Topcon R-Topcor 5.6/300

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

I did a search and found a thread on RE-Topcor, but not R-Topcor, so here is mine. When I first received this lens it had issues, including fungus. I used it briefly on a couple of occasions just to test and wasn't impressed with the results. I sent it off to Marc Jensen for CLA because I didn't think it had much value as it was. I have just yesterday given it the first real shoot. WHile it doesn't impress me as razor sharp, I think it is acceptable for the focal length and I have no issues with the bokeh or colors; it really performed better than I had anticipated. I shot most if not all at wide open f/5.6 100ISO using NEX-5N. Vertical images were cropped from horizontal. Level adjustments were made, but no added sharpening. - One of very few Topcor lenses still cheap -

Nordentro · Expire: 2015-01-29

You always seem to get the best out of the tele lenses with your Dock/ Pier environment bird pics. Focus is precise and the bokeh is pleasing Very Happy

Thanks for sharing!

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

My R 300/5.6 is also not as sharp as I'd like, I think they put more effort into getting the R 300/2.8 sharp.
The R 135/3.5 and R 200/4 I that it have are as sharp as I'll ever need, there is lots of sharpness headroom on my A7r.
Great shots woodrim, thanks for the post.

kenetik · Joined: 02 Mar 2014 Posts: 524

I love the bokeh in the bird shots, awesome photos as always. Add a pic of then lens if you get a chance.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Thanks to all. I guess I've been spoiled by my other lenses when it comes to sharpness. The focus fall-off is more sudden that I expected for f/5.6, but probably because of my lack of experience with long lenses. However, the one mirror lens I have at 300mm is much worse. The bokeh was a nice surprise.

Pancolart · Expire: 2013-11-18

Macca · Joined: 20 Mar 2012 Posts: 248 Location: Glasgow, Scotland.

Very nice shots Woodrim, I think the RE version may be marginally sharper wide open but have not used it in a while so that`s from memory really.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

I wouldn't mind seeing some shots from the RE.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

One from today in the back yard. Sweethearts up high. Turkey vulchers. This usually means there is something dead nearby, or maybe I'm not looking healthy.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

They do seem to be looking your way Very Happy

, Great shots from a great lens it seems.I also like #4 as well, the lone gull or odd one out.

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

I really love the second one. The OOF bird in the background looks like a shadow or a reflection of the first. They all look plenty sharp to me. You certainly live in a photogenic part of the world and show it off to its best advantage!

John Shriver · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 193

The R and RE versions of the 300/5.6 are the same optics. But the R version is 10 to 50 times more common.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

AlphaL · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 10 Location: Netherlands

Good shots woodrim. Seems a nice lens. But like you say, not razor sharp (wide open). Does it get much better stopped down to F8?

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Some, of course, but not much.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

AlphaL, the lens seems to be one of the very few duds Topcon produced, out of the 3-4 samples on this site, they all seem to be the same, not at all like my R 135/3.5 and R 200/4, which are very sharp wide open.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

Well, I'm going to try a 2nd copy to see if it's any better, it's well used vs my first copy which is mint, if it's not sharper I'll open it up and see if I can shim some elements and maybe make it sharper.
The 2nd copy is the same. Too bad, I don't really want a 300/2.8, it's not exactly small.
The only other lenses I really want from Topcor is the R 135/2 and the RE 25 in black.

John Shriver · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 193

I've got both the R. Topcor and RE. Auto-Topcor 300/5.6 lenses, but the Tamron 54B 300/5.6 is so fantastic I use it instead. A good generation newer, and fantastic close-up performance.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

Could you post some pics from the Re 300/5.6?

John Shriver · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 193

Modern Photography reviewed the R. Topcor 30/5.6 in April 1962, center sharpness was only "good", the worst results of the 7 different Topcors they reviewed. The 300/2.8 was "very good" in the center from f/4 to f/8. Neither was very great in the corners.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

It's not a lens that I use much, but this past weekend I took it along in case I decided to stop by the swamp. I decided to stop by the swamp. All were taken at f/5.6 using NEX-5N...

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

wow, great results you got!! Like 1 small

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

The serial #'s for my 2 lenses are 701234, 701364, anyone else that has an R 30cm f 5.6 please post your serial and how sharp it is, especially if yours is razor sharp because I'd love to know if there are better copies out there, cuz I want one.

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28