so well, such kind of modification in designing steps invite much discrepancy, difficulty in correction aberrations. As most of the buyers want to be free from inconvenience caused by the bulk, consumers want to buy smaller and cute one as the newer models. 

The engineers in R/D must have been obliged desperate effort by the thoughtless and unreasonable requests. When you violate basic principles, problems arise somewhere, and you have to somehow work around them, so unnecessarily. This results in compromises and compromises---leading becoming worse.

However louder the new announcement might be done in the Website, the newer model does not always overcome the performance of the old model in all the aspect. Consequently, photographers must be obliged to make good decision especially who have some strange desire in his or her deeper part of their heart.

One the other hand, same kind of phenomena is recognized on wide angle lenses. Frontal extension is done to compensate several aberrations, it is called as Retrofocus design. Increasing the glass reflective surfaces does not invite acceptable result, however coating technology might have made progress. 

Physical minus fuator never disappears. Fundamental principle cannot be ignored, otherwise unexpected failure might occur without an exception, no matter how someone notice or not.

In Scientific field, Data-backed results, not Emotion, are the priority.

(R/D: Research and Development)

Collapsible barrel lens

The closest distance is so designed at 1m on Leica old interchangeable lenses some of the later model was 0.7m. On the other hand, those for SLR body was so done at 45cm on standard lenses. Range finder construction had some disadvantage on close distance because of paralux and accuracy. This is why 1m closest distance was designed. Other rangefinder cameras were same as Leica.

I make it a rule to make this disadvantage into advantage without any irreversible modification, just an additive of an adequate extension tube. For example, Summitar extended 20 mm anteriorly could establish infinity focusing with its fuselage collapsed, without fuselage extension as normal use.

Then what will happen when the barrel was extended with extension tube? Yes, more close up shooting would be possible, 23cm distance like a macro lens!

As I show here, all the collapsible lenses could be utilized their performance shown here if an adequate length extension was applied, interesting don't you think?

Evaluation of old lenses

Whenever I come across with some reports or impressions on old lenses especially made by Ernst Leitz Solms GMBh, I mourn and lament. The condition of object are not always well settled and maintained, they were not estimated their original and innate capability and potentials. 

Mold and dust particles causing cloudiness and peeling of the edge lacquer can lead to poor image quality and the occurrence of flare and ghosting.

Consequently, we should restore them as original condition if we try to know their potentials fairly, of course the best care must be paied especially not to wipe out delicat and sbtle coating layer---difficult for layman.

The subtle differences in spherical aberration correction should be discussed under fair and correct establishment of any conditions. It is not an area that amateurs can easily enter.

Coldest season

Cold air pressure comes down from the Western Continent and cold weather are lasting in our country these days. On frozen road surface must be paid attention. Once start to slip all the vehicle fall into uncontrol.

My photo shooting hobby is inhibited this coldest season. Newly obtained equipment, Elmar 90mm/f4.0-Black lacquer painted no coating, Summitar 50mm/f2.0-square iris shape and M Rokkor 40mm/f2.0-similar with Summicron M 40mm/f2.0.

When it get warmer and the flowers bloom, things get busy. 

Amelioration of image quality-Summitar

Raised edge on edge painting causes reduction of resolution especially in lower frequency. Half a century after its production might such a change over time. Silver circle is observed the phenomena, just removing original painting without hesitation however looked no problem. New black painting will show you apparent improvement in image quality especially when iris is fully opened. Then a bad reputation because of Whitening image would be thoroughly wiped out as a matter of fact. 

Time to stand up

The existing old media, dominated by dirty money, will be driven out and wiped away by the new wave formed by the newly developed web. The distorted truth can no longer win, and in an instant, the disguise of a lie is exposed as the truth. No matter how many times a lie is announced so repeatedly, it will never turn into the truth. Not the difference of the way of expression nor that in how to receive, the Truth and the Fact are not movable. 

We Japanese people are not intentionally taught modern history, but here too there is an intention of foreign powers. It is not too late to start learning. Looking back at the past from the current situation, it is easy to understand the connection between the present and the past. We can see how we have been oppressed and exploited. It is well hidden and camouflaged as nothing.

When you watch variety shows that are easy on the brain, you will be brainwashed and become stupid without realizing it. Just stop it!

Unconscious brainwashing by instantaneous insertion images, so to speak Subliminal stimuli. Prayers, spells and hypnosis are no longer effective in the age of science.

It is important to gather information and make your own judgments. Money cannot turn a lie into a false truth. The Japanese have finally gone from being junior high school students to adults. They have grown smart and wise. We will no longer have our emotions manipulated by boring foreigners, whether East or West.

Strange and primitive religions will also disappear from our country. 

You have to decide yourself by yourself, for yourself and on yourself.

The time has come to establish ourselves without relying on external forces as before.

The right of self-determination is a priority for every nation. 

What we lost in recent lens technology?

Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Summitar 50mm/f2.0 and Elmar 90mm/f4.0 are the tool I would like to use for shooting on Nikon Z8 for the time being. Former has angled illis window and latter does no or slight coating on every glass element. Both of them have L39 screw mounting flange.

Summitar is a predecessor of famous Summicron because of its extraordinary performance in resolution. Less power of resolving is more moderate edge drawing leading to gentle line. More softer pics would be obtained as a matter of fact, probably because of residual Spherical aberration. Consequently, I dare chose Summitar than commonly prevailing one, both of them are designed similar with Gaussian symmetric with the iris brade between, also the fuselage construction with retractable are the same, so it's difficult to tell which is from a distance. The way of atmospheric resolutions are different each other, this is not a title which is the sharper.

As for Elmar 90mm/f4.0, earlier model, black painted, no coating and a bit heavier because of brass fuselage construction, has tasty character.Triplet design invited this Elmar has les inconvenient reflecting surfaces, 6 in total leading to more transparent resolution. I know that recent lenses are produced with multi-coating and more lens element to eliminate abberasins also aspherical element application. And eye-openingly clear and brilliant pictures are common especially corners. Complicated lens designing requires so sophisticated machining technology, lens element it self, lens case also does and increasing reflection surfaces also coating surfaces inviting resorption of light source, establishing the centricity of every element, precise matching and fitting between lens element and its case. Product quality must be checked so carefully on the way of production. 

From this point very selfish and self-contented opinion would be described, I feel that something is lost in the pics taken by such a recent lens designing---something important that should not be lost. It's a very difficult task to explain it in word, resolution of atmosphere, smell of air or temp and moisture, very small sound that is difficult to be discerned at that time. This tendency is discerned when monochrome method is invited for the works. This is why I prefer old less lens element design to new and modern computer done ones.

All the ancient lenses take good pics also newer ones, my opinion is just depending on the comfort level of ones Hobby.

Trifle is nothing but piled ones are not so but great.

The joy of life lies in noticing small, little and tiny things?  

Hankyu Awaji station

Hankyu Railroad Awaji station has been under reconstruction for long time. The date of completion also postponed several times, newest one is 2032, so announced. In 1960, the broad road plan was established from Toyosato to Utajima connecting Shin Osaka with Awaji. JR Osaka East Line has opened JR Awaji station already with the distance of 300 m from Hankyu leading to increase of passengers. So, I make it a rule to record old scenery meeting with the constructive step, before complete destruction. Newer construction is convenient of course, but old and historical memory is above all, losing good days is lonely.

Aibetsuriku

Shimenawa Kazari that has been decorated on the gate of entrances is burned in the Shrines nearby after the Oshogatsu season every year. Every family brings them and they are thrown into the fire, the warm is very convenient for the people came around. I happened to visit Tsukaguchi Shrine to buy a amulet bag for niece who comes back her mother country Peru. Departure for separation is brilliant but sorrow.  We call this kind of situation Aibetsuriku.

 

Ebessan

Top 3 person are celebrated as Fuku-Otoko(Lucky man) who passed through Nishinomiya Shrine on 10th January every year. So to speak Tohka-Ebis is based on the concept of thriving business, 15 hundred people gather together early in the morning running at Omote-mon to Honden with 230 m distance. Everyone knows it's nickname Ebessan.

 

Landing failure

A tragic plane crash occurred in South Korea at the end of the year, killing nearly 200 people.

During the landing phase, you must always face a headwind, lower the gear, activate the flaps and slats, raise the spoilers, raise the nose, slow down until you are almost at stall, and reverse thrust as soon as you touch down. Only by following these golden rules can a landing be successful.

Looking at the landing of the crashed plane, none of these steps were taken, there was residual fuel, and there was a pillbox-like cement structure on the extension of the runway. And then, engine stop, the tailwind landing approach, and a one-shot deal.

There were far too many conditions that could lead to a major accident.

We tend to fly for the simple reason that it saves time and is easy, but perhaps we need to reconsider the dangers of traveling by plane.

Once an airplane takes off, it must land, but the most dangerous phase is the landing phase. Life and death depend on whether it can land safely. A gamble on the cliff is always played on every flight.

There are many uncertain factors for failure, and they must all be eliminated. An airplane is a machine made up of tens of thousands of parts, and all of them must be functioning normally, but is that really the case? No, it can't be. It's statistically impossible. There must be some malfunction or problem somewhere. And yet the airplane takes off, pretending to be normal.

Needless to say, humans have not evolved to be able to fly. If you fall, you will die. This is for sure. You cannot stay in the air. Nevertheless, do you understand the reality that you are being thrown into the air in a closed space like an airplane cabin? Do you really mistake it for safety? Do you know that your feet are not on the ground touched?

If you encounter an airplane accident, you will almost certainly die. Is the need for life-risking air travel really necessary?

Wouldn't a boat or train work? Do you need to fly yourself in a hurry?

The smaller and lighter, the better

Brazen photographers tended to carry around bright, wide-range zoom lenses. If you didn't like zoom lenses, you had to carry around three types of lenses: wide-angle, standard telephoto, and short-focus. And you had to endure the torture of carrying heavy equipment.

However, with the release of camera bodies equipped with large APS-C-sized image sensors, this common sense is about to be overturned. The pioneer of this idea was Leica, a high-resolution, fixed-lens, high-pixel camera. Probably the Q series. In other words, the idea is that standard and telephoto can be covered, or can be covered, with digital zoom.

With the increase in pixel count of image sensors, the usefulness of digital zoom has come into the spotlight. This is not due to the simple and short-sighted idea that if you make it wide-angle, you can freely crop it on a PC LCD.

The concept of framing to determine the balance on a flat surface and framing to match the subject in three dimensions are fundamentally different.

In other words, this is why the image at the moment when the photographer's three-dimensional concept is incorporated is different from the image cropped on a computer.

Even if the number of pixels is reduced with digital zoom, the difference is clear on LCD.

The high pixel count of image sensors shows another side, leading to the promotion of high-performance wide-angle prime lenses.

This is not limited to the present, but for women and the elderly, it is better to have equipment that is even 1g lighter. It's a different story if you are in a state of madness that blindly believes in high image quality, but small and light is the most important and required thing from the bottom of our herat.

Professional photographers who work hard to endure heavy equipment should think the same way deep down.

So, the Konica EE Matic 42mm/f2.8. This is an original rotating helicoid transplanted to a micro 4/3 mount using a donor lens. It can get as close as 40cm, and the aperture can be adjusted with original blades.

If you remove unnecessary parts such as the lens shutter, it weighs 47 g and looks like this. The ultra-compact and lightweight 82mm/f2.8 lens with 3 groups and 3 elements can be transformed into any shape.

Using a computational photo system, high-resolution shooting is possible and the pixels can be increased several times.

We old-school photographers live in a world that was unimaginable in the days of silver halide film. It feels like we live in a dream world.