Twins !!! ???

[martyn_bannister]

These lenses appear to be virtually identical

The one on the right gives it away - it has TWO sets of aperture markings. It is also slightly different in that the aperture preset ring is ball detent, whereas the one on the left is push and turn detent.

All is revealed on the front.

The right hand one is a Tamron TWIN-TELE (nothing like my other tammy twin-tele HERE though - anyone know which is earlier/later?) so I assume it originally came with a tele-converter.
The left-hand one is branded SOLIGOR and I am told that it is a fairly early lens, since the brand name is in script, rather than capitals.

Any info on a date for either of these lenses?

A focus stacked macro taken using the soligor handheld on bellows (5 x 1/320s f8 @ ISO800).

[iangreenhalgh1]

Looks like a nice lens.

Love the fly shot, can you tell us more about your focus stacking technique please?

[martyn_bannister]

Hi Ian,

I am only playing with macro and focus stacking. I know there are experts on this forum who are far better qualified than I.

FWIW though, I was using the Soligor (which is T mount) on M42 bellows racked as far out as they go. The lens was set at f8 to get a better DOF and I was holding a flash set to mid power in manual mode on my left hand on the end of the bellows. Canon 5D was held with right hand in manual mode, 1/320s with extension cable to flash.

Focus stacking technique is to find a stationary insect and pass the depth of field along it while snapping merrily away. Thiis is mainly pure guesswork, because of the bellows and the lens being at f8 there isn't much to see in viewfinder.

Work out which images are best for stacking, crop to the same size centred around the object of interest and then use the incredible CombineZP software to stack the images.

Voila!

The original images are HERE

[Kathmandu]

I have the same one with the Soligor name, and the T before the serial number .I am guessing they hail from the same period ,and are lenses Tamron made.The similarities are too many.

Here is more info on the Tamron lens you show-Link->TAMRON JAPANESE

My copy:



And a sample:


Cheers

[martyn_bannister]

Yes, definitely the same lens. Yours seems in much better condition.

A couple of shots from this afternoon using the Tamron...

[luisalegria]

Yes, there is an entire series of Soligor lenses that were made by Tamron, and they are designated with the "T"; I have several of these.

The whole early Soligor "T" series - I know these lenses were sold under the Soligor brand, though of course there may be others. These lenses are from some of the first T-mount series - almost the first T-mount lenses really - but see below. These seem to have all been introduced in 1961-1964.

35/2.8 - I have this as a Soligor
135/2.8 (I am not sure if any of the "converto" were sold as Soligors; I have seen none) - I have this as Soligor and Tamron
There are at least two variants, as I have a couple of the Soligors that have a different paint finish, but are still clearly the same.
180/3.5 - I have this as a Soligor
200/3.5 - I have this as an Aetna
250/4.5 - I have this as a Soligor
300/5.5 - I have this as an Aetna
350/5.6 - I have this as a Soligor
400/6.9 - I have this as a Tamron
450/8 - I don't have this, but I have seen it.

I have some of them pictured here - I need to update this, as I have several others now.

http://forum.mflenses.com/old-t-mount-tamron-tele-lenses-my-collection-t14257,highlight,%2Btamron.html

135/4.5 "Twin Tele", "Converto" etc. - This may have been sold as a Soligor, but I don't recall seeing one. This is NOT a T-mount.

135/3.5 - I have this as a Soligor, but it is not a T-mount - its actually a mini-or proto T-mount like the 135/4.5.

There are several of the early Tamrons that may never have been sold as Soligors, particularly the premium models that introduced the T-mount - these may be the absolute first T-mount lenses, from maybe 1960-61

58/1.2
200/2.8 - I have this as a Coligon
400/5.6 - I have this as a Coligon
The weird 400/6.9 Nestar collapsing lens - I had one as a Tamron, gave it to Attila

And some of the lower cost budget types I haven't seen as Soligors either -

200/5.9
200/6.3 - I have this as a Tamron
300/6.9
400/7.5 - I have this as a Tamron
400/8

I don't think any of the early Tamron zoomes were sold as Soligors.

[dimitrygo]

[martyn_bannister]

[ManualFocus-G]

[ManualFocus-G]

Oooh, forgot to mention, I have two Soligor 450/8 lenses made by Tamron...I must try them out!

[martinsmith99]

I have yet to own a Soligor brand camera lens. The samples look really good but it's a bit of a lottery getting a decent one it seems.

[Nordentro]

I also have this lens as Soligor branded. It's a very good lens. I also have a 35mm f3.5 and a 135mm 3.5 with T-number in similar design.

Soligor 135mm f2.8


The twin tele version is quite exotic and is the first time I see

The Tamron twin tele 135mm f4.5 has also got an soligor brother

[pat donnelly]

I love the Tamrons! The Soligors confused me but I had not noticed the T designation, thanks for that!

[martyn_bannister]

[Nordentro]

[martyn_bannister]

[martyn_bannister]

This one taken with the soligor today - love the colors!

Whole set HERE