The User's Review: 'Camera Trials' and 'The Nature Camera' in The Nature Magazine

I got a chance to go through some old issues of Nature this morning. The magazine started a column entitled 'Camera Trials' by Edna H. and William J. Evans in Vol. 39 (4): 216, published in April, 1946. They talked about cameras, photographic devices and tips, camera fans, and people. Later, in Vol. 48 (6): 328 (June-July, 1955), the column was renamed as 'The Nature Camera'.

The User's Review: Vivitar Auto Telephoto Close Focusing 135mm 2.8 Lens

This lens is long in both size and name. Its name is long and correct. Due to its image scale up to 1:2 in a 35mm camera, Vivitar uses the right term 'close focusing' rather than 'macro' (macro should mean, at least, up to 1:1, I believe).

This lens is built solid, with metal barrel and rings. If you have one with any kinds of mounts, the lens is easy to be used on a mirror-less digital camera via a proper mount adapter.

The User's Review: Extra 35mm 1.8 Spy Camera during WW II

Scanned image from 'World War II' by S. Callery

First of all, I should say that I am NOT a user of this camera, not even have a chance to see or touch the real camera. My 8-year old son, Drew, read a picture book 'World War II' by Sean Callery and showed the picture of this camera on Page 87.

In the book, this camera is called 'Sure shot' (sure, not any one of Canon's Sure shot). 'This tiny camera, about 9 cm across, was seized from a spy after the war. Light, small, and easy to conceal, it could take pictures of documents at close range.'

I have not found any extra info on this tiny, special, spy tool on Google yet. Please let me know if you know anything about it. Thanks.

The User's Review: Elicar V-HQ Macro MC 90 mm f/2.5 Macro Lens

I believe, this lens is one of the best macro lenses for manual focus, because of its 1:1 magnification scale, f2.5 maximum aperture, and smaller size. My copy has a KA mount, meaning that I can set aperture size on Pentax DSLR camers when using the A gear on the aperture ring on this lens (it has the A position, but no A-lock commonly seen on Pentax KA lenses).

The User's Review: Two 55mm F2.8 1:1 Macro Lenses,Branded By Panagor and Vivitar

Probably manufactured in the same factory in Japan, these two lenses are almost identical, except the engraved marks on the surfaces of the lenses.

The Panagor has the magnification scale on the rear side of focus ring, while the Vivitar put the scale on its barrel. On the Panagor, it marks PMC (Panagor's Multi-Coated?). The coating colors, green on front element and yellow on rear glass, are lighter on the Panagor. I am not sure, this is because of the PMC or different aging processes between the two lenses.

The Panagor lens shown here has a MD mount while the Vivitar lens owns a M/SR mount and a screw on its aperture ring (in the last image below). A small metal 'leg' might be mounted at the screw site to convert the Vivitar into a MD mount.

The User's Review: Two 500mm F8 Mirror Lenses,Branded By Kalimar and Vivitar

Both are made in Korea (South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea) , are of MC/multi-coated, have 72 mm-front-filter and 30.5 mm-rear-filter threads, and are mounted on a T-mount adapter that is available for various camera mounts.

The obvious differences between the two are: the surface textures of rubber coats on focus rings, and marks on the lens bodies.

I believe, that they are produced by the same manufacture and their parts are exchangeable. 

The User's Review: Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60mm 2.8 vs. 60mm 2.8 D

These lenses have been produced for many years and the D lens is still in production. The only difference in their appearances is that the D lens is marked a "D". However, the D lens can pass the distance information to cameras and is very useful when a compatible flash is used.

BTW, in Nikon's English, 'micro' means 'macro'.

The User's Review: The differences between Nikon N4004 and N4004S

The differences are obvious in the views of front and top. Identical at the bottoms. However, on the back film chamber covers, do not notice any difference? (yellow vs. white)

The User's Review: Minolta Freedom I, Released in 1984?

I have not used or even touched this model, nothing special to me, except its dedicated rectangular-shape filter as found in its manual below. I believe that this filter is hardly to find today.