Friday, March 15, 2019

Adafruit's Portable 5 inch Monitor with HDMI DIY looked interesting. But in reality....


I've seen this video: Portable HDMI Display for Raspberry Pi - YouTube

And I thought it looks very nice and quite useful because it isn't only for the Raspberry Pi--I can use as my DSLR monitor or game console monitor as well--I have a Nintendo NES classic edition which is kind of portable console.
So I'd like to do this....



It's expensive than I expected.

But when I saw inside of it, it shouldn't be easy to do.
Building the portable monitor won't be easy, for sure--I haven't done soldering before. But it requires a lot of parts to buy, too.

And if I do this, I might learn a lot of things about Adafruit, for sure.

So I visited building guide wep page.
Overview | Portable 5in Monitor with HDMI | Adafruit Learning System

And I realised I don't only spend a lot of time, I need a lot of money to building it, too.

  • 5.0" 800x480 TFT Display $29.95
  • TFP401 HDMI Breakout $24.95
  • FPC Extension Board $4.50
  • Powerboost 1000C $19.95
  • 2500mAh Battery $14.95
  • Slide Switch $0.95
  • Tripod Screw Insert $1.50
  • Total: $96.75

I thought this is too expensive for me. I need other things like print 3D case and lots of tools to do this.


So when I go through their guide, I saw that it can powering up the screen through USB.
That means, I can simply use my smartphone powerbank.
So no need to buy Powerboost 1000C and 2500mAh Battery.
And I don't have 3D printer so I don't need slide switch and tripod screw insert, too.

So I need three parts--5 inch display, TFP401 HDMI breakout, FPC extension board.
So total $59.4.



Cheaper or even better alternative--Aliexpress.

That means I don't need to do this.
Because I can simply buy from cheap Chinese store in Aliexpress, like this:
This is screenshot of 5 inch capacitive lcd display from Livetime Store in Aliexpress.
5 inch Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Touch Screen 800*480 Capacitive LCD Display + HDMI Cable + USB Cable + CD for Raspberry Pi 3-in Demo Board Accessories on Aliexpress.com

This is 5 inch capacitive touch display. And it costs $38--include free international shipping.
This model was different driver board design than 5 inch resistive display so I couldn't find case for this model.
5 inch resistive display case costs $6 to $10 in Aliexpress.
I can buy 5 inch display with case for about $48.

So it's much cheaper and better(include touch panel) than Adafruit's.
I know this because I just ordered one from there. So I search the a lot of similar--5 inch lcd.


If I wanted to learn about Adafruit, I probably can invest that much time and money.
But now I'd like to more focus on Raspberry Pi--and programming.

So I will buy 5 inch capacitive touch display.


You can also buy other 5 inch screen from Aliexpress like this:

This is the screenshot of '5 inch lcd hdmi' search result in Aliexpress.
Buy 5 inch lcd hdmi and get free shipping on AliExpress.com

This is the screenshot of '5 inch screen' search result in Aliexpress.
Buy 5 inch display and get free shipping on AliExpress.com

When you are searching the lcd screen, it doesn't show up many items. But you can find store that specialize in Raspberry Pi or SBC(single board computer). So you probably have to check Raspberry Pi store one by one.



It looks hard to build but maybe not that much.

At first, I don't think it's easy thing to do. When I saw this link:
On/Off Switch | Portable 5in Monitor with HDMI | Adafruit Learning System
It doesn't seem to easy, does it?
But if you are thinking about portable project, I think it's worth the effort.


I saw the next page. And if I learn about soldering, I think I can do this.
TFP401 Driver | Portable 5in Monitor with HDMI | Adafruit Learning System

And next,
Display | Portable 5in Monitor with HDMI | Adafruit Learning System
This part need just connect and position the cable. After that, screen is working.

Next part is mounting to the case.


Overall, if I learn and practicing soldering, it shouldn't be so hard.

But I still don't have a 3D printer and I don't like spend that much money.
So I will buy from Aliexpress.

Many of web store like adafruit, elements14, sparkfun, pimoroni were probably based on USA or UK so shipping and currency is too expensive to my country--Korea.
And same kind of store in Korea was all imported from those countries so things were much more expensive.

That's why Aliexpress is the best choice--for me. And probably to you, too.

Monday, December 17, 2018

How the sixty dollar console-Nintendo classic mini, costing an arm and a leg?


Summary – Sad story of a sixty dollar console costing an arm and a leg.
quoted from one of Amazon user's Nintendo NES Classic Edition Console review: https://amzn.to/2Gid1mP


I also found similar one from customer Q&A sections @ #Amazon's Super NES Classic item page
Q: Will we ever have a chance to buy this?...
A: ...am willing to pay but when you make it impossible to get except rip-off-bay it makes it meaningless that....


Simply put - Nintendo didn't make enough products and they just kept trying to shutdown the productions because they wanted sell their other main line product like Nintendo Switch.

Here is evidence of what I said was probably true:
Despite the positive reception, journalists were confused about Nintendo's decision to discontinue the unit as announced in April 2017. Nintendo did not say at launch that the system was meant to be only a limited run, and its...
quoted from Reception section of NES Classic Edition - Wikipedia


Their products are selling so well but they were simply stop producing the product. Does it make sense to you?

NES Classic Edition


Nintendo NES Classic immediately sold out

The NES Classic immediately sold out when it was first released in November 2016, with resellers charging hundreds of dollars for the popular product.
quoted from Nintendo's NES Classic and SNES Classic are going out of production - The Verge


more details from Scalping and bootlegs section of NES Classic Edition - Wikipedia
This, coupled with the extremely high demand, prompted internet scalpers to buy as many as they could, so they could resell them with extreme price markups. In the US, prices were commonly set between $200 and $500, compared to its launch price of $59.99.


Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens sample photos without pp.


quoted from Helios-44 | Camerapedia | FANDOM powered by Wikia
Helios-44 is a series of standard lenses for SLR cameras, produced in Soviet Union.... Based on the lens Biotar 2 / 58,....

So every version has slight different things like shorter(or longer) minimum focus distance, different aperture blades, etc.

This technical details were only for the Helios 44-2 version.


Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens technical details:

type: Prime lens
mount type: M42
optical design: 6 elements in 4 groups
aperture range: f/2 ~ f/16
aperture blade: 8
minimum focus: 50 cm
filter thread size: 49mm
weight: 230g
length: 57mm

I don't much care about this technical details of lens. But sometimes it can be useful.
For example, if I already have same uv filter or hood like this lens, I can use with this lens.
And I'm walking long hours when I do photo-walks. So if lens wasn't heavy, it was very suitable for me. That is the reason that I mostly shoot with prime lens.
So I do check those things from the technical details.


You can read more about the lens from here:



Here is comparison shots - Biotar vs Helios




Photos of the lens that I used:
Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens

Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens




Technical notes:

These photos were all taken with handheld and I used M42 lens to Sony E mount or Micro four thirds adapter so I have no idea about aperture number for the photo.

When I am taking photos, I do use Raw file format. So I need to convert raw file to jpg file and during that time, I do some post-processing--this is kind of darkroom process in developing film.
And when I do this, I don't use any default setting from Rawtherapee--open source software because there has some image modification settings like sharpening, micro-contrast and among other things.
I don't use Adobe Photoshop but this also has same kind of default setting with sharpening.
This isn't important for photography. But this is about the lens--what kind of photo I can take with this lens. So sharpening won't help to know about the lens.


So when I do use Rawtherapee, I removed all the default setting.
I will do these adajustments, if necessary:
 - click the auto button in exposure tab--automatically calculate the exposure value,
 - adjust exposure value, if overall image was still dark or too bright,
 - adjust contrast(between 3 and 18) in L*a*b* adjustments tab,
 - if there have some areas were too dark or too bright which makes me feel unbalance the overall look, adjust the shadow/highlight value.
 - Sometimes, white balance set to auto or slightly reduce the temperature value. Because Sony A7's white balance value was quite terrible when I do use other brand lens--not Sony E mount lens.




Sample photos:

Sony A7 full frame camera with Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens:

cherry blossom at Sincheondunchi - Helios 44-2 lens
cherry blossom at Sincheondunchi - Helios 44-2 lens
* It was my flickr account photo. Same post processing and then film simulation set to Kodak Ektar 100.

at the Sincheongyo, Daegu

forsythia at Sincheondunchi, Daegu

Cosmos sulphureus






Olympus E-P3 camera with Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 lens:

I didn't use Rawtherapee because I like the color of Olympus Viewer 3 produced.
I did only adjust exposure value. And then adjust level in Gimp--open source software.

at the Sincheondunchi, Daegu

I think it is morning glory or ipomoea kind of flower.

at the Sincheongyo, Daegu




P.S. If you'd like to read in Korean, you can read it from here--this is my Korean blog.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 MC M42 lens sample photos without pp.


Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 MC lens technical details:

type: Prime lens
mount type: M42
optical design: 7 elements in 7 groups
aperture range: f/2.8~f/22
aperture blade: 6
minimum focus: 25 cm
filter thread size: 55mm
weight: 210g
length: 53mm

I don't much care about this technical details of lens. But sometimes it can be useful.
For example, if I already have same uv filter or hood like this lens, I can use with this lens.
And I'm walking long hours when I do photo-walks. So if lens wasn't heavy, it was very suitable for me. That is the reason that I mostly shoot with prime lens.
So I do check those things from the technical details.


You can read more about the lens from here:



Technical notes:

These photos were all taken with handheld and I used M42 lens to Sony E mount or Micro four thirds adapter so I have no idea about aperture number for the photo.

When I am taking photos, I do use Raw file format. So I need to convert raw file to jpg file and during that time, I do some post-processing--this is kind of darkroom process in developing film.
And when I do this, I don't use any default setting from Rawtherapee--open source software because there has some image modification settings like sharpening, micro-contrast and among other things.
I don't use Adobe Photoshop but this also has same kind of default setting with sharpening.
This isn't important for photography. But this is about the lens--what kind of photo I can take with this lens. So sharpening won't help to know about the lens.


So when I do use Rawtherapee, I removed all the default setting.
I will do these adajustments, if necessary:
 - click the auto button in exposure tab--automatically calculate the exposure value,
 - adjust exposure value, if overall image was still dark or too bright,
 - adjust contrast(between 3 and 18) in L*a*b* adjustments tab,
 - if there have some areas were too dark or too bright which makes me feel unbalance the overall look, adjust the shadow/highlight value.
 - Sometimes, white balance set to auto or slightly reduce the temperature value. Because Sony A7's white balance value was quite terrible when I do use other brand lens--not Sony E mount lens.



I have two lenses. One with red MC and red letter on the feet. The other one is with green letter on the feet.
Photos of the lens that I used - Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 MC (green letter on the feet) lens:
Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 MC lens

Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 MC lens

Sample photos - Sony A7 full frame camera with Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 MC lens:

Rhododendron schlippenbachii - Pentacon 29mm's bubbly bokeh.
Pentacon 29mm's bubbly bokeh
* It was my flickr account photo. Same post processing and then film simulation set to Kodak Potra 160.

This is quite extreme bokeh, I think.
But you can also take photo like below--quite smooth bokeh:
I think it is morning glory or ipomoea kind of flower.

at the Sincheongyo, Daegu

Olympus E-P3 camera with Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 lens:
Pentacon 29mm's bubbly bokeh
I took this photo in jpg and use auto tone in Olympus Viewer 3 software.




Photos of the lens that I used - Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 (red) MC lens:
Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 red MC version lens

Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 red MC version lens


Sample photos - Sony A7 full frame camera with Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 red MC lens:

build up housing that quite long
at Taepyeong negeuri, Daegu
* It was my flickr account photo. Same post processing.

Sincheondunchi, near Dongsingyo

Sony Nex-5R camera with Pentacon 29mm f/2.8 red MC lens:


at the Sincheongyo, Daegu



P.S. If you'd like to read in Korean, you can read it from here--this is my Korean blog.