11AD Super Beetle---Inspection by the Authority

Yesterday, lost I the periodical inspection on my Super Beetle held at  Kobe Land Transport Bureau.

Because the motor did not start, I adjusted point gap unnecessarily leading change of combustion timing. Too much Hydrocarbon was contained in ex-gas as a matter of fact. Adjusting #1 spark timing at 4 degree ATDC, CO and HC barance was obtained. 

To tell the truth, '71 model was specially modified on combustion condition according to inviting Emission control, double rubber plates diaphragm vacuum leading angle for retarding firing timing at idle speed, very strange vacuum diaphragm module was equipped. Consequently, ATDC position was engraved on the crank pulley in addition to BTDC Zero degree marking. ATDC 4 degree is the most convenient firing angle position for AD motor produced in 1971, so tuned in the factory. So, it is a very natural story to have passed the inspection at that firing position setting.

As for emission control, I could attained after secondary trial yesterday.

Next is the break lump activation failure, I know this is because of valve socket connection problem caused by some Oxide film. Disassembling the bulb holder and wire blushing will revive the circuitry.

Third problem was caused by head light axis, a pair of headlight was replaced into genuine parts, Hella H4. I'm not good at this new light distribution, Hi & Lo, this is why I lost this inspection. Adjustment utilizing the machinery is required. 

2 problem in relation with headlight and brake light are remained and they should reconfirmed at the Authority within 2 weeks paying additional fee 1,800 yen!

It's not fun when things go smoothly. It's interesting to move forward while solving the problems that keep pestering myself. Exactly the same thing is said in my business and in my hobby, revalidation on the proposition that had been solved if it is difficult is not so charming for me, but a completely new field no researcher has passed through is just fassinating. Probably, most of the engineers in the research and development must have a same opinion as mentioned above.

Curiosity and interest are the indispensable energy to live in this world! 

Planetary alignment

From our standing point of view, Planets---Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune will make a line in addition it dupes New Moon alignment, on 28th February this year! It's a extraordinarily rare construction of layout at all. This construction repeats 4 times per 6,000 yeas. Consequently, it is the most unlikely for us to meet with this phenomena again.

Let's see what will happen in the dark sky, something different from ordinary condition? We can recognize the Planetary Feast with naked eyes if the cloud would not interfere.

Because we are connected in the Websites, this kind of important information comes into my LCD---thanks to the advancement of Scientific Astronomy.

Periodical Inspection by the Authority

As an elderly, I find vehicle inspection and maintenance to be a hassle and a chore. It's a real hassle, and my eyesight is also deteriorating.  So, my optical diagnosis would be done next week---probably, rotten crystal tissue on the right side eye would be replaced into artificial one.

Lack of concentration in anything recently must be brought by this criminal---reduced eyesight. Driving license instructor said that my eye's capability is the edge of limitation for licensure.

It took me all day long today to start 11AD 1600 cc Boxer motor in VW Super Beetle, it has been thrown away for a long period of time untouched. Firstly, starter motor does not work with no magnetic switch movement, no sound of magnetic activation and of course no pinion gear noise. Chrogged oil on magnetic switch sliding surface was the reason. Secondary, no first combustion was discerned, how come! After adjusting the point gap to 0.40 mm, TR Igniter was bypassed---no explosion! 

Remembering 2 years ago, exactly the same phenomena and situation I was at a loss. Investigation of fuel flow in fuel filter, no liquid was observed---Gasoline was drawn in it by sucking on the filter nozzle---the taste of special liquid was exactly the same as 2 years ago. Remember that the diaphragm mechanical pump does not work if it is not filled with liquid, so however consistently starter motor might rotated and push up the rubber diaphragm, gasoline would not be drawn into carburetor. This is why I did the same as before enduring bad tasting. 

In addition, slight idle screw adjustment was required to opening rotation. This is due to the iof motor oil. Temperature might rise up according to season trandision, then idle screw might be closed in a bit.

Pure mechanical old vehicle without any computer controlling requires some special keen skill to maintain with DIY. Once it fails, the reason and cause must be discerned, smelled and felt, why, where, what and how are requirement to be performed, just it might be difficult but interesting, this is why I'm keeping it in spite of geriatric.

When I was young, a skillful mechanic engineer said that Beetle would be a good item to keep all through my life. And I'm following his saying now. 

Who dictates the image quality?

One of the most favorite shooting equipment is Nex-5 with FE-24105. Though Nex-5 have been left untouched long time, some idea made me awake to revive it again. Critical disadvantage, lack of anti-camera shake function can be compensated by that inbeded in lens itself. And secondary, lack of view finder is done by magnifying back monitor.

The total weight comes up to below 1kg as a matter of fact.

Long like telephoto lens equipt, light weight and smart shape supply me good performance for actual use. Also FE-90mm Macro with similar weight useful with this light weight body.

Compsition, framing and focusing procedure while shooting could be done without any stress especially---weight.

It's sometimes fun to seek sophisticated newest camera equipments, but the performance of newly invented machine does not always conduct the work. Ultimate equipment do not always produce the excelent result.

The main factor to decide the work exist not outside but inside of the performer.

 

Old lenses---available?

As for Digital camera, the parallel flat plate made of crystal materials set between lens and image sensor is indispensable optical module to prevent false color occurrence. Also, it reproduces chronic aberration, chroma, astigma, choma and sphere.  So, old lens invitation on the Digital sensor frame is exposed to be harmed on the physical performance leading to reduction of lens performance. 

While it had been used in front of silver salt film, no interference existed, this is why the image quality is lowered no matter how any photographer might recognize or not. This phenomena should happens without any argument.

On the other hand, we can enjoy the performance of resolution of old good days, how come? 

The designing technology was great enough to eliminate such a ill-rumore? Or, the rate of this minus factor might be small enough to ignore the mischievous result. Anyway, I have no idea to give it up to invite old lenses on the image sensor. Anything is acceptable if the result is satisfiable.

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.