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The big Soligor thread!
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PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2013 1:55 am    Post subject: Another "R" serial Soligor Reply with quote
Took delivery of this e-bay acquisition earlier this week. A Soligor 300mm f: 5.5 lens with R leading the serial and no resemblance to more typical Soligors.



This one has a meter coupled Nikon F mount and matches the Nikon focus direction. Obviously from the "Beer Can" school of lens design! It's about 9 inches (23 cm) long. It has a rotating tripod mount but the lock screw is missing. Overall, it's in pretty tough shape. I got the front elements out and cleaned them. Getting to the fungused rear elements is going to be a bit tougher. The helical needs to be cleaned and relubed. The diaphragm works like a charm.

Here it is with my "R" serial 135/2.8 for a size comparison.



Here's a link to the 135 post with some thoughts on who manufactured it

http://forum.mflenses.com/unusual-soligor-135-2-8-t33201.html#1076825


PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2013 4:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some further work from member Univer seems to be pointing to Kyoei turning into Kawakami/Kawanon.
Something about your 300mm makes me think of the 350mm Kawanons and 400mm Astranars (Sterling Howard trademark).
Though these last were presets.


PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2013 12:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've tried looking for further info on Itoh lenses and come up with little. C. Itoh was a large trading company but maybe no more related than General Mills, General Electric and General Motors. Osawa and Marubeni (Miida) were other trading companies that had branded lenses.


PostPosted: Fri May 03, 2013 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Just looking at it again. It still has the JCII sticker on it. Sticker is marked "67". Is that a year or a code?


PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2013 2:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I just bought a 200mm f4.5. Serial number #171.

Can anybody comment or share information? I paid $40 for it. On EBay they are cheaper than that. This one on initial inspection is in very good condition. I will post pictures later.

55mm rim and the mount has a thread so I guess it's a screw on.

Thanks in advance.


PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2013 3:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Post a picture.
That should ID it.
Odds are a 200/4.5 its a Tokina (preset otr auto) or Sankor
Quite good lenses either of them.
I don't know prices in Australia, but US ebay prices would be under $20 for any Soligor 200/4.5


PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2013 5:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
Post a picture.
That should ID it.
Odds are a 200/4.5 its a Tokina (preset otr auto) or Sankor
Quite good lenses either of them.
I don't know prices in Australia, but US ebay prices would be under $20 for any Soligor 200/4.5


On the front or second element there is a tiny bit of fungus along the edge of the lens (you can see it in the first photograph). There is also some barely noticeable haze (or coating wear?????) On the rear element there are five or so tiny dots around the centre of the glass. Other than that it is in pristine condition and appears to have been well looked after. Shinning a torch through the lens is crystal clear apart from those mentioned blemishes.

Here are a few quick iPhone shots.









To me it looks like a keeper. I'll give some sunlight treatment for a month or so until I can save for a NEX and buy the right adapter and then test it out. I have noticed my MC Rokkor 50mm 1.4 has improved since I started using it so I hope the same will happen here as well.

Identity of the manufacturer, mount and other information will be greatly appreciated. Also does this mount look like it can be fitted onto a NEX with appropriate adapter.

Thanks Wink


PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2013 7:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
That's an m42 t-mount its got I'm pretty sure.
It screws off and can be replaced with some other t-mount, such as Minolta to match your other lens. T mounts are cheap.

Or you can get an m42 adapter for it for any digital camera. That's the most common adapter in the universe.

This is one of the "silver ring" series presets, the last ones sold as Soligors I think, from the late 1960s to early 70s, and I think there is still some uncertainty as to the maker. The last I heard it was Sun.


PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2013 7:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
That's an m42 t-mount its got I'm pretty sure.
It screws off and can be replaced with some other t-mount, such as Minolta to match your other lens. T mounts are cheap.

Or you can get an m42 adapter for it for any digital camera. That's the most common adapter in the universe.

This is one of the "silver ring" series presets, the last ones sold as Soligors I think, from the late 1960s to early 70s, and I think there is still some uncertainty as to the maker. The last I heard it was Sun.


Hi Luis,

Thank you very much for your help. Greatly appreciated.

Can anybody else tell me about the reputation and image quality this lens produces? Is it any good? Cool


PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2013 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
That 200 is identical to mine, which has a 16**** number, which by the best information we have so far is a Tokina lens. Mine is good, I don't use it a lot as I have lighter 200's, but the image quality is fine from it.


PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2013 8:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Lloydy wrote:
That 200 is identical to mine, which has a 16**** number, which by the best information we have so far is a Tokina lens. Mine is good, I don't use it a lot as I have lighter 200's, but the image quality is fine from it.


Thank you. News I wanted to hear.

In future I might attempt surgery to get rid of the fungus on the front element. If I can get it cleaned I will have a very nice zoom lens.


PostPosted: Sat May 04, 2013 10:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
That's an m42 t-mount its got I'm pretty sure.
It screws off and can be replaced with some other t-mount, such as Minolta to match your other lens. T mounts are cheap.

Or you can get an m42 adapter for it for any digital camera. That's the most common adapter in the universe.



Hi Luis,

You were right. It had an adapter. On the inside ring it says TA 1 and on opposite side Japan. Is that a standard T mount?

Thanks in advance.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:56 am    Post subject: Re: Soligor 17/4 Reply with quote
Mir wrote:
This Soligor 17/4 I just received...... Didn't take it out yet..

I have a Soligor 17/3.5 NO.17701621 Tokina-1977, first released in '76.
Didn't use it 'cause it's an MD mount, so i got the 17/4 M42 instead...
I'll be selling the 17/3.5 MD

But i can't figure out this 17/4 serial number NO.11720429
I think this version, was first released in 1973......
And wasen't called "Ultra Wide"

Kinda looks like a Tokina dosen't it ??

Could it be some kind of "pre-release test version" ??
That could explain the first digit.....
I figured it could be a test version, made by Tokina in 1972...
But i'm just speculating..... I really have no idea !

Anyone ??





I have this lens too.

I never used it much on aps-c since it was heavy and not too wide on aps-c.
But when I got a 5D, its a transformed lens.
Wide enough for almost all WA purposes.

I'd rate it pretty decent for sharpness, about what I got from my Sigma 10-20.
Got it cheap for a FF WA, love the build and FOV on FF.
Can't complain with those considerations taken in.

Here are 2 more recent shots :






PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 6:29 am    Post subject: Re: Soligor 17/4 Reply with quote
pinholecam wrote:


I have this lens too.

I never used it much on aps-c since it was heavy and not too wide on aps-c.
But when I got a 5D, its a transformed lens.
Wide enough for almost all WA purposes.

I'd rate it pretty decent for sharpness, about what I got from my Sigma 10-20.
Got it cheap for a FF WA, love the build and FOV on FF.
Can't complain with those considerations taken in.

Here are 2 more recent shots :






Superb shots!

Shocked

That's all I can say.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
That 17mm is nice, it would look good with my other chrome ring Soligors. Cool


PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Lloydy wrote:
That 17mm is nice, it would look good with my other chrome ring Soligors. Cool


+1 Very Happy


PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 12:06 pm    Post subject: Re: Soligor 17/4 Reply with quote
Mir wrote:
This Soligor 17/4 I just received...... Didn't take it out yet..

But i can't figure out this 17/4 serial number NO.11720429
I think this version, was first released in 1973......
And wasen't called "Ultra Wide"

Kinda looks like a Tokina dosen't it ??

Could it be some kind of "pre-release test version" ??
That could explain the first digit.....
I figured it could be a test version, made by Tokina in 1972...
But i'm just speculating..... I really have no idea !

Anyone ??




Seems SUN to me. But i'll poke Dimitry also.


PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Pinholecam,

I recognize the skyline in the background, but I don't recall the subject building. It looks like it is in the Chinatown area. My last visit to Singapore was in 2001, is that building new since then?


PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 12:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
See my Tokina for small differences:



PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 11:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
@pinholecam

Marvelous shots...
I also bought it for my eventual FF camera.... if only i'd stop buying lenses ... Rolling Eyes
Thanks to you ... now i know it wll be fine !

@Pancolart

Thanks for investigating !
They do look quite similar...

And if it is SUN... we can at least say they made well built lenses...


PostPosted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 12:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
casualcollector wrote:
Pinholecam,

I recognize the skyline in the background, but I don't recall the subject building. It looks like it is in the Chinatown area. My last visit to Singapore was in 2001, is that building new since then?



This is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.
You are right, building started in 2005 and was completed in 2007


PostPosted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 8:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thank you! I very much enjoyed my trips to Singapore.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
that 17mm Soligor wasn't exactly cheap when it was new.

Brand Focal (mm) f/stop Yr List $ 1998 $ Diaphragm Lens Type
Length


soligor 17 3.5 76 $376 $1,096 auto wide
soligor 17 4 73 $376 $1,430 auto wide


http://www.starryland.com/cgi-bin/board/data/Photograph/lens.txt


PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 2:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Lloydy wrote:
that 17mm Soligor wasn't exactly cheap when it was new.

Brand Focal (mm) f/stop Yr List $ 1998 $ Diaphragm Lens Type
Length


soligor 17 3.5 76 $376 $1,096 auto wide
soligor 17 4 73 $376 $1,430 auto wide


http://www.starryland.com/cgi-bin/board/data/Photograph/lens.txt


Very interesting....
Thanks for this bit of info, which would be hard to find nowadays.


PostPosted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 2:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
This Thread is Missing the soligor 105/2.8 lens!!!! Confused
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