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Some pics with my new Soligor 400mm f6.3
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:22 pm    Post subject: Some pics with my new Soligor 400mm f6.3 Reply with quote
Hello,

I've just received this new lens, solid build, for a couple of euros ("as new" condition).

Tokina-Made, serial number 17XXXXXXX.

First tests show it is very sharp and best contrasts at f11.


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Last edited by dudu75 on Sat Feb 06, 2021 7:57 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 8:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Some pics with my new Soligor 400mm f6.3 Reply with quote
dudu75 wrote:
Hello,

I've just received this new lens, solid built, for a couple of euros ("as new" condition).

. . .


Congrats! It appears you found a good deal.

And if you don't have extension rings, I'd suggest you get a set so you can have closer focus for smaller subjects.


PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 11:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes absolutely ! As long as it does not decrease image quality, does it ?


PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Very good, both shots and the lens' performance. Congrats!


PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 1:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
dudu75 wrote:
Yes absolutely ! As long as it does not decrease image quality, does it ?


Not directly, no, I don't think so. As long as the interiors of the rings are sufficiently blackened to prevent reflections and as long as there are no light leaks, image quality shouldn't be affected.

However, you will lose some light. I don't know what the formula for that is, but I can give you an example:
I just did a quick check with a 400mm lens. When I added a 20mm extension ring, there was a 1/3 stop loss of light.
The longer the extension, the more light you lose.

I've bought new, made in China rings and older, used rings made in Japan. Both worked okay, but the made in Japan rings are more solidly built and have better quality finish.

One of my favorite uses for long lenses is "compressing" familiar landscape settings. It gives a different view of the world.
Enjoy! Smile


PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 7:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
55 wrote:
dudu75 wrote:
Yes absolutely ! As long as it does not decrease image quality, does it ?


Not directly, no, I don't think so. As long as the interiors of the rings are sufficiently blackened to prevent reflections and as long as there are no light leaks, image quality shouldn't be affected.

However, you will lose some light. I don't know what the formula for that is, but I can give you an example:
I just did a quick check with a 400mm lens. When I added a 20mm extension ring, there was a 1/3 stop loss of light.
The longer the extension, the more light you lose.

I've bought new, made in China rings and older, used rings made in Japan. Both worked okay, but the made in Japan rings are more solidly built and have better quality finish.

One of my favorite uses for long lenses is "compressing" familiar landscape settings. It gives a different view of the world.
Enjoy! Smile


Thank you for these détails ! I also remember that you loose Infinity focus since the lens is too far away from the sensor, whatever the brand.


PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 7:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
alex ph wrote:
Very good, both shots and the lens' performance. Congrats!


Thanks !


PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Like 1 small Like 1 small Like 1 small


PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Like 1 Like 1


PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 2:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
With regard to using extension tubes, I think the centre image quality holds up much better than edge, and using apsc like your sony A65 thats AOK. But unless you're eg shooting from a hide at essentially the same distance, the range with extension tubes is very restricted, just a few m focus range. The ~8m CFD on these soligors does get in the way eg of getting more frame filling pics of smaller birds.

An interesting point of comparison actually is your vintage 400's on the sony compared to your panasonic FZ1000 (400mm equiv - the sony A65 + 400mm would however be more at 600mm equiv). I've tried a few shots with a bridge camera - nikon etc. They usually have heavy internal processing that results in rather glossy, postcardy jpg's. They're rather good for eg flocks of birds due to the far greater depth of field. But without RAW, and often a crappy EVF, I haven't been tempted. The panasonic has a bigger sensor though and an interesting spec - does it do RAW?


PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 4:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
marcusBMG wrote:
With regard to using extension tubes, I think the centre image quality holds up much better than edge, and using apsc like your sony A65 thats AOK. But unless you're eg shooting from a hide at essentially the same distance, the range with extension tubes is very restricted, just a few m focus range. The ~8m CFD on these soligors does get in the way eg of getting more frame filling pics of smaller birds.

An interesting point of comparison actually is your vintage 400's on the sony compared to your panasonic FZ1000 (400mm equiv - the sony A65 + 400mm would however be more at 600mm equiv). I've tried a few shots with a bridge camera - nikon etc. They usually have heavy internal processing that results in rather glossy, postcardy jpg's. They're rather good for eg flocks of birds due to the far greater depth of field. But without RAW, and often a crappy EVF, I haven't been tempted. The panasonic has a bigger sensor though and an interesting spec - does it do RAW?


Yes FZ-1000 does RAW, alone or in combination with one
of 3 jpeg qualities. I've never used it to be honest.
As long as you do not exceed max 400m optical range, image is very good with a great aperture. Beyond until 800mm there is digital zoom ans processing which is fairly good if you don't make big printings.
The small sensor of course could compete until some conditions with APS-C ones.

Last edited by dudu75 on Sat Feb 06, 2021 7:56 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Feb 06, 2021 12:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The tidal salmon nets on the Scottish side of the Solway Firth near Annan

The nets are a long distance from where I was stood and I used an old Soligor 400mm lens and stitched 8 images in Microsoft ICE

Sony NEX5
Soligor 400mm f6.3



PostPosted: Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice one !!


PostPosted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Impressed this morning in very bad rainy and low-light conditions , sharpness in rendez-vous.
1st is a crop, 2nd the original picture.




PostPosted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 12:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Like 1 Like 1


PostPosted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 1:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
marcusBMG wrote:
With regard to using extension tubes, I think the centre image quality holds up much better than edge, and using apsc like your sony A65 thats AOK. But unless you're eg shooting from a hide at essentially the same distance, the range with extension tubes is very restricted, just a few m focus range. The ~8m CFD on these soligors does get in the way eg of getting more frame filling pics of smaller birds.

An interesting point of comparison actually is your vintage 400's on the sony compared to your panasonic FZ1000 (400mm equiv - the sony A65 + 400mm would however be more at 600mm equiv). I've tried a few shots with a bridge camera - nikon etc. They usually have heavy internal processing that results in rather glossy, postcardy jpg's. They're rather good for eg flocks of birds due to the far greater depth of field. But without RAW, and often a crappy EVF, I haven't been tempted. The panasonic has a bigger sensor though and an interesting spec - does it do RAW?


I own the FZ 1000 too, and I bet that if you look for a crispy and spectacular rendering, it wins hands down; but don't ask what we sometimes call an "organic" rendering


PostPosted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 1:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Juggling with a bit of sharpening after a resize is how I try to max the results from these old lenses. Just a quick pp of your large jpg in faststone.



PostPosted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 2:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well done MarcusBMG, I dropped original pictures only. I've got the RAW file and will post a PP with Lightroom.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote


PostPosted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice images! Is it this model with the chrome "ears"?

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PostPosted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nope, non ears on mine.




PostPosted: Mon Feb 08, 2021 8:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice lens! Yours does have the ears:

Enjoy!

Paul



PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2021 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
it's the 9xxx serials soligor that are normally considered the "chrome eared" ones as per your pic of one, pdccameras . The other 9xxx lenses also have ears: 350mm, 200mm etc, they are all t-mount presets.
The 17xx.. tokina made ones can have ears too but not necessarily. they are fixed mount or T4/TX.


PostPosted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 1:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks of the info, Marcus, I never got though all of the "big" Soligor thread!

P.


PostPosted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sunny day after a snowy night, new set of pics with the Soligor.




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