Sun Optical 600mm f8 preset

[guardian]

I recently bid on this lens only to lose out. Still, in researching the lens I found little . . . well really nothing on this exact lens. It is apparently circa 1950's/1960's. Its 600mm focal length is what makes the lens stand out. I own a couple of Sun Optical lenses from the same era, but of course nothing as desirable as this. I've not prior run across a copy of this lens anywhere in the last seven or eight years, and I will be surprised to see another. So I wanted to create a record here even though, beyond a few photos, I do not have much to offer on this lens. Here are the photos:

[WNG555]

A handsome beast!

I recall Tokina produced a similar one where it unscrewed in the middle to make it more compact.

[luisalegria]

Thanks !
This is a very uncommon lens.
Especially in the original wooden box !
I don't think I have seen this in importers brands before.
It is quite different from the Tokina and Kawanon 600/8's.

[guardian]

Appreciate the responses, guys. Thank you.

I guess I should have bid higher. I had qualms bidding on something this expensive, to wit:

I could not see the entire name ring, and there was no branding anywhere in the photos except on the wooden box.

The "H" prefix gave me concern it might actually be a Tokina lens, though of course, Luis, I very much respect your contrary indication. Still, had I been 100% certain (instead of perhaps 90%) it was a real Sun Optical lens I would have bid higher.

From what I could find, Sun Optical, back at that time, made their own lenses. If Sun Optical, as now appears to be the case, actually made this lens, then to me that makes it worth more than if it is merely a re-branded lens manufactured by a different company.

[luisalegria]

The Tokina is different - it has the "gunsight" pointing aid, which is its distinctive feature.

[calvin83]

I am curious to know if there is a sun logo on the name plate.

[guardian]

[calvin83]

The logo is not always there. For example, some of the 9cm F4 does have the logo and some don't. However, I think we need to check if the name SUN is present on the nameplate. Sometimes, the name might be different to that one on the sticker.

[guardian]

[luisalegria]

I actually would like to try one of these.

The Kawanon and Tokina 600/8's really can't be handheld (though I did try).
Because in both the focus ring is behind the point of balance - the tripod mount - makes it very difficult to use without a tripod or at least a monopod. With a 600/8 you will be fussing with focus a lot.

This Sun looks much better balanced - the point of balance seems to me to be just on the focus ring (see where they had to put the tripod mount, on an extension arm), so hand-holding is probably more practical. It will never be a snapshot lens, probably, but who knows.

Minimum focus is probably some tremendous distance though.

[SVP]

Looks identical to the Vemar-branded 600/8 clone.
I wonder who the OEM was...

[luisalegria]

It seems clear this is a Sun, which could have been rebranded as Vemar, as Bittco (owner of Vemar brand) did import from several makers, maybe including Sun.

I did see a Tokina 600/8 (focus helical behind tripod mount, aiming "gunsight" as a Vemar.

[SVP]

Possibly; what puzzles me is the letter "H" used as prefix on all 600/8s of this type (I own #H35561, btw), whilst SUN doesn't seem to have used such prefix in their other series of lenses (unless of course I'm missing something).