Old Cameras

So, I once sat on a UL committee involved in harmonization of electrical standards. I can tell you it did not go well because there is no incentive to harmonize anything. From a user point of view...

Britain should go back to negative grounds, for everything. Always be different and insist that the rest of the world should harmonize with you.

Canon F1 was not innovative. It was solidly traditional and took no chances. But it was an anvil. I’ve got a bunch of old cameras (!) and the original F1 is probably the heaviest and most solid...

USB-C is not all that and a bag of chips. Frankly I think the lightning connector is more physically robust. USB-C is just another flattened hollow tube with pins inside. If they’re going to pick...

It’s an advertisement and should be marked as such. Every word was written by the manufacturer. It’s just sales literature, like a brochure for a new car.
“Zicral” enclosure = trade name for 7075...

Joneil
You are spot on. This thing is a joke by comparison. You could buy a massive computerized equatorial mount along with a top quality telescope, a field flattener, an entire set of top...

150mm objective diameter, 1050mm focal length: 1050/150=f7, it’s fixed. That’s on the moderate fast side for a telescope, somewhat narrow field of view for a typical astrograph. Terrible waste of a...

I’m sure it’s a lovely astrograph, but, as I said, it is useless for planetary viewing. Useless. You need the highest magnification to view a planet. Go out and look at Saturn with 20X binoculars -...

The usefulness of an astrograph like this has been discussed before and nothing has changed. It is not set-up for planetary viewing, it’s intended for Messier objects only (all 110 of them). You...

Not well, as anyone who’s gone camping in windy conditions will tell you.

@Bill
I actually did have the honor of meeting Clyde Tombaugh briefly at the Texas Star Party but he said no such thing, and at the time Pluto was still considered a planet. That was my little...

@Bill
Pluto is probably a captured object from the scattered disc due to its composition, whereas Neptune formed from the primordial solar system. Makemake, Haumea, Quaoar, Pluto, Eris, Sedna and...

Pluto is in resonance with Neptune. It is a trans-Neptunian Object (TNO). There are a whole mess of them and Eris is probably larger than Pluto. So they either had to anoint a whole bunch of new...

Kit Lens
I’ve got a darkroom in my backyard, I can print 4x5 negatives right now. There is value in developing a skill, endeavors are not merely results driven. Why ride a bicycle if a car is so...

Thankfully all the pock marks on the surface of the moon are pretty darn old.

All the big ones are taken but they’re finding minor planet candidates all the time using automated surveys. That’s the main reason why Pluto was demoted to minor planet status, there are so many...

Curious if they’ll repackage / make over the 20mm f3.5 as well. Currently the 58/1.4, 40/2 and now this 28/2.8 have gotten the treatment. I think the 20/3.5 is a decent lens and very compact.

It’s a cool lens, this is actually a cosmetic makeover of an existing lens. It’s a very well made all metal traditional lens, nothing wrong with that. But it’s old and (probably) not optically...

I’d expect to see this lens sold for less than $200 on sale or as a refurb, then it’s a good deal. It’s built more or less like a kit lens, which also comes with a high list price if bought...

I bought a Nikon 28/2.8 AI-S new from a dealer in 1992 for $170, still works like new. I’m guessing this Voigtlander is no better or only marginally better optically. Their 58/1.4 and 40/2 are...