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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 6627
Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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 Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:58 am Post subject: Soligor Auto-Exakta 135/2.8 - 1950's quality |
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luisalegria wrote:
Member Voytek very kindly gave me this beauty -
Its a VERY heavy piece. It must be either solid brass or solid glass, and it is certainly of a very high-quality build, everything thats not enameled brass is chrome brass - on the inside !
I have no idea who made it, though I may have seen similar lenses made for early Miranda cameras - which still doesn't identify the maker. I have never seen one like this in Exakta mount before.
It was made specifically for Exakta, with no apparent provision for easy adaptation to other early auto lens mounts like Nikon - the aperture ring in the front gives this away; since most of even the earliest third party lenses were made with provisions to make versions for multiple mounts, I think this one pre-existed all these other auto mounts, and therefore was made when there was only one, Exakta.
I mounted it on one of my Exakta-PK adapters. Since the Exakta arm is fairly bulky on this one, it interferes with my Pentax DSLR overhang even more than usual, so it ended up in a strange orientation, as seen. I haven't opened it up yet to change the focus, so infinity is still about 25 feet/8 meters.
As a DSLR lens these Exakta automatics are surprisingly useful. The button stops the lens down like a preset ring, but much more quickly and conveniently, its quick and easy to stop down immediately before taking a picture. Combined with the ability to use AV modes on Pentax, its almost as handy as a PK/A mount. Great for macro in the field I think.
Performance is very surprisingly good. This is a sharp lens wide open, which is not common even on 135's from two decades later. I can't say yet whether its as sharp at infinity as close-up, but I will find out eventually. No flare, high contrast, no CA, little or no fringing that I can see. A high quality lens.
Some sample taken using an extension ring. Its a very nice lens for macro.
GIMP GEGL BW conversion of an underexposed shot - an interesting trick to try to rescue an otherwise hopeless picture.
The bird -
crop -
" target="_blank">Click here to see on Ebay
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I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work. |
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Shiladitya
Joined: 31 May 2008
Posts: 306
Location: New Delhi, India
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 5:45 am Post subject: Re: Soligor Auto-Exakta 135/2.8 - 1950's quality |
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Shiladitya wrote:
Thanks so much for sharing. Nice quality lens.
| luisalegria wrote: |
I mounted it on one of my Exakta-PK adapters. Since the Exakta arm is fairly bulky on this one, it interferes with my Pentax DSLR overhang even more than usual, so it ended up in a strange orientation, as seen. I haven't opened it up yet to change the focus, so infinity is still about 25 feet/8 meters. |
I am specially interested to know about your Exakta-PK adapter, never came across one in the bay. Have seen M42 to Exakta adapters though. You have also mentioned about opening the Exakta arm and adjusting for infinity. Help on how to do that would be great.
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Camera: 35mm SLR: Nikon F4s, Nikon FG, FE2, FM2n, FA; Pentax K1000, Spotmatic II, MZ60; Exakta Varex IIb, Olympus OM1n;
MF TLR: Yashica Mat 124G, Yashica 635, Rolleiflex Automat MX EVS
35mm RF: Voigtlander Prominent, Yashica Electro GSN, Minolta Hi-Matic 7s
MF Folder: Agfa Isolette III
Digital: Canon 5DC, Canon 550D
Lenses: Nikkor- 2.8/55 Micro, 1.4/50 AIS, 1.2/55 AI, 2.8/24 AIS, 2.8/20 AIS, 4/200 AIS, 2.5/105 AIS
Pentax K: SMC 1.7/50, 2.8/24, 3.5/135, 4/200 & 4.5/80-200
M42: SMC Tak 1.8/55, SMC Tak 3.5/28, SMC Tak 3.5/135, Super Tak 4/200, Yasinon DX 1.7/50, Meyer Oreston 1.8/50
Zuiko: 1.8/50, 3.5/28
Exakta: Pancolar 2/50, Pentacon 3.5/30, Enna 4.5/240
Prominent: Ultron 2/50, Skoparon 3.5/35, Dynaon 4.5/100 |
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Shiladitya
Joined: 31 May 2008
Posts: 306
Location: New Delhi, India
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| Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 5:52 am Post subject: |
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Shiladitya wrote:
OK I found this out....
http://forum.mflenses.com/exakta-pentax-k-adapter-t9009,highlight,exakta+pentax+adapter.html
Guess this is the one 
_________________
Camera: 35mm SLR: Nikon F4s, Nikon FG, FE2, FM2n, FA; Pentax K1000, Spotmatic II, MZ60; Exakta Varex IIb, Olympus OM1n;
MF TLR: Yashica Mat 124G, Yashica 635, Rolleiflex Automat MX EVS
35mm RF: Voigtlander Prominent, Yashica Electro GSN, Minolta Hi-Matic 7s
MF Folder: Agfa Isolette III
Digital: Canon 5DC, Canon 550D
Lenses: Nikkor- 2.8/55 Micro, 1.4/50 AIS, 1.2/55 AI, 2.8/24 AIS, 2.8/20 AIS, 4/200 AIS, 2.5/105 AIS
Pentax K: SMC 1.7/50, 2.8/24, 3.5/135, 4/200 & 4.5/80-200
M42: SMC Tak 1.8/55, SMC Tak 3.5/28, SMC Tak 3.5/135, Super Tak 4/200, Yasinon DX 1.7/50, Meyer Oreston 1.8/50
Zuiko: 1.8/50, 3.5/28
Exakta: Pancolar 2/50, Pentacon 3.5/30, Enna 4.5/240
Prominent: Ultron 2/50, Skoparon 3.5/35, Dynaon 4.5/100 |
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Olivier
Joined: 18 Feb 2009
Posts: 5077
Location: France
Expire: 2015-08-06
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 8:39 am Post subject: |
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Olivier wrote:
I know it's an old post.
But I can't resist to revive it as I find Luis samples so great.
This lens is definitely very good, and many lenses are in Luis' hands.
Thank you for your pictures. They are inspiration to me.
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Olivier - Moderator 
Dslr : Olympus Pen E-P2 - Fujifilm X-Pro2 - Canon 5D MkII.
SLr and MF lenses : for feedback and helping people, cameras and lenses I own : full list here http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic,p,1442740.html#1442740 |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011
Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:31 am Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
Rare lens made by Kowa who made the original series of Miranda lenses (of which thisis part). I have had the 1.9/50 of that series and it oozed quality, sadly they are all hard to find, I have seen the 1.98/50 only twice.
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I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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hifisapi
Joined: 25 Sep 2012
Posts: 941
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:53 am Post subject: |
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hifisapi wrote:
based on the styling, this lens looks like the late 1960's, not the 1950's.
Are you all sure about the vintage?
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ACQUIRED OVER 30 YEARS:
Cameras: DSLR=Pentax istDS FILM=Pentax SP, SP-F, ESII, SP1000, KX, K2
Lenses : Pentax M42 = Super Multi Coated Takumars 50/1.4 55/1.8 100/4-BELLOWS 500/4.5 1000/8 135-600/6.7 Pentax PK= SMC Pentax-Ks K17/4-FF Fisheye K18/3.5 K20/4 K24/3.5 K28/3.5 K28/2 K35/3.5 K35/2 K50/1.2 K50/1.4K 50/4-MACROK 55/1.8 K85/1.8 K100/4-MACRO K100/4-BELLOWS K105/2.8 K120/2.8 K135/3.5 K135/2.5 K150/4 K200/4 K400/5.6 K45-125/4K 85-210/4.5 Pentax PKM = SMC Pentax-M M40/2.8-Pancake M50/1.4 M75-150/4 M80-200/4.5 Pentax PKA= SMC Pentax-A A15/3.5 A50/2.8-MACRO A28/2 A35/2 A50/1.4 A135/2.8 A200/4 A*300/4 A35-105/3.5 A24-50/4 A70-210/4 TAMRON AD2= SP80-200/2.8 SP180/2.5 TOKINA AT-X PK= ATX28-85/3.5-4.5 ATX35-70/2.8 ATX60-120/2.8 ATX80-200/2.8 ATX100-300/4 ATX90/2.5 MACRO KIRON-LESTER DINE PK = 105/2.8-MACRO VIVITAR PK = 135/2.8-MACRO 28-85/4 NOFLEXAR AUTOBELLOWS PK = 60/4 105/4 |
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iangreenhalgh1
Joined: 18 Mar 2011
Posts: 15685
Expire: 2014-01-07
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
No, it looks 1950s, you're a decade out on your interpretation of the styling.
Here is the Miranda 1.9/50 made by Kowa, the similarity of styling i clear:
Later version, also made by Kowa, same lens, slightly different styling:
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I don't care who designed it, who made it or what country it comes from - I just enjoy using it! |
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Nordentro
Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 4713
Location: Lillehammer, Norway
Expire: 2015-01-29
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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Nordentro wrote:
My guess will be late 50s or very early 60s 
Really nice lens, never seen this before and the samples are impressive
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Lars | Manuellfokus.no |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 6627
Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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| Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2014 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
Thanks everybody.
I guess the thing may be Kowa after all.
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I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work. |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 6627
Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
The Japanese Miranda site
http://miranda.s32.xrea.com/miranda/MSJ_html/lens/telephoto-lens2.html
Says these were advertised in Miranda PAD mount 1957-1960
They were also advertised as Prominar, which was a Kowa house brand, so that pretty well established the maker I think.
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I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work. |
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stingOM
Joined: 27 Sep 2007
Posts: 3168
Location: Ireland
Expire: 2012-12-27
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| Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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stingOM wrote:
Beautiful images indeed |
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