SJ4000 + Kingone K5

Don't worry folks, JE Labs has not ditched retro tech.

I just needed a cheap video cam to capture my treks in the Mini + a cheap bluetooth speaker which disappears in the dashboard and prevents road rage in Manila traffic, even on weekends ;)

 SJ4000 factory default settings at 1080p 30fps

At less than half the price of an entry level Go Pro Hero, the video quality is good enough for my purpose. As I get to know the menu and settings, I might tweak it a bit later. 

Original 720p 30 fps color video converted to B&W

I've paired CD quality tracks from my iPhone with Bose, Braven, JBL and other touted/branded bluetooth speakers in showrooms but could never justify their cost to sound value. Just like the others, the Kingone K5 has a built-in EQ network which aids the tweeter-sized drivers in fooling the ears to hear a bigger than actual sound by boosting the frequency extremes. Kudos to Kingone engineers for designing an EQ curve which does not muddy the midrange, renders clean bass overtone clues and is rid of tinnitus inducing highs. 

Default settings @ 720p 30fps

The savings from buying cheap clones can be appropriated for retro tech projects ;)

Barry Thornton 2 Bath Developer

Regular visitors to my Flickr would probably have noticed that I have been a committed Diafine user. Although I learned B&W film  processing using Kodak D76, experimented with Ilford DDX and still use Rodinal, I like the convenience of not tempering my chemicals especially now that I live in the tropics. 

This 2-bath compensating developer tends to "push" box speed typically by one stop or more. Thus the factory recommends a certain exposure index (EI) for each particular film, e.g. Agfa APX100 @ EI320, Ilford HP5+ @ EI800, Kodak PX125 @ EI400, Kodak TX400 @ EI1250. Through the years, I've learned to deviate a bit from the factory recommended EI settings and have adopted my own EI depending on lighting conditions or the contrast I want. 

Diafine used to be cheap at about $15 for a pack that makes ONE GALLON EACH of Bath A and Bath B. That same gallon pack is now $50! In spite of being ever so careful of not contaminating Bath A with Bath B, my last gallon solution barely lasted two years with only 25 rolls developed. Prior to that I've had solutions lasting for 3-4 years with at least 50-60 rolls developed in them.

I went on a quest for an alternative panthermic chemical and found the late Barry Thornton's 2-bath formula. After reading through pages regarding Barry's 2-bath developer in the internet, I ordered the chemicals from Photographer's Formulary.   

   Barry Thornton 2-bath formula:
Bath A = 6.5g metol + 80g sodium sulfite, bring up to 1L with distilled water
Bath B = 12g sodium metaborate, bring up to 1L with distilled water

I mixed these chemicals in distilled water at room temperature (28°C). For Bath A, I recommend dissolving a pinch of sodium sulfite with the metol before adding the rest of sodium sulfite. 

Develop at 20-28°C

ISO 100 film (4+4) = Bath A: 4 minutes, 6 gentle inversions each minute 
Do not rinse.

Bath B: 4 minutes, 2 gentle inversions at 1 minute + another 2 gentle inversions at 2 minutes

ISO 400 film (5+5) = Bath A: 5 minutes, 6 gentle inversions each minute
Do not rinse.

Bath B: 5 minutes, 2 gentle inversions at 1 minute + 2 gentle inversions at 2.5 minutes.

Only use water as stop bath: after pouring back Bath B to its container, fill up the tank with water and invert 10 times then dump. Refill the tank, invert 10 times and let it sit for 1 minute then dump.

Fix the film for 7-10 minutes then wash (I use the Ilford method).

Barry Thornton recommends dumping the 1L solutions after 15 rolls because Bath B exhausts. So far, I've done 12 rolls and it remains strong. I might try mixing another 1L solution of Bath B and keep using Bath A. We'll see how that goes...

Just like Diafine, contrast is preset at the photo taking stage instead of being able to control it during film development. Barry recommended shooting films at box speed as a starting point. Since this developer is not very well documented and not even included in Digital Truth's Massive Development Chart, I embarked on my own unscientific journey bracketing exposures with various films in my stash.

Foma 100

Foma 100 @ EI200

Ultrafine Extreme 100

Ultrafine Extreme 100 @ EI200

Fuji Acros

Fuji Acros @ EI100

Fuji Acros @ EI100

Other ISO 100 films

Agfa APX100 @ EI100

Ilford FP4+ @ EI125

Ilford FP4+ @ EI125

ISO 200 Film

Kodak Eastman 5222/Double-X

Eastman 5222 @ EI400

Eastman 5222 @ EI400

Night shot

Eastman 5222 @ EI800

ISO 400 Films

Fuji Neopan 400

Fuji Neopan 400 @ EI400

Fuji Neopan 400 @ EI800

Night shots

Fuji Neopan 400

Fuji Neopan 400

Kodak TX400

Kodak TX400 @ EI400

Kodak TX400 @ EI400

Kodak TX400 @ EI400

Night Shot

Kodak TX400

More photo samples

HMT Pilot + Leatherman Squirt ES4

Rollei 35 repair

I found this on the internet reasonably priced to be worth a gamble. It had a couple of dents but no serious signs of abuse. I've been hankering for this camera as a college kid in the early 80s. Instead, I chose a Pentax K1000 SLR which I could upgrade with a zoom lens ;)

This particular sample was made in Singapore in the early 70s. Not the more collectible '66-'70 or post '81 manufactured in Germany.

When it arrived, the 40mm f3.5 Tessar lens was clean and clear but shutter speeds below 1/30 functioned like B and the lens retraction mechanism was erratic. So I consulted my friend, Google.

This excellent time lapse video shows the top cover disassembly in detail.

1. Green arrow - dried up lubricant in the slow escapement gear train causes all slow speeds to function like B. A few drops of lighter fluid in this area should loosen dried lubricant. Cycle through the slow speeds. You should start hearing gears whirring. Keep cycling the slow speeds until the fluid is dry and then add a tiny drop (or two) of gun oil.

2. Yellow arrow - the circular brass plunger actuates the lens retraction latch. Make sure this is properly inserted to the latch upon reassembly. Note: The lens will retract ONLY IF the shutter is cocked.

3. I did not bother to check the light-meter since it requires an obsolete PX625 mercury battery. Anyway I have an iPhone app and Sunny 16.

Rollei 35 + Prazisa RF

When this was introduced in Photokina '66, it was the smallest full frame camera in the world. Due to its diminutive size the controls defy common logic. So it's best to consult the manual before use.

Test shots

Kodak TX400

Kodak TX400

Kodak TX400

More pics

6F8G

I recently discovered a few of these cool-looking ST glass equivalent of a 6SN7 in my tube stash. This tube plugs into an octal socket but has different pin outs (vis a vis 6SN7) and requires a 1/4" grid cap for the second triode section. So I rewired the line stage section of my JEL mono preamp to use it.

JE Labs Mono Preamp
6SL7 + 6F8G

Not sure if it sounds better,
but it certainly looks a lot better ;)

Altec 605B Duplex

After years of storage the Altec 605B is recommissioned in the mono system. The plywood open baffle is painted in gray primer as an homage to Altec utility cabinets. I am using the stock Altec XO N1600C circuit but built using paper in oil caps and a low DCR choke. 

"Benny Rides Again" Chess Records, mono LP