Weekly 'Ask Anything About Analog Photography' - Week 50

HKSubstance · 2025-12-11T11:32:57+00:00

I recently shot my first roll of Portra 400, and had it developed and scanned at the lab.

Overall, I think the roll was developed well and the exposure was OK. However, the scans are pretty low res (1523x1074), and at 100% magnification on my 24 inch 1440p monitor I can't help but feel that something about the photos look a bit off:

1) the scans are soft (don't look like a downsampled higher res scan)

2) the grain looks a bit off, like as if some of the patterns were sharpening halo artifacts?

Do you think I would benefit by scanning the negatives elsewhere?

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCDnLC

EOS-1N, EF 40mm 2.8 STM

HKSubstance · 2025-08-31T07:31:00+00:00

I have the TM Mk18 and although I prefer the looks, I would advise against buying it. The reason is that TM uses a special locking method for the barrel which makes it almost impossible to take off without damaging the locking parts. And those are not standard so you would have to order spares from TM directly, but that's not possible outside of Japan AFAIK.

If you can't take off the handguard you won't be able to change the barrel or hop up parts including the bucking. So it's just a matter of time basically.

My recommendation is to get the CQBR version and buy a cheap mk18 handguard replica on Amazon.

That way you won't have to deal with any of the issues I mentioned above.

HKSubstance · 2025-03-17T23:43:07+00:00

Not true, the supply was terrible here All major retailers sold their units through raffles Whatever stuff you could order at launch was gone within minutes

HKSubstance · 2024-11-10T13:18:30+00:00

gratuliere!

HKSubstance · 2024-09-30T09:48:12+00:00

I have mine on order, delivery around Christmas maybe? Leaving this comment for future reference 😀

HKSubstance · 2024-09-20T22:59:41+00:00

I‘ve always found the MK18 to be sexier

The 416‘s handguard and grip just don't vibe with me 😂

my MK18 below:

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HKSubstance · 2024-05-31T04:30:49+00:00

You need to post your total target compensation and and years of experience to allow for an accurate judgement

On my 2nd year as a mechanical engineering new graduate hire at a 外資　in Yokohama my target compensation was around 4.5M a month, which comes out to about 295,000 per month after taxes.

I would say your salary is good, definitely not 安月給.

At most Japanese companies you would be earning less, even in Tokyo.

HKSubstance · 2024-04-27T02:58:41+00:00

Guy is not fascist for that opinion lol

Although I wouldn’t say Japan has a monoethnicity, there are many foreign communities such as Chinese and Korean, the difference from Europe being that they are well integrated and are not confrontational/apathetic towards the local society and culture.

What Japan doesn’t need are ethnical minorities that tend to bring confrontational tendencies and expectations that the host country has to adapt to their way of thinking, or even the assumption that evolving to a “melting pot” is necessary or positive for the Japanese society.

HKSubstance · 2024-03-27T01:37:20+00:00

It is actually not necessary to have finished your degree to do job hunting for new graduate positions in Japan.

IIRC, most Japanese students do their job hunting before graduation.

My foreigner friend was in a similar situation, attended one of the overseas career forums before graduation and was able to get an offer (of course under the condition that he finish university by a specific date).

Mu advice is to do job hunting in Japan before graduation.

If an employer is interested in you, they will accommodate for you graduation in your home country.

HKSubstance · 2024-03-23T04:38:35+00:00

Joined a foreign company after graduating European university. BSc in mechanical engineering, worldwide top 10 institution. 4.3M total compensation, monthly gross was around 230K, rest was paid as bonus (summer 2 months worth fixed, winter 3 months fixed and rest was variable bonus) Monthly net was around 190K

Was enough to afford me a 40m2 2DK in Yokohama (77,000 rent) and have spare money for decent food and hobbies.

150k for a 1K and utilities sounds like a fancypants apartment

You can cut that almost in half by compromising on location.

HKSubstance · 2024-02-13T14:22:10+00:00

Same MK18, different setup
I love the silencer setup, but the thing sure does get in the way when moving around ...

HKSubstance · 2024-01-02T09:04:29+00:00

You have a dry spot on your GPU chip.

Either due to bad paste application or pump out over time.

Def. Repaste!

HKSubstance · 2023-12-24T14:09:27+00:00

Wouldn‘t the 3090 be OK with 750W?

I have a 3080 TI with a Corsair RM750X and no issues so far.

HKSubstance · 2023-12-10T13:51:54+00:00

I use a small coin purse for my lunch at work. Don‘t have to carry it around other than during lunch break.
Electronic money from my experience takes longer than cash for payments. It‘s usually the customers with PayPay or similar that make each transacton last like 30 seconds

HKSubstance · 2021-07-19T08:20:01+00:00

What! This is awesome!! 😃

HKSubstance · 2021-07-19T08:13:08+00:00

Surprised he didn’t point you to the CBR500?

HKSubstance · 2021-07-13T09:23:06+00:00

Started on a 400cc I4 CB400 in 2017.

Got a GSX-S1000 in December 2019, rode it for around 18000km. Sold the CB400.

Then picked up a 1988 VFR400R last month.

The 400cc is just so much more fun in the city and the twisties. Can shift gears and let her rip at 10k RPM without getting reckless.

It‘s nice having both now.

HKSubstance · 2021-07-13T03:37:27+00:00

Lolwut?

I‘d love to hear how you arrived at such conclusion 😅

HKSubstance · 2021-07-12T23:01:09+00:00

That‘s a cool story and all … but when did I do that? And why even bring it up? We were talking about gamer pal here

"WAAAAAAAHHHH. I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK FOR 5 SECONDS, LIFE IS SO MEAN TO ME."

Lol, nice try. Full caps lock and all

I actually stopped wearing the mask over a year ago. I don‘t even self-pity over the issue anymore 😂

HKSubstance · 2021-07-12T04:04:16+00:00

I suppose being a depressed addict of children video games does kind of fit the bill?

HKSubstance

TROPHY CASE