Vivitar (Tokina) T4 105/2.8

[luisalegria]

This is yet another in that extremely popular Tokina automatic lens series (all available in T4 interchangable mount) of the late 1960's-early 1970's. This one is a Vivitar.



It was of course also sold as a Soligor, Mamiya, Sears, etc. ad infinitum, in T4 and fixed mount versions.

So far my collection of these is almost complete. I only need the 135/3.5, which is supposed to be common but hasn't been easy to get, and the rare 250/4.5.

Its a very conventional lens of its time, the only distinctive point about it is that it does not focus at all close for its type and era, minimum focus is around 5 feet/1.5 m.

Its a rather sharp lens I think, much better than the 135 in the series, and its quite good at f/2.8 . Many makers seem to have devoted more effort on the 105's than the more common 135's. This seems to to me to be the sharpest lens in that Tokina series.











The bird - a bit over-exposed



crop -

[voytek]

I have 3.5/135 Vivitar #3739527 with T4 mount. I can swap for something else. Sure - this is old and very good Tokina, I have 2 more 2.8/105. All Tokinas from this line have very nice bokeh and are quite sharp wide open.
2.8/105 @2.8

3.5/135 @3.5

[Attila]

Looks very nice indeed!

[voytek]

Thank you Attila. Photos were NOT improved using any software.
Just resized and compressed.
BTW today is my lucky day. Just received like new (any single blemish, body and glass) Macro Yashinon 2.8/60 with original Hoya UV filter. Seller didn't place in description the word "Tomioka". Only two e-buyers did try to outbid me. I won with final bid $161. I wish everybody the same.

[Attila]

Wow! Please publish samples ASAP very nice deal!

[voytek]

This is my second Macro Tomioka lens. Samples from the fist one are here:
http://forum.mflenses.com/my-lenses-the-starangest-one-telelumax-then-others-t7693,start,15,highlight,macro+tomioka.html#64799

[casualcollector]

I see Luis and Voytek are T4 collectors, as am I. I have two versions of the 200/3.5. The newer version is more compact, has no tripod collar and takes a smaller filter. Do you know of a similar revision to the 300/5.6?

I believe I have just about all of the T4 series and have begun gathering the later TX series lenses.

I also find the 105/2.8 to be a very nice lens. I am still using film cameras and have yet to do any serious comaprison of the lenses.

Bill

[luisalegria]

Thank you Voytek !

Please let me know what sort of lens you would like to swap for. I have a variety.

Nice results on your stuff.

Hi Bill,

I haven't seen the more compact 200/3.5 in T4, I thought this was a fixed mount only, so what you say is news to me. I believe this Tokina version was part of the lenses sold with the Mamiya open aperture metering SX series.

Do you have the 250/4.5 ?

[voytek]

I am interested in M42 lenses. I have many, I want more. Old, older, oldest.
Part of my "dream list" is here http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/42mm_screw_lenses
Please send me PM

[casualcollector]

[Attila]

Nice to see you here CasualCollector!

[casualcollector]

[voytek]

I just bought Vivitar 3.5/200/T4 with tripod mount. The serial # begins with 100xxx, do you have any idea which manufacturer it could be? Thanks

[luisalegria]

Hi Voytek,

No idea. Is that a T4 or a TX ? They look similar but are not the same.

T4's were all Tokinas that I know of (T4 was a Tokina product) and was sold by Soligor and Vivitar, but it was only Vivitar that went with TX, one example of how the large distributors started to influence lens design in the 1970's (the Soligor "C/D" lenses are another case). T4 just supported automatic diaphragm operation, and had just one linkage. TX was made to support open-aperture metering so it had another linkage to transfer the aperture information to the camera.

I think there may have been multiple manufacturers for TX lenses, as Vivitar controlled the design and did not have to rely on a single manufacturer.

Also, this is not the only case I have seen of a "mystery" serial number for 1970's Vivitar lenses. I think the famous serial number table is incomplete.

[casualcollector]

[voytek]

In about 40 minutes will end ebay auction #330262619768 with very rare offered 5.5/300 vivitar (TX) made by Tokina.

[luisalegria]

T4 not TX, and this one isn't rare. Its the old heavy one with the tripod mount.

Nice lens though. One of the better T4's.

[luisalegria]

http://cgi.ebay.com/SOLIGOR-TELE-AUTO1-5-5-300MM-LENS-WITH-FILTER_W0QQitemZ290255401928QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item290255401928&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

The same lens, Soligor brand with T4 mount.

[Attila]

I have too in past, very average lens.

[voytek]

You are right Luis, this is of course T4 mount lens.

[Nesster]

Click here to see on Ebay

I won the Soligor version of this lens, pretty exciting. I'm posting this because the seller's photos are unusually good ones - someone knows what they are doing. Good oogling.

[roentarre]

This lens looks soooo sexy in deed!

[Lordcamel]

I ve found one in T4 mount but would like to adapt it to my D700, anyone knows where I could find an adaptor ?

Thanks .

[casualcollector]