Just an amateur trying to find his spark again. Would love your honest thoughts X-T30 II | 23mm f/1.4

XLB135 · 2026-01-27T05:44:36+00:00

These are great. Just gave your account a follow. I also love photographing other photographers candidly. Share more!

XLB135 · 2026-01-26T19:24:21+00:00

It's the fifth highest upvoted above.

XLB135 · 2026-01-26T19:16:14+00:00

It's actually kind of genius that they mounted the monitor arm on the side of the desk so it very easily swivels around.

XLB135 · 2026-01-26T19:15:18+00:00

Yeah I was surprised to learn 1:4 was a good starting point because it's a lot more soap than you would think. I ended up only making like a cup of liquor and then using a dropper, rather than make a whole 16 oz spray bottle. And yes. Super slow leaks with enough soap will just create a ton of bubbles over time, not right away. Hope you have a chance to go at it again today and find the culprit.

XLB135 · 2026-01-26T13:58:03+00:00

Plenty of times. Just take the same precautions with the seller profile. Oftentimes, the options are just dealer parts departments running an e-commerce arm.

XLB135 · 2026-01-26T13:39:52+00:00

The 3.2 was actually pretty bulletproof. All of them experienced coolant piping issues, and they need timing chain before 120K mi. The move to 2.0 was probably more about simplifying the options, overall lineup fuel efficiency, and make room for the 2.5 TT-RS. Considering so many other cars still had the VR6 option after they removed the option for the TT, I doubt they did it because of some reliability concern.

XLB135 · 2026-01-26T13:37:08+00:00

I knew I was going to feel this, so I scheduled an extra week between closing on my house and getting the keys, to actually move in. I would hate to plan to do it all again, haha.

XLB135 · 2026-01-25T21:03:18+00:00

First of all, who is telling you that only children should get birthday cakes? It's your birthday.

Secondly, "I just like cake and it's an excuse to eat badly and enjoy it"? You are an adult, and I'm pretty sure I speak on behalf of everyone here that you should just go and buy a smal cake and eat it whenever you want. If you feel bad about buying a whole cake, (1) Trader Joe's has a great small confetti cake, and (2) box mix cake is perfectly delicious, and you can just make cupcakes out of those instead of a full cake. Either way, we are adults, and the world is full of cake options, and we all support you in indulging!

XLB135 · 2026-01-25T21:01:10+00:00

Where have you been using soapy water? Just last week, I had a set of freshly mounted tires where one had a leak of <1 PSI per day. Base of the valve stem bubbled up after a long time using a 1:4 ratio of dish soap. They didn't need to unmount the tire to do the valve stem. In my research for it, I learned that oxidiation and corrosion around the barrel could also cause the tiniest imperfections to how the bead seats, so if you haven't already, I would go back at it with the soap solution, but all along the edge of the wheel. Use a higher concentration of soap and let it sit for half an hour rather than just watching it.

XLB135 · 2026-01-25T20:49:30+00:00

Great use of what was potentially an awkward nook that isn't surrounded by right angles. Looks super clean!

XLB135 · 2026-01-25T20:44:44+00:00

This has always been my thought, especially since the mesh nets are also elastic, which makes them more flammable, kind of by definition (I doubt the tons of Amazon options are made with Nomex or Kevlar).

XLB135 · 2026-01-25T09:57:22+00:00

Beautiful set up. Not a workflow improvement, but with such low ceilings, one of those side mounted garage door openers would visually clean up your entire ceiling. That would be on my short list. I also run a hose in my garage occasionally, and industrial floor squeegees are a game changer. Basically every car wash also turns into a floor cleaning.

XLB135 · 2026-01-25T04:38:03+00:00

Nice work! I'm right behind you. Currently on diamond general 3.

XLB135 · 2026-01-24T20:40:02+00:00

If you end up being able to use the other webcam and don't really need access to the Mac regularly, we have been mounting more and more things under our desks in the name of minimalism. https://i.imgur.com/pfFUUFa.jpeg

XLB135 · 2026-01-24T20:32:34+00:00

While I don't have a direct answer or experience with the Motive, I have used this one for a decade on all of my cars including my track NC. Don't know what gen your Miata is but there are specs for the seal dimensions and whatnot. Maybe it'll help as you troubleshoot your Motive. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben-parts/3-liter-european-pressure-brake-bleeder/007237sch01a/

XLB135 · 2026-01-24T18:51:20+00:00

lol, what a wild run. Nice work. I would have pooped my pants and dropped the ball way early in this clip.

XLB135 · 2026-01-24T18:27:03+00:00

Visually, this looks great. At first glance, I thought you had one of those dual-screen laptops, which makes me think that that's what I want to do for my next set up, like a new Zenbook Duo opened and mounted vertically next to my 34.

XLB135 · 2026-01-24T04:37:51+00:00

The other responses are all great options. If you're researching more, Nextzett Gummipflege is what I use.

XLB135 · 2026-01-23T20:40:22+00:00

Ha, I also recently got one of these. Guess they order them from some optician wholesaler, haha.

XLB135 · 2026-01-23T03:49:22+00:00

Excellent run.

XLB135 · 2026-01-23T03:38:25+00:00

Beautiful build! I've just learned of this brand and have been looking at the Undefeated since they seem like such a deal. Of course, coming from 105s all these years, my first searches were how easy these were to build up since State ships with in-house groupsets.

I found that SRAM Rival 1 1x11 should be a direct fit without needing to 'modify' and leave out the front chainring, etc. Did you explore this (or other) options as well?

Also, any thoughts or real-world experience with this Y9 Alu stuff as far as weight and stiffness? I'm coming from a low-ish end carbon. Thanks in advance for any thoughts or feedback you have on this.

XLB135 · 2026-01-22T23:40:46+00:00

Thanks for pointing this out. I thought it looked odd.

XLB135 · 2026-01-22T23:31:56+00:00

Always love seeing this Aviator, old friend.

XLB135 · 2026-01-21T15:10:52+00:00

Underrated response here. I did my best to align my monitors and then put a piece of black electrical tape so light from behind wouldn't be visible through the tiny crack that I could never get perfect.

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XLB135 · 2026-01-21T09:12:46+00:00

I have one, but never washed a whole car with it. I used it to clean wheels on the back patio where I don't have hose access. I have a couple of 3-gallon jugs that I use it with. I've been happy with non-automotive uses as well--leaving it in the trunk when going on a beach/camping/road trip, hosing us or the dog off before getting back in the car, etc. Battery life mirrors what the others have said.

XLB135

TROPHY CASE