Here is my first tube photo in a while: a Russian 5U3C (Cyrillic: 5Ц3C) rectifier tube from 1976. It’s what’s known as New Old Stock (NOS), meaning that the tube has never been used. The tube was bought for a Kondo Audio Note KSL-M7 preamplifier clone produced and sold by the Chinese brand Sunbuck on… Continue reading Sunbuck Kondo Audio Note KSL-M7 preamplifier “clone”/ Exploding Capacitors
The Pentax K10D in 2026 ~ Review, Photos, Impressions
In October, I did some night photography experiments with a Nikon D3 and a Pentax K1. On a Pentax forum, I came across some photos taken with the Pentax K10D, the last Pentax DSLR to use a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor. The 10D was released in 2006 following a range of CCD-based 6.1 megapixels DSLRs… Continue reading The Pentax K10D in 2026 ~ Review, Photos, Impressions
The Nikon D4 in 2026 ~ Photos & Thoughts
In June 2023, I got a cheap Nikon D3 to document a series of relatively rare vacuum tubes (starting with the 6CS7 family) for the Swiss Radiomuseum and Wikipedia. The project reignited my interest in visual art, leading to a number of photo series—perhaps a few too many (see an overview here). In December, I treated… Continue reading The Nikon D4 in 2026 ~ Photos & Thoughts
Pentax 77mm 1.8 Limited Lens in 2026
The Pentax 77mm f/1.8 lens, the brainchild of Japanese lens designer Jun Hirakawa, stands out with its unusual focal length of 77mm and f-stop value of 1.8. These specifications diverge from more traditional choices like 50mm, 80mm, or 85mm, and apertures such as f/1.4 or f/2.0, clearly showing Hirakawa’s unique approach. CompatibilityInterestingly, the 77mm, launched… Continue reading Pentax 77mm 1.8 Limited Lens in 2026
The Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 distagon in 2026
Some consider the Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 Distagon the best 35mm lens made for Pentax mount (ZK). It was discontinued in 2010 resulting in high prices for deadstock and lenses in mint condition especially in comparison to the same lens with Nikon or Canon mount, and they are rarely seen for sale on sites like… Continue reading The Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 distagon in 2026
