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The big Soligor thread!
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 7:33 pm    Post subject: The big Soligor thread! Reply with quote

This is an attempt to link all the information we've gathered together over the past few years and help others identify the maker of their lenses Smile

My Grandfather gave me my first two Soligors (Tokina made 135/3.5 and 200/3.5 models) and I've been fascinated ever since!

I've started by snapping all my big guns from the side, with a shot of the focus scale and the iris at f11.

Links:

The famous 28mm thread which started the serial code de-mystification!

http://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-12-8-f28mm-21and-versions-t30866,highlight,soligor++28mm.html

400mm threads:

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=7456&view=next
http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=25309

350mm threads:

http://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-350-5-6-a-very-odd-wundertute-t6958,highlight,soligor+350mm.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=18477

300mm threads:

http://forum.mflenses.com/caspeco-old-tokina-300-5-5-preset-t2-mount-t12261.html

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=17839


Last edited by ManualFocus-G on Sat Oct 30, 2010 9:04 pm; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

400/6.3 - Serial: 97111315 - Maker: Kino - Year: 1971







Star blades!! Lens has a sliding hood and is a preset.

400/6.3 - Serial: H48064 - Maker: Tokina - Year: 1968?

This one is actually a Hanimex, but it seems to follow the same serial convention as Soligor, so I presume it exists as a Soligor too.







Looking at the focus scale, I reckon it could be a Tokina, not sure though. Lens is preset.

350/5.6 - Serial: 9697707 - Maker: Kino - Year: 1969







It's those interesting blades again! Lens has a sliding hood and is a preset.

350/5.6 - Serial: H69415 - Maker: Komine - Year: 1969?







This is another preset lens. Very sharp.

300/5.5 - Serial: H71851 - Maker: Tokina - Year: 1971?







Lens is a preset Tokina.

250/4.5 - Serial: 1690311 - Maker: Tokina - Year: 1969







Lens is an automatic T4 interchangable mount model.

250/4.5 - Serial: 9713157 - Maker: Kino - Year: 1971







This is yet another preset lens!


Last edited by ManualFocus-G on Sun Nov 14, 2010 8:57 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you !

I have several (250, 350, 450mm) like H69415
So they are Komine. That blows by O<-.->C theory away.

The Hanimex H48064 looks a great deal like a Tokina, and up to now thats what I would have assumed.
This lens, or extremely similar, does exist as a Soligor.

I am happy to see that the "silver ring" series was identified as Kino. I have however had a couple of these that do nothing for Kino's reputation !


PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 10:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm not massively impressed by the Kino lenses to be honest. They do a job, but the others (Tokina, Komine) appear to have more resolution.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 6:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kawanon also made a 350mm lens. It looks similar to the Komine version of the Soligor.
I'm pretty sure there is a Soligor version of this lens. I'm posting the Kawanon version for future identification.




PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 6:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I´m not a Soligor expert and I have no one in my collection so far.
But I always like to see pics from (and taken with) old/er lenses and I must say that your samples are in an excellent condition. Great finish at that time.

Thanks for sharing.

Wink


PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 7:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The most common Kawanon is the 400/6.3 preset, almost always found under the "Astranar" brand.

These look almost the same as that nice 350, which is quite uncommon btw.

I don't recall seeing one in Soligor brand, but I wouldn't be surprised.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 2:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My Soligor 35-70 zoom has SN 5906347 & no indication on the lens that I can see as to where it was made. However, the box it came in says Made in Korea.




I got lost in the links & think I posted this in the wrong one.

_________________


PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't have this lens anymore but I found these pics from my flickr account.I think it was made by Komine and it has also been sold as Elicar, Vivitar etc. Sorry I don't have the serial:oops:

Vivitar 2.5/90mm Macro



PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 8:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you Shrek.
I don't think the first 400mm's link is the good one. Wink


PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 9:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Olivier wrote:
Thank you Shrek.
I don't think the first 400mm's link is the good one. Wink


Ha! Amended, thanks! Smile


PostPosted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:56 pm    Post subject: Soligor 35mm f3.5 'chrome ears' Reply with quote

Soligor 35mm f3.5 'chrome ears'









M39 - T2 mount, shown with M42 adaptor.

Serial number. 9697640
The '9' signifies Kino, made in 1969

Not the greatest offering from this series of Soligor lenses. But I wouldn't call it bad.


Last edited by Lloydy on Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:46 pm; edited 4 times in total


PostPosted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:17 pm    Post subject: Soligor 135mm f2.8 'Chrome ears' Reply with quote

Soligor 135mm f2.8 'Chrome ears'







M39 - T2 mount, shown with M42 adaptor.

Serial number - M 163925

The 'M' is a mystery, but the '1' might make it a Tokina made in 1963

One of the first manual focus lenses I used on a Pentax K10, and it still gets used as it's a decent lens that surprises me more than it dissapoints.


Last edited by Lloydy on Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:47 pm; edited 2 times in total


PostPosted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:33 pm    Post subject: Soligor 300mm f5.5 'chrome ears' Reply with quote

Soligor 300mm f5.5 'chrome ears'







M39 - T2 mount, shown with M42 adaptor.

The '3' signifies Sun as the manufacturer in 1975.

This a good lens that has given me some good pictures, not the lightest or easiest lens to use, but the overall quality still makes it worth buying.


PostPosted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That 300mm from Sun looks very interesting...I've never seen one before!


PostPosted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The 300 is a better lens than I expected, I've also got a Tair 300 and the Soligor is a bit lighter to carry, although the term "lighter" is relative! Rolling Eyes
But I think it's probably as good, although I haven't done a decent shoot out with them yet.

Here's some examples of the Soligor 300, all shot at ISO 200 on a Pentax K10.
None of them have been touched at all, these are straight out of the camera.







The more I use this lens, the better it gets.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ovim wrote:
I don't have this lens anymore but I found these pics from my flickr account.I think it was made by Komine and it has also been sold as Elicar, Vivitar etc. Sorry I don't have the serial:oops:

Vivitar 2.5/90mm Macro



Arrow Arrow Arrow Click here to see on Ebay


PostPosted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Phenix jc wrote:
ovim wrote:
I don't have this lens anymore but I found these pics from my flickr account.I think it was made by Komine and it has also been sold as Elicar, Vivitar etc. Sorry I don't have the serial:oops:

Vivitar 2.5/90mm Macro



Arrow Arrow Arrow Click here to see on Ebay


Love this lens. Not only for macro, but also for portraits.


PostPosted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 11:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

caspert79 wrote:

Love this lens. Not only for macro, but also for portraits.

It's a Komine made, I've got one recently on another brand, but it's impossible to test it since the weather & the light is dreadful here Sad . I gave the ebay's link because the pictures of the Soligor box.
Please have a look on the (truely remarquable) blog of the forum member Justorchit
http://makingnottaking.blogspot.com/search/label/Vivitar%2090mm%20MC%20f%2F2.5%201%3A1


PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A treasure trove of manuals including this gem: Soligor Universal Automatic T4 Lens System


PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A treasure trove indeed !

Thank you !


PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 11:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Recently I saw the diagram of the T2 soligor lenses and, noted, looking at the T4 schames, that in the 105 and 135 the lenses were changed. From 5 elements to 4 elements. The difference is in the rear group : 2 elements in the T2 and only one in the T4.

More contrast. Paying with less corners correction?


PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found this on ebay a month ago, 135 f/2 "CD"


bigger view:

http://g1.img-dpreview.com/F65CB52F279049EFA2D844382483C0CE.jpg

It's turned to winter here fast and have not had a chance to really try it out, but it does seem pretty sharp.

It is one hunk of metal with sweet focus and unusual large easy clicking aperture ring--really nice to to stop on the fly.


bigger:
http://g2.img-dpreview.com/B97A81D31CBB4B70BF6F2D8ACD73C9C3.jpg

Won auction at 151.40 USD

just wondering if anyone knows the story behind this one?

TY sirs


PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 2:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

uhoh7 wrote:

just wondering if anyone knows the story behind this one?


Soligor C/D was the attempt from soligor to go high end

The first C/D batch was 28/2 + 35/2 + 135/2 + 200/2.8 + 100mm macro + 80/200 3.5
The second c/d batch included 35/105 3.5 + 100/300 5.0 + 70/220 3.5

It did compete with Vivitar S1 line

Nearly all lenses were Tokina made (including yours)


PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a Soligor c/d macro 70-210 f3.5 (constant) serial number 38103929 any ideas? Havnt had the chance to try it out yet, although as its SSOOO heavy I think I may end up with a hernia!!!!! LOL