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2013-12-30

Commodore Plus/4 and Yamaha CX-11

So, these two arrived fairly recently.


The Plus/4 was bought "sold as seen" on eBay and doesn't produce any video output. So, I'll need to work on fixing it. It needs a good clean both inside and out.



The Yamaha CX-11 was sold as working. It powers up fine, and "call music" goes into the Yamaha ROM, allowing playing around with voices and apparently control via MIDI.






Other than a basic test, I've not had time to play with it. It also needs a good clean.

I've not been able to find out much info on the CX-11. It seems like a slight variant on the much more common CX-5M. It has the SFG-05 unit, instead of SFG-01, RGB out, two normal MSX 50 pin slots as well as the Yamaha 60-pin side-slot with the SFG-05 fitted. Apart from this, it seems very similar to the CX-5M and YIS-503, but looks like the CX-5M II. It's a standard MSX (not MSX2), with 32K RAM and 16K VRAM. I've not popped it open to see what's inside yet. I have the CX-5M and YIS-503 service manuals, and they should be handy for comparison. I also recently received the MegaFlashROM SCC+ SD (with 512K RAM). With this, I should be able to load ROMs for the original Yamaha software and play around with this.



The SFG-05 uses the YM2164 (OPP) chip, which is apparently pretty much identical to the YM2151 (OPM).

I also bought a few Y8950 chips. This audio chip was used for the MSX-Audio FM synth standard, as available in some expansion cartridges. According to Wikipedia, it is similar to the YM3526 (OPL/OPL1), with added ADPCM sample and playback. I might build an MSX-Audio board, or hook them up more directly, perhaps to some homebrew kit too.

There is also MSX-Music, which is based on the YM2413 chip (OPLL, stripped down OPL2).  Most MSX2+ machines had MSX-Music, including my Sony HB-FX1DJ. From what I understand, this should be a slightly more capable FM synth, but lacks ADPCM.


2013-12-19

Busy, busy, some new toys

Sony A7. Very nice! Peaking is especially well implemented. I plan on using this with old lenses, and maybe for some astrophotography, while keeping my EM-1 as my main camera. I got Nikon and OM adapters for use with my existing lenses, but will try out some more old glass.

Borg 67FL. Wow! With the 0.66x DGT reducer (now discontinued), this goes all the way down to 198mm and f/2.95! It also works with the 0.7x multi-reducer (7870), though it's only recommended for an APS-sized field, not the full 35mm field. The 0.85 reducer (7885) can also be used. A flattener for these shorter focal lengths will be coming along. No clear skies since I bought this.
I expect the T-ratio to be better than the Nikon 180/2.8ED Ai-S. I'll probably sell both the Nikon and my Borg 60ED.

Starlight Xpress 2" filter wheel. This is nicely made, and good value. The slightly taller than necessary Baader 2" filters fit without any problems.

Various adapters to hook up my QHY-8 and ST-8300M directly, with or without the filterwheel, via threaded parts rather than going through an EOS bayonet mount. This should help reduce sag. Yay, more adapters....

Pre-ordered the Vixen 100/3.8 VSD. I expect delivery in early February next year.

Bye-bye to my Mamiya-6 RF kit. Great camera, great glass, but I just wasn't using it.