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
Viktor Shklovsky: On Flax from ‘On Freedom of Art’, The Third Factory, 1926
Flax, if it had a voice, would be screaming while processed. It’s grabbed by the head and pulled out of the ground. Roots and all. It’s sown thickly for self-suppression, so that it grows stunted and does not branch out. Flax needs oppression. It’s pulled around. It’s spread-eagled on the fields, and elsewhere soaked in… Continue reading Viktor Shklovsky: On Flax from ‘On Freedom of Art’, The Third Factory, 1926
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
6CS7 Tubes: Data, Specifications & Usage
Originally designed for use in televisions and radios, 6CS7 tubes are rarely used in audio products. The chief designer and owner of Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company, Mr. Taku Hyodo, who is often referred to as one of the eight best tube amplifier designers in Japan, has a fondness for the 6CS7 type, presumably because of… Continue reading 6CS7 Tubes: Data, Specifications & Usage
Pentax *ist DS ~ 2025 Review ~ Photos ~ Impressions
The Pentax *istD series marked a significant milestone for Japanese brand Pentax when it was introduced in the early 2000s. The series was the brand’s first venture into digital SLR cameras. The series built upon Pentax’s reputation for solid build quality, compact design, and advanced technology at an affordable price. The first camera in the… Continue reading Pentax *ist DS ~ 2025 Review ~ Photos ~ Impressions
The Leben RS30-EQ RIAA, 6X5GT & ECC81 Tubes
In addition to a Leben tube amplifier, I’m also satisfied owner of Leben’s only RIAA so far, the Leben RS-30EQ, which both looks and sounds stunningly well. The RS-30EQ RIAA is based on a circuit including a single 6X5GT rectifier tube and two 12AT7s Jan Philips tubes. The European designation for the 12AT7 is ECC81. 6X5GT… Continue reading The Leben RS30-EQ RIAA, 6X5GT & ECC81 Tubes
Yixing Clay Teapot & Broussonetia Papyrifera Wrapper
Tea wrapper hand-made from fibre of the Paper Mulberry tree (Latin: Broussonetia Papyrifera) by Essence of tea produced 12 years ago in the Year of Dragon treated with raw linseed oil for preservation (and experimentation to observe its effect on the paper). The photo was taken after drinking the last 7 grams (of a total… Continue reading Yixing Clay Teapot & Broussonetia Papyrifera Wrapper
