The potential of AR Zoom Hexanon 28-135

AR Zoom Hexanon 28-135 was brought out with me today for the first time, as this mould covered one was cleaned and maintained yesterday. 960 gr weight including mounting adapter is just a little bit heavy for usual use together with SONY alpha 9 and I did not have good future outlook at all. But, my fortune telling was turned over completely after checking today's harvest on my PC LCD, too good to be denied as a conclusion. Though test shooting performed priorly in the room did not show any good result in resolution and sharpness, the broad picture angle, 28 mm to 135 mm is some good insurance like a soldier equipped with grenade rancher. Color, resolution and sharpness have no room to be complained for this AR Zoom Hexanon 28-135 Tokinar made OEM lens produced over 50 years ago. Consequently, I am obliged to carry this heavier zoom lens together with me for the time being, how come?

Konica AR Zoom Hexanon 28-135 obtained

As I have experienced comfortable convenience of variable focal length lens on Minolta Zoom Rokkor 35-135 with satisfactory, the direction of my tentacles has changed into opposite side. Consequently, I came across with Konica AR Zoom Hexanon 28-135 when 50-135 idea was in my mind. Though latter one was found in Yahoo Auction at relatively higher price, 9,600 yen with Minolta bland, I found out former one with Konica bland at 1,300 yen with FTA body. In spite of the least desire, the items arrived was not so bad but not a mint condition, considerable mould colony were scattered on the frontal surface of the initial zooming module, as a matter for good resulting news, all the shadow and cloudiness was eliminated with my desperate efforts as usual. Grease-up and hard viscosity oil application on required surfaces recovered some smooth and comfortable handling feeling finally, in addition 40 cm close-up distance at 35 mm is one of an indispensable good gospel. Shooting test on comparison with fixed focal lenght lenses proved that this newly obtained Zoom Hexanon 28-135 has enough potential and capability to use as my equipment, with 960 gr weight makes me feel a bit heavy as a little hesitation.

"Rokudou-e" in Ohtsu Ethnographic Museum

I had an opportunity to visit Ohtsu Ethnographic Museum to meet with historic Buddhism Graphics called "Rokudou-e" being exhibited every 30 years. So, this is the last chance to meet with them especially for Geriatric. As is often the case that all of them were not so clear and brilliant but dark and dull because of hundreds of period of time, just a natural phenomena. The efforts of keeping their condition as it had been is great and above words. As most of the visitor of the Museum does, I dropped in Mii-temple on the way back that is famous for specially designed big Bell. Large and beautiful place was well maintained and was worth visiting. The station Miidera of Keihan Rail Way was just beside the Canal called Sosui or Incline, that was artificially engraved for the purpose of electric power source for the Tram in Kyoto City, but now not.

Better performance of Minolta MD Zoom Rokkor 35-135/3.5

I dropped in the shooting point at Itami Osaka International Airport on my way home yesterday arriving at the place just before Sunset. As my Alpha 9 body had only MD Zoom 35-135 by chance, I thought some lack of Telephoto focal length, actually, over 300 mm must be suitable for Airplane shooting from a distance. But, my anxiety was in vain, 135 mm length was enough for shooting the taking off phase as a matter of fact. Over 40 years old Minolta Zoom lens played well as if it was produced recently with some sophisticated technology and I have no complaint about it's Physical performance if it is applied in front of the full sized image sensor. The lens designing technology must have been established already over 40 years ago, though some one might dictates some lack of capability of old lenses if they were used on digital sensors. Ordinary photographers do not always eager for the ultimate performance at all, as for me, my desire would be fulfilled if the atmospheric resolution should be reproduced on the picture, because the only one lens was used at the critical scenery. The more twinkling F number, the less opportunity to take it out, because of the heavy weight and the more distance from the standard focal length, the less chance to meet with.

Acquired close up capability on M Summilux 50/1.4 2nd

Our climate condition at Kansai Area in Japan has changed into cold from cool and comfortable recently relatively quickly and my geriatric body condition has some difficulty to meet with it so rapidly. Though I try to follow any invitation by my friends, I feel some fatigue in walking and driving car, not so good especially this year, some body training and refreshing are required instead of staying at home being influenced by CONID 19. Consequently, I make it a rule to carry my camera with me whenever I go out. As we know, the lens has much to do with the image quality and no argument is required on this point. I made up my mind to throw out all the camera equipment a few years ago and I did it without any regret. But my son gave me a lovely toy, "SONY Alpha 7" with full sized image sensor and I put my residual old lenses on it finding out special fun! My curiosity has been increased after that and it has accelerated especially replacing from Alpha7 to Alpha9 in addition to the operation, inter-plantation of 2nd generation M Summilux 50/1.4 onto Hexanon 52/1.8 helicoid that has enough capability for close up shooting in ordinary use. Though my desperate effort was required to accomplish this work only my own finger work not with any machining except a drilling machine and a grinder. It goes without writing that I could have much and studied more deeply on the way and they the true fun to be desired. However long period of time was necessary to carry it out, it took me 50 years, never give up and keep in mind all the time is my way. Thank to this special arrangement, 39cm minimum distance and 1/5.3 magnification were obtained, now a long lasting and crogging disadvantage of Leica M lenses, minimum closing distance 1 m has eliminated and a marbelous M Summilux 50/1.4 can prevail in my collection, 50 years dream came true, I appreciate to the engineers in SONY researching and developing division from the bottom of my heart! Ernst Leitz M Summilux 50/1.4 2nd generation lens is the finest one for all through my life.

Leica M Summilux 50mm/1.4 on Hexanon 52mm/1.8 helicoid

Not a few photographer might feel some inconvenience to make use of old range-finder camera lens on recent digital mirror-less format, because of lack of close-up capability. For example, most of Leica M lenses were so made to focus up in the range of infinity and 1 m, the nearest position for the standard lenses are not enough especially when used on a recent designed digital camera body. Ordinary 50 mm lenses produced for SLR in silver salt period have 45 cm close up capability, there exists some big difference between them for usual conveniences. The same opinion could be declared on Leica M Summilux 50 mm/1.4 second generation. It is true that it could be used on SONY E-mount body without any Physical problem except the close-up capability. On the other hand, the possibility to brought out side is reduced because of the dictated problem.

I caught my eyes  on the fact that the lens module including iris construction and helicoid mechanical moving part can be separated, then, what will happen if the module could be put in an another helicoid mechanism with close up possibility?  Just conveniently could I obtain Konica 52 mm/1.8 SLR lens at only 1 yen from Yahoo auction, my idea should be realistic at all so I determined. The helicoid extension of Konica 52 mm is 45 cm and Summilux lens module is acceptable diameter with the least modification on Hexanon lens case.

I must declare here why I insist on Leica M Summilux 50 mm/1.4, it is the extraordinary correction of spherical aberration, S shape curve correction is done between 1.4 and 2.0, this method has not be came across with in the field, no other one has such a way like this lens. Of course Summicron has outstanding character in any performances, sharpness and resolution, but if the title comes to "lens taste", my ranking is changed immediately, Summilux 50 mm/1.4 is the second to none, especially on the resolution of atmosphere at the moment. According to my long lasting distinction on that, I came to the conclusion to proceed to operate on this case as a matter of fact.

Because my Leica M Summilux 50mm /1.4 has acquired the capability of close-up shooting 45 cm at the minimum distance, I will make it a rule to bring out whenever I do it keeping it at the corner of my C-bag.

Standard lenses I'm keeping

Not a few standard lenses are here, all of them can be applicable on SONY E-mount. I got stuck in a swamp of lenses for about 2 years recently. Some of them were produced over 30 years ago and another were done more than half a century ago. Thank to the development of the technology in Digital Imaging sensors, we can see their Physical capability at that time so clearly on our LCD, it's a great fun for me at all. Utilizing our Digital camera as a Lens Optical measuring equipment, so apparently we can see the performance in stead of some expensive dedicated experimental equipment. Every produced lens product has their own character that differs each other.

On the other hand, recent lens production has the least disadvantage reducing lack of edge light source, resolution and sharpness with some high price. Lens Baby is a extraordinary character to show far inferior edge resolution, this is an intentional design. The specific design to reproduce only the central area is the way to be invited by some photographers for consolidation of central area in the picture.

As for my own opinion, concepts that form the basis of lens design had been established over 50 years ago and they are prevailing even now. I have no idea to purchase high priced lensed produced recently.