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KEO
Joined: 27 Sep 2018 Posts: 761 Location: USA
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 8:14 pm Post subject: KALT 80-205mm f3.9 Maual Close Focus Zoom |
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KEO wrote:
Greetings. I've been lurking on the forum for some time, but I've decided to jump in because I have acquired a slightly mysterious lens and I can't find much information about it. The lens in question is a KALT 80-205mm manual macro zoom lens. I got it in a box of old camera stuff I bought.
In the months since I found this one, I've often searched on ebay and never once have I seen a KALT lens of any kind come up for sale or auction. It seems there's little information to be found about KALT branded lenses. As far as I can tell that company makes camera accessories and not lenses, so I have no idea who might have manufactured their lenses in the past.
The only mention I've seen is from an alphabetical list of old lenses called "Third Party Lenses from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s" from the Blackest Knight Photography website. According to that list the 80-205 came out in 1978, and was worth over $600 by 1998, however I have no idea how reliable this information might be.
Anyway, I'd be interested in any tips I could get. I mean, I have no plans to sell this lens, but the curiosity about it is bugging me.
Thank you in advance! |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7785 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
Probably the same lens as this one that is branded Kenlock McTor ? I've seen this with other names, Optomax and Prinzflex for sure. It has a lot of similarities with my Vivitar 90-230 / 4.5 Macro, that according to the serial number is a Tokina made lens.
The Kenlock is OK, but I have better in the range. It's an average third party lens.
_________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 10543 Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 12:12 am Post subject: |
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visualopsins wrote:
Welcome KEO
Iirc I once had a Kalt 400-800mm zoom. It was slow and cheaply made-- the zoom mechanism was a simple tube in tube slider, no helical. The front element is concave. Looks like
_________________ ☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮ like attracts like! ☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮
Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51BB), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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KEO
Joined: 27 Sep 2018 Posts: 761 Location: USA
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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KEO wrote:
Thanks, Fellows!
My KALT lens looks exactly like Lloyd's Kenlock-McTor.
I'm glad to know a bit more about it. I haven't even tried it out yet. The glass seems to be in excellent condition, although the overall design seems rather cumbersome - not as bad as that 400-800 zoom however!
I paid $35 for the box it came in, which also contained an Auto Chinon 55mm f/1.7, an Auto Chinon 35mm f/2.8, and an Auto Chinon 135mm f/2.8, all in great shape (the 135 looks unused and was still in the original box), plus a variety of other useful items, so I'm quite happy even though the KALT is nothing special.
Thanks again. |
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7785 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2018 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
Hey, $35 for that box is a bargain The 55 / 1.7 is worth more than that alone, it's a great lens. My 35 / 2.8 is OK, as well. I don't have the 135. And the Kenlock isn't bad, but I have got better. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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KEO
Joined: 27 Sep 2018 Posts: 761 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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KEO wrote:
Lloydy wrote: |
Hey, $35 for that box is a bargain The 55 / 1.7 is worth more than that alone, it's a great lens. My 35 / 2.8 is OK, as well. I don't have the 135. And the Kenlock isn't bad, but I have got better. |
Yes, I already had a nice 55/1.7 (off a Gaf L-17) and I've enjoyed that one a lot. No harm having another. The one from the box looks slightly different too, with green numbers instead of red/orange and a knobby rubber focus ring grip instead of the strange fake leather that matches the Gaf.
I haven't haven't had a chance to try the 35 and the 135 nearly as much as I'd like, but my experiences with them so far have been quite positive. I'm a fan of Chinon bokeh, and they both seem to have it, and they're both lightweight, which is nice.
There were many other useful little items in the $35 box too, like a wired shutter release with a 2.5mm connector and a flexible mini-tripod perfect for a small flash.
Thanks again for your insight. Maybe I'll post some pics when I finally get around to trying out the KALT. |
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