Telesar 135mm f3.5 preset in T mount

jmkmva · Joined: 25 Nov 2010 Posts: 78 Location: MidAtlantic US

Not that I needed another 135mm lens, but I just got one from ebay. My excuse is that the lens was only $2.25 (plus $5.80 shipping).

It is a Telesar 135mm f3.5 preset in T-mount. Its aperture does have 8 blades. It is in great condition; looks rarely used. Judging by the style and all metal construction, the lens is likely 1970's or later, I will not get a chance to use it until this weekend. I will be using it on a Pentax DSLR.

Does anyone know anything about this lens? Thanks. Does this photo help???

JJB · Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 424 Location: USA

It looks a lot like this one I bought that was marketed under the Rexatar brand. It yielded better results than I anticipated.

http://forum.mflenses.com/rexatar-135mm-3-5-a-pleasant-surprise-t68573,highlight,%2Brexatar+%2B135.html

jmkmva · Joined: 25 Nov 2010 Posts: 78 Location: MidAtlantic US

Thanks, JJB

The Rexatar looks like the Telesar's twin. Your link was informative with nice photos.

Still no clue about a manufacturer.

JJB · Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 424 Location: USA

I have been curious about this lens for awhile so I did a search here for 135mm and preset and came up with the following:

This model was carried by many third party distributors including Ifoc, Seimar, and probably Spiratone.

http://forum.mflenses.com/ifoc-135mm-f2-8-preset-t72020,highlight,%2B135mm+%2Bpreset.html

There were also some early Vivitars with similar attributes (# of aperture blades).

http://forum.mflenses.com/vivitar-135mm-f-2-8-preset-t-mount-lens-t18290,highlight,%2B135mm+%2Bpreset.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/vivitar-135mm-f-3-5-preset-lens-t19137,highlight,%2B135mm+%2Bpreset.html

And finally this one branded under Tele-Raynox:

http://forum.mflenses.com/tele-raynox-135mm-2-8-preset-t47778,highlight,%2B135mm+%2Bpreset.html

Still no verdict on manufacturer of these rebranded lenses. This thread contains some interesting hypotheses.

http://forum.mflenses.com/mistery-lenses-collection-t23606.html

Finally, presets in this focal length with 15-16 aperture blades were also made by Komura (and rebranded as Soligor)

http://forum.mflenses.com/komura-135mm-f3-5-preset-t45058,highlight,%2B135mm+%2Bpreset.html

jmkmva · Joined: 25 Nov 2010 Posts: 78 Location: MidAtlantic US

Thanks for the additional references. Before checking around, I took another look at my Telesar. It has 10 blades not 8. I did some more research and here are my conclusions. The following lenses are seemingly identical even with the differences in maximum aperture. They share the slim design, profile and distinctive focusing ring. The adjacent preset ring and aperture ring are approximately the same size and not offset. I agree with another contributor that these lenses look like later preset lenses from the 1970s or even the 1980s.

TELESAR 135mm f3.5 preset
REXATAR 135mm f 3.5 preset
IFCO 135mm F2.8 preset
SEIMAR 135mm preset
PRINZ Galaxy 135mm f3.5 preset

Regarding these five retail brands I could not find much reliable information. (Even if you believe that it must be true if it is on the internet. Wink

The only brand associated with these lenses were Komura and Tokina, but I could not connect the dots.

The other lenses in the reference above including the Vivitar and Komura are very different in style. These lenses are not as slim, have very different profiles, very different focusing rings. Also, the aperture and preset rings are offset. I did not spend much time with these lenses. I did check the Vivitar serial numbers where I could. They were relatively low, and did not refer to specific manufacturers like many/most Vivitars do. Also, I do not believe Komura was not a regular Vivitar manufacturer - if at all.

Well, another mystery for the History Channel. I think I am done.

JJB · Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 424 Location: USA

Just to be clear, I wasn't saying that the Vivitars and Komuras were identical - I thought it would be interesting to group all of the references for these multi-aperture blade pre-set 135s in one place.

One of those unsolved mysteries. I think I'm done too. Wink