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400mm lens?
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:52 pm    Post subject: 400mm lens? Reply with quote
I have found a Kino made 400mm 6.3 lens Dated 60's $35.00, should I pass ?


PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
6.3/400 sounds like one of those long tube lenses.

According to what I've seen of them, not bad, but not great either, I suppose best to call them acceptable.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:01 pm    Post subject: Re: 400mm lens? Reply with quote
pappastratos wrote:
I have found a Kino made 400mm 6.3 lens Dated 60's $35.00, should I pass ?


Depends on what you expect. $35 is cheap.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Kino lens was also sold as a Soligor and doubtless under several other brand names as well. It is likely not to be the same as the countless "Wondertute" type 400/6.3 models.

Here's a pic of mine:





More Soligor lenses here:

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=33736

Performance is OK for its age, but you will need to steady a lens this long Smile I slightly prefer the Tokina 400/6.3 which gave me slightly better results:





Price is OK for this lens Smile Let's face it, it's a 400mm lens...that's cheap whatever the lens! Laughing


PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have a Spiratone, but rear element is fogged. Cleaned element, but is fogging back.


PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I like that Soligor Graham. Cool


PostPosted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
graham do you load that thing over your shoulder? Laughing here in the states we wouldnt even allow that in the country! Very Happy

heres my thought: i assume you have a 1.5 crop digicam. if so take your best 135/2.8 (200mm on crop) get a nice 2x extender (about 2" deep) and now you have a 400/5.6 you can easily carry around.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ha! Man up Tony! Laughing Laughing Laughing

It's a nice idea, but to get the same reach I'd need a 3x converter on that 135mm though as 400mm * 1.5 = 550mm Wink

Lloydy, it's a good performer, but with some CA. Really liked that one!


PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The longer the better !

Thats a nice finish on the Tokina. My version of it is in Mamiya brand, less chrome. There is also a "zebra" finish version, I think I have seen it in Taika brand.

I carry these things around San Francisco.

The general attitude is - "cool!"

The one that got the most attention was the Meyer Telemegor 400/5.5 in alu finish.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have this Soligor 6.3/400


in case it's the same design, here are some samples
Handheld at 1/320, Iso 400 and wide open at f6.3


The same a little cropped


with a Kenko TCx1.4




PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:21 pm    Post subject: Re: 400mm lens? Reply with quote
pappastratos wrote:
I have found a Kino made 400mm 6.3 lens Dated 60's $35.00, should I pass ?


Do you already have a super tele? They're fun, but technically demanding.

I'd buy the Kino and try it. It's low risk, you can Ebay it for $35 if it doesn't work out.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Olivier, yours looks like a newer Tokina auto model Smile


PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
In T4 interchangeable mount


PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, T4.
and a Tele-Auto :





sorry for dust... Smile


PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:24 pm    Post subject: Re: 400mm lens? Reply with quote
fuzzywuzzy wrote:
pappastratos wrote:
I have found a Kino made 400mm 6.3 lens Dated 60's $35.00, should I pass ?


Do you already have a super tele? They're fun, but technically demanding.

I'd buy the Kino and try it. It's low risk, you can Ebay it for $35 if it doesn't work out.


No, I do not, for years & years I was a wedding photographer, all my lenses were for groups & portraits.
I said when I quit wedding photography I wanted to photo flowers & birds,,,
I really don't photo a lot anymore. I do photo a lot of sunsets on the bay & ocean, ships, cars & buildings. Anything that does not require me to say "look this way' or "smile" !!


PostPosted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
I carry these things around San Francisco.

The general attitude is - "cool!"

I carry a Lil'Bigma 170-500 around SF sometimes. The general attitude is... wariness.

I have the Spiratone -- had one back in the 1970s too, used on my Pen-FT. My story: I would mount the 400 on a 2x TC, and tubes, and bellows, and a shoulder stock, and take closeups of wild rattlesnakes in the field -- from a safe distance, like 3-4m. And in bright sun. I sometimes put a similar rig on my K20D, which at least is a bit larger than the Pen-FT and so doesn't look so freakish. Still, since the whole rig looks rather like a grenade launcher, I don't take it into urban areas.

I saw a Soligor on the bay but decided that since I barely use the Spiratone, a Soligor would be just too much. And I'm saving my money for stranger lenses.
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