Pentax K-m, SMC-Pentax-DA 1:3.5~5.6 18-55mm AL, A Morning Bloom

Re-Living The CCD Sensor - Five frames with a Pentax K-M Digital and SMC-Pentax-DA 1:3.5~56 18-55mm AL, catching a morning bloom in the garden.

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Testing out my latest GAS pickup, a 10MP CCD sensor Pentax K-m, or the K2000 in the US, for the claim that CCD sensors, the standard for digital cameras from the mid-90s to early 2010s, are known for their high-quality, accurate colors, and low noise film-like images. The verdict? Well, you be the judge here.

Pentax K-m, SMC-Pentax-DA 1:3.5~56 18-55mm AL

The Pentax K-m was launched as a compact entry-level model with a 10MP CCD sensor by Pentax in 2008. The camera has a non-weather sealed lightweight body built on a lightweight and high-rigidity stainless-steel chassis, an AF system with five sensors, a very comprehensive and user-friendly set of menu functions and features, and shares the same viewfinder and LCD screen with the 10MP CCD sensor K200D and the 14.6 CMOS sensor K20D.

The camera was also designed to be adaptable to the plastic mount Pentax DA-L-series lightweight kit lenses, the first to be fitted with the KAF2 Mount, an adaptation of the standard Pentak K-mount system for adding auto-focus features to lenses on cameras with APS-C sensors. The K-m is powered, however, by 4x AA batteries (Lithium, Ni-MH Rechargeable, or Alkaline) which put it at a slight weight disadvantage when compared to other cameras using lithium battery packs.

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Five Frames With An Olympus VR-330, Night Scene Zoom-In

Re-Living The CCD Sensor - Zooming in on a night scene in Program Auto mode with the Olympus VR-330.

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Another session with the Olympus VR-330, one of a pair of super compact VR-series cameras launched by Olympus in 2011. The VR-330 is fitted, among others, with a 14MP CCD sensor, a 24-300mm equivalent zoom lens, dual image stabilization, 720p HD movie capture, a 3-inch LCD screen, 1cm super macro mode, Olympus Magic Filters, auto-focus tracking, and Intelligent Auto Mode. The camera is also particularly light and small, making it one of the handiest options within the super compact digital camera category.

Olympus VR-330

The camera is designed to be a simple point-and-shoot. All you have to do is to switch it on, zoom in to the desired image frame, and press the shutter. The Menu System, selectable from the LCD display, lists Program Auto, iAuto (Intelligent Auto), Scene, Magic, Panorama, and 3D as selectable or intelligent options, each with their own selection of subset variables and available as pew-sets. The iAuto (Intelligent Auto) mode, for example, switches itself to the iAuto Macro or Super Mode depending on the subject distance.

For the Night Scene Zoom In images here, I tried the camera both with the Night Scene and Program Auto mode setting, and took two identical sets of images. The selection, however, goes to the selection captured with the Program Auto setting, where the images, though more subdued, are more likely to the scene itself. Images shot with the Night Sceme mode are slightly overblown and washe out.

Looking forward to more images next, on the CCD sensor of course!

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Five Frames With An Olympus VR-330, In iAuto Micro Mode

Re-Living The CCD Sensor - A quick look at the Olympus VR-330, an ultra-compact superzoom with a 14MP CCD sensor with images in iAuto Macro Mode.

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I am accentuating my interest in vintage digital cameras with CCD sensors with the addition of a compact superzoom from Olympus to the collection. The camera, an Olympus VR-330, is one of a pair of VR cameras launched by Olympus in 2011, and it comes fitted with a 14MP CCD sensor. Features include a 24-300mm equivalent zoom lens, dual image stabilization, 720p HD movie capture, 3-inch LCD screen, 1cm super macro mode, Olympus Magic Filters, auto-focus tracking, and Intelligent Auto Mode.

Olympus VR-330

The VR-330 is also fitted with a 3D mode that merges two consecutively shot images, where the second image is taken from a slightly different perspective. The data is processed in-camera to an.MPO file, the universal industry 3D format for easy display on 3D televisions or laptops. The VR-320, on the other hand, does not have the 3D mode feature. Both are available at very low prices on the auctions and for CCD sensor enthusiasts, this could be a very strong bet.

Testing the point-and-shoot was straight and simple. The Menu System of the VR-330, selectable from the LCD display, lists Program Auto, iAuto (Intelligent Auto), Scene, Magic, Panorama, and 3D as selectable or intelligent options, each with their own selection of subset variables. For example, the iAuto (Intelligent Auto) mode switches itself to the iAuto Macro Mode for the close-up shots posted here. 

A very intelligent start, and with the impressive set of images captured by the CCD sensor, it looks like the camera is in for the long run.

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Five Frames With A JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8, Take II

VintageLensTest -

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An extension to my previous images with the JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8, a manual focus prime telephoto lens from the 80s. While many comments and reviews mentioned that the lens was made in Korea, mine comes with a 'Lens Made in Japan' stamp, and no mention of it having multi-coated (MC) optics. So I am assuming here that the lens is an earlier version made before its production was moved to Korea.

Olympus E-P5, JCPenny 135mm 1:2.8

The (MD Mount) lens is a solid glass and metal construction, has a 55mm filter ring, and comes with a built-in lens hood. Nice and handy in the hand, it is a bit of bulk though, and tips my kitchen scale at 390 grams The lens was mounted on my E-P5 with a common variety lens adapter that comes with a tripod support.

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Five Frames With A JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8, Mild and Mellow

Vintage Lens Test - Images with a JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8, impressive images.

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The JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8 manual focus prime telephoto lens that I tested is probably an early version manufactured in Japan (as it carries the 'Made in Japan' mark) before production was moved to Korea and the elements multi-coated (as seen on a few other images of similar items posted on the Net).

Olympus E-P5, JCPenny Auto Lens 135mm 1:2.8

Looking up the heritage of the lens was also quite impossible. Aside from a very scant mention that 'Pentax had a deal with JC Penny and some other department store chains some years ago...', there are no clear indications as to which manufacture the lens originates from either.

The lens itself, the test unit is an MD-mount, is very well done, all metal-and-glass, with superb mechanics and very smooth focal action, and as far as I can see, is still in top mint condition. I had the lens mounted on the E-P5 for these shots, wide open, handheld. Impressive images.

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Selamat Menyambut AidilFitri 2023

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Five Frames With A Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Living Colors

Re-Living The CCD Sensor - A vintage with a following for the different look and feel of the images, which some say are almost film-like.

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Top and backlighted images from just outside my door captured with the vintage Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, a super zoom bridge camera with a 1/2.5" 8.3MP CCD sensor, an 18x (28-504mm equivalent) zoom lens, also is capable of doing images with a 1cm macro mode. The camera was launched in 2007 and has a 188,000 pixels EVF and A 2.5" 207,000 pixels LCD monitor, switchable to function only alternatively. The function, which can be confusing at times, is controlled by a button switch located near the thumb rest area (when holding the camera up to the eye) on the upper part of the backplane of the camera.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

The camera itself, compact and lightweight, weighs 360 grams without battery and measures 117.6 x 75.3 x 88.2 mm. The low pixel count from both the EVF and LCD monitor (by today's standards) is insufficient to give you a thorough image of the frame you are looking at, but, believe me, the proof will be in the images themselves, which will blow your mind away. CCD sensor images have a following among photographers who prefer the images' different look and feel, which are high-quality, low-noise images that some say are almost film-like.

If you are wary about the ever-spiraling cost of film, and the equally high cost of acquiring new high-end digital camera products, vintage cameras with CCD sensors are more than adequate to cater to your interest. Even though CCD sensors on digital cameras have virtually been replaced by CMOS sensors, there is still a following among photographers who prefer the images from these sensors that have a different look and feel, with some saying they are almost film-like. CCD sensors are more sensitive to dynamic range, and lower noise output, with more vibrant colors.

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Five Frames With An SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.4, Pastel Art II

Vintage Lens Test - Images with an SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.4, soft and subtle.

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Pentax SMC (Super-Multi-Coated) lenses were introduced in the early 1970s, at the end of the M42-mount era, when it was launched with the introduction of Pentax K-mount lenses. Though not designated officially as the K-series, the lenses are usually given this designation to distinguish them from later K-mount lenses (such as the M, A, F, FA, and DA series). K-mount lenses were exclusively manual focus lenses with no electronic features.

SMC Pentax-A 50mm 1:1.4

The K-series was followed by the manual focus M-series which is again without any electronic features, though they are generally smaller in size to match the more compact bodies of the Pentax M-series 35mm SLR film camera bodies that were being produced then. The A series of lenses saw the introduction of "automatic" aperture settings. The lenses had an aperture ring that could be set manually, and a click-button "A" mode setting which allowed the camera to control the aperture automatically.

Like all A-series lenses, this very fast standard lens supports P and Tv exposure modes in addition to Av and M and is adaptable to all K-mount Pentax SLR cameras, including digitals. It is slightly softer at F1.4 but reaches very good figures from 2.8 downward. The lens is also recommended for portrait photography on digital cameras and produces images that are soft with smooth out-of-focus blurring.

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Five Frames With A Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, Up and Running Again

Re-Living The CCD Sensor - The preference for vintage digital cameras with images that have a look and feel different from modern digital cameras.

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I

asked Bing to write me a fun story to read and the AI language model came back with a story about a boy, Jack, who found a door on a magical tree. Jack opened the door and stepped inside, and to his surprise, he found himself in a magical world filled with talking animals, fairies, and other magical creatures.

Jack spent the next few days exploring this magical world, making new friends, and having all sorts of adventures. He even helped a group of fairies who were out looking for their lost treasures.

Eventually, it was time for Jack to return home. He said goodbye to all of his new friends and promised to come back and visit soon. As he stepped out of the magical tree, he found himself back in his own world.

Panasonix Lumix DMC-FZ18

The story is reflective of me as well, as I went trudging through the storage bin and picked up the Lumix DMC-FZ18 last used 10 years back, put away because the battery was not holding its charge anymore then.

I ordered a pair of new batteries online, had the battery installed, and Walla!, the camera came back to life just like it was switched off only a few minutes ago. Took the camera out to the porch for the trial re-run, had the few shots post-processed on the digital tabletop, and went head over heels for the excellent quality images. Images like these are preferred by some photographers because of their look and feel which are different from those of later digital cameras.

Is this my magical door then? An opening to the days of the old, and a chance to re-live images captured with the CCD sensor? Let's stay on and find out what happens.

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Five Frames With A T-Mount Photax 400mm 1:6.3 Preset, A Surprise Find, Take II

Vintage Lens Test - Five frames with the T-mount Photax 400mm 1:6.3 Preset telephoto lens, totally unexpected, Take II.

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The T-Mount Photax 400mm 1:6.3 Preset Telephoto Lens, sometimes just referred to simply as a 'long tube' lens, dates back to the 1960s, is a low-cost commonplace lens and can be found under a variety of brand names such as Astranar, Impakt, Photax, D&N, Prinz-Galaxy, Paragon, Sirius, Ensinor, Quantaray, Optomax, Kenlock, Praotor, Hanimex and more.

Olympus E-P5, Photax T-Mount 400mm F6.5

Typically these are 4 elements of front-end focus T-mount lenses with a two-ring preset aperture and a very convenient built-in tripod mount. The unit I tested weighs 741 grams minus the soft velvet pouch and the 340mm hard faux leather sheath it comes in. Images, shot here with the lens mounted on the 2x crop sensor Olympus E-P5, are at the equivalent focal length of an 800 mm lens on a full-frame camera. 

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