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Soligor Tele-Auto 135mm f/1.8 history
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 6:12 am    Post subject: Soligor Tele-Auto 135mm f/1.8 history Reply with quote
Greetings,

While searching the internet for information about my Soligor 135mm f/1.8 lens, I found a listing of serial number codes for Soligor lens makers here:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/314250@N25/discuss/72157625238376083/
(I looked but couldn't find this list on mflenses.com itself.)

Does anyone know how far back in time those codes are valid? Do they go back as far as 1971?
According to the list I linked to, my Soligor 135 with serial number 6710239 may have been built by Komine in 1971.
Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Here's my lens:



[/img]


PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Soligor Tele-Auto 135mm f/1.8 history Reply with quote
55 wrote:
Greetings,

While searching the internet for information about my Soligor 135mm f/1.8 lens, I found a listing of serial number codes for Soligor lens makers here:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/314250@N25/discuss/72157625238376083/
(I looked but couldn't find this list on mflenses.com itself.)

Does anyone know how far back in time those codes are valid? Do they go back as far as 1971?
According to the list I linked to, my Soligor 135 with serial number 6710239 may have been built by Komine in 1971.
Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Here's my lens:



[/img]


Welcome 55

There is a link to the original mflenses thread on the Flickr page: http://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-12-8-f28mm-21and-versions-t30866,highlight,soligor++28mm.html


PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I doubt it's 1971. Old Sigma catalog claims that their 135/1.8 the fastest on the market, and Sigma itself suggests that their XQ series of lenses came about around 1975.

I also don't think it's a Komine lens.


PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 4:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Soligor Tele-Auto 135mm f/1.8 history Reply with quote
visualopsins wrote:

Welcome 55

There is a link to the original mflenses thread on the Flickr page: http://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-12-8-f28mm-21and-versions-t30866,highlight,soligor++28mm.html


Ha! Hidden in plain sight. Thank you for the welcome and the pointer, visualopsins.
Hmm, it looks like there's a lot of good reading in your Soligor 28 thread.


Gardener wrote:
I doubt it's 1971. Old Sigma catalog claims that their 135/1.8 the fastest on the market, and Sigma itself suggests that their XQ series of lenses came about around 1975.

I also don't think it's a Komine lens.


Thanks for the insight, Gardener. I'm going to enjoy looking through that Sigma catalog!

I have a handful of 1970s photo magazines. I'll have a look through them and see if they have any relevant information.


PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Just based on livery my guess would be Kiron.


PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
jamaeolus wrote:
Just based on livery my guess would be Kiron.


Thanks for commenting, jamaeolus. Here's another picture of my lens.





The silver piece just beneath the front lens cap was originally black, but I removed the finish because I like the zebra look!


I haven't taken many shots with my lens yet, but here's one from yesterday which I like.
(Crabapple tree, with Canon 5D at f/1.8)





PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The mount labels are in standard Sigma YS font.


PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Gardener wrote:
The mount labels are in standard Sigma YS font.


Indeed, the lens does have a YS mount. I should've mentioned that earlier.

Was the YS mount used only on Sigma manufactured lenses?


PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
YS was also used on Sun and Sankor (Nissin).
I have examples of these others also.


PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 7:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
From http://visualopsins.weebly.com/literature.html





PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Like 1


PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
YS was also used on Sun and Sankor (Nissin).
I have examples of these others also.


Thanks for the information, Luis.


visualopsins wrote:
From http://visualopsins.weebly.com/literature.html


$100 for a 135 f/1.8? They cost a bit more than that today! And it's also interesting to see that YS mount guide.
Thank you, visualopsins.

In fact, I've been wondering about the relationship between my Soligor 135 and Spiratone 135s. There's an informative chart comparing different 135mm f/1.8 lenses which was created by MFlenses member DSG. You can see the chart here:
http://forum.mflenses.com/raynox-polaris-135mm-f-1-8-t76153.html

Even though the chart was posted by someone other than DSG in that topic, I'm reluctant to post it here myself because I've previously been scolded for sharing an image on MFlenses which wasn't mine. I've messaged DSG to ask permission, but I haven't heard back yet.

To those who know, is it okay for me to share that chart here if I give credit to DSG (Alf Beharie)?


PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Upon further reflection Sun or Sigma definitely seem more likely.


PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 7:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote


From http://forum.mflenses.com/raynox-polaris-135mm-f-1-8-t76153.html


PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
jamaeolus wrote:
Upon further reflection Sun or Sigma definitely seem more likely.

Yes, it's a puzzle...



visualopsins wrote:


From http://forum.mflenses.com/raynox-polaris-135mm-f-1-8-t76153.html


Aha! Problem solved. Thank you very much for your help, visualopsins. Smile
Okay, now that people can see the chart, I'll add what I know about my lens.

My (auto) Soligor looks just like the Soligor on Alf's chart (except for the piece I removed the finish from). So when I opened my lens to clean it, I expected to find that giant triplet in the center. But I didn't.

Instead, my lens has the same four group, six element layout as the Spiratone / Yoshida version. If you compare the Soligor to the Spiratone / Yoshida, the bodies look similar so it wouldn't be surprising if both were made by the same manufacturer. Whether that was Yoshida or someone else..?

On ebay I've seen the preset Soligor 135 f/1.8 with its original box. And the optical diagram on the box was the same as the one shown for Soligor on Alf's chart.


And I guess the consensus about my original question is, no, Komine probably wasn't the maker of my lens.
But I'd still be interested to know if anyone has a timetable for the Soligor lens serial number code?

Here are the elements from my lens:





PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I am 99% certain Sigma also produced generic versions.


PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Interestingly, the Soligor was made by Tokina, but only seems to have appeared as the Soligor and no other brands.
I have the Soligor 135mm f2 which is also made by Tokina.
I wonder if it has a similar lens schematic.
Tom


PostPosted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 2:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Gardener wrote:
I am 99% certain Sigma also produced generic versions.

Well, whoever made my Auto Soligor, I'm happy they did because I enjoy owning it!


Oldhand wrote:
Interestingly, the Soligor was made by Tokina, but only seems to have appeared as the Soligor and no other brands.
I have the Soligor 135mm f2 which is also made by Tokina.
I wonder if it has a similar lens schematic.
Tom


Tom, here's a page from a Soligor CD lens booklet I have:




PostPosted: Mon Apr 23, 2018 2:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
55 wrote:
Gardener wrote:
I am 99% certain Sigma also produced generic versions.

Well, whoever made my Auto Soligor, I'm happy they did because I enjoy owning it!


Oldhand wrote:
Interestingly, the Soligor was made by Tokina, but only seems to have appeared as the Soligor and no other brands.
I have the Soligor 135mm f2 which is also made by Tokina.
I wonder if it has a similar lens schematic.
Tom


Tom, here's a page from a Soligor CD lens booklet I have:




Thank you - that's great.
Nothing like the 1.8/135 then.
If anything it is a more like the Pentax -or perhaps the Sigma -
than any of the others
Tom
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