The big Soligor thread!

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

That's a pretty good lens, I don't use mine a lot but I have had good results from it.

The mount is a T mount - and looking at the pictures you have slackened the 3 screws and removed the outer part of the T mount, the inner part with the taper is still on the lens. Put the outer part back on, tighten the screws and then unscrew the whole mount. The reason they are in 2 parts is to allow the lens to be rotated to line it up with the top of the camera.

PaletoB · Joined: 05 Feb 2016 Posts: 2

Thanks for the picture fix and the reply. The lens T ring is rely stuck but will try som more. Smile

marcusBMG · Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1318 Location: Conwy N Wales

More info

http://www.tremyfoel.co.uk/photography/tmount/t-mount.html#47mm

try dipping the end in hot water to expand the metal and loosen, use a pipe wrench with someting protective eg bit of leather if necessary.

uto · Joined: 12 Jun 2016 Posts: 2

Hi!

I got my first Soligor lens. I have some questions about it...

When it was made? The serial number is "No.M 156190. I saw some formulas how to check the manufacturer and year but can this be so old?

It seems that i'm not able to focus to infinity. Could it be that my m42->EOS adapter is not good?

DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3462 Location: Northern Ireland

cyberjunkie · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 2:12 pm Post subject: Soligor/Tokina with TX mount

I've discovered how good some Soligor long teles can be, especially those made by Kino or Komine.
Then i started picking up all the Soligor lenses that i found interesting, from a Kioei (Acall) wide angle to a 800mm long focus made by Kino.
In the process, i kept track of the serial numbers, and i could correct/update the list of Soligor serials.
Some lenses were not marked "Soligor", but were identical to a Soligor example.
I have a preference for T2 lenses, better if old presets. I retrofit the best ones with a T2 mount for Pentax K. Simpler to use, like an M42 optic, and quick to mount on the camera.

This time i found a Tokina-made (serial starting with 1) Tele Auto f/5,5 300mm, very small and in TX mount.
Pictures attached.
There is a small chromed pushbutton to close the diaphragm, but no A-M switch.
Is there a way to close the iris to set aperture, with TX mounts?

Thanks

Paolo

marcusBMG · Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1318 Location: Conwy N Wales

This lens is basically the same as the vivitar cyberjunkie. There is a link to a thread that discusses modding the momentary switch on the M42 T4 mount here:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/vivitar-tx-300mm-f55-and-f56.html

On mine I opened up the mount and put a bit of ballpoint pen tube around the pin to hold it down.

uto · Joined: 12 Jun 2016 Posts: 2

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Is the 2.5/135 covered in here? I went through all the pages of this thread and didn't find it?

Oldhand · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 11:08 pm Post subject:

doomed-forever · Joined: 09 Aug 2014 Posts: 239

Does someone here have the 28-50/3.5-4.5 Soligor Lens?

kryss · Expire: 2017-09-18

I have the Canon FD SSC 28-50mm f3.5 which I do not use,nice lens but I prefer my Tamron 24-48mm f3.5.

serntamernta · Joined: 08 Nov 2016 Posts: 1

I have a Soligor 1=70-300mm 1:3.8-5.5 lens. Can anyone tell me year range and value? Thanks

casualcollector · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 8:06 am Post subject:

PBFACTS · Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 569

cyberjunkie · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2016 8:50 am Post subject:

I am posting an updated list of Soligor serials, with a few of my own findings.

1 = Tokina
2 = Sun
3 = Sun
4 = Sun
5 = Samyang ?
6 = Komine
7 = Sun
8 = Tokina?
9 = Kino
9 + 7 digits = Kobori ?
31 = ??? *
A = Komura #
H1 = Tokina ? #
H4 = Kawanon ? #
H5 = Komine #
H5 + 4 digits = Tokina #
H6 = Komine #
H6 + 4 digits = Itoh #
H7= Tokina #
H9= Tokina? #
H37 = Kawanon? #
M = ??? #
N = ??? #
Y + 4 digits = Fujita #
Y + > 4 digits = Tokina (and/or Komura?) #
R = Itoh? #
T = Tamron #
KA = Kyoei Acall

I can't provide pictures proving my findings, cause i don't have any Soligor lens with me at this time.
I came to my conclusions after seeing pictures of identical lenses branded with the name the original OEM

Here is a quick list of my M42 Soligor's:

Soligor (Tokina) C/D f2,8 24mm
Soligor (Kyoei Acall) f3,5 35mm
Soligor (Komine) f3,5 135mm
Soligor (Tokina) f2,8 135mm
Soligor (Tokina) Tele-Auto f3,5 135mm
Soligor (Komine) Tele-Auto f3,5 200mm
Soligor (Kino) f4,5 250mm
Soligor (Komine) f5,5 300mm
Soligor (Kino) f5,6 350mm
Soligor (Kino) f8 800mm
Soligor (Sun) C/D Duofocal MC f4 85-135mm

Plus one in P-KA mount:
Soligor (Tokina) C/D MC f2,8 24mm

I have other lenses that were also sold as Soligor's.
I remember at least two now:
Panagor (Kino) f2,5 28mm
Caspeco T (Komine) f3,5 180mm
for sure i have more...

One interesting observation.
Looking at Soligor lenses produced by different japanese lens makers (at least according to the serials already posted, and widely accepted),
it is evident that some mechanical parts are shared.
It seems that the cooperation between different companies was quite common, at least at that time.
This kind of collaborations, to reduce cost and increase margins, was uncommon elsewhere, i.e. in Germany

cheers

Paolo

Steso90 · Joined: 01 Jan 2017 Posts: 16

Hello! Does anyone seen this lens? Bought it for around 10dollars.
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AliMU96SZKzyhV2LM08q9lf7bXHM

https://1drv.ms/i/s!AliMU96SZKzyhV2LM08q9lf7bXHM

shand · Joined: 19 May 2013 Posts: 7 Location: RF

Can someone tell something about producer and quality of this lens (5 digits serial):

#1

#2

TrueLoveOne · Expire: 2013-12-24

That looks very much like a Tokina 3.5/200 i had once. An awful lens to be honest......

55 · Expire: 2022-06-15

My preset Soligor 35mm f/2.8 is small (46mm filter thread) and has good sharpness across the frame.

#1

I've been wondering who manufactured this lens? It appears the maker of No. 5... serial number lenses has yet to be positively identified. Or perhaps my lens precedes the number code?

On page 12 of this thread, marcusBMG showed a No. 276... 35mm which appears to be the same as my lens.
I believe it's agreed that #2... serials were made by Sun.

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

I think Luis should know who manufactured this lens.

cyberjunkie · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2018 12:20 pm Post subject:

Similarly looking tele lenses, non auto, were made by Kino.
This kind of lenses (auto, silver ring above the diaphragm ring) are especially difficult to identify cause I believe different manufacturers were involved, making optics in "Soligor trim" that were only sold under the Soligor brand.
I never found a lens with similar barrel that was not marked Soligor... which makes the identification of the original maker very difficult.
On top of that, I have seen identical hardware, for example tripod rings, used on lenses that were supposedly (according to the serial number) made by different manufacturers.
The level of cooperation between different japanese third party lens makers is usually underestimated. German optical brands never had this kind of integration. If they had, we would know, cause we know a lot about German optical industry.
The are books and various publications dedicated to this subject, while these is very little about third party japanese brands.

Btw, the 135mm with serial starting with M is likely Sun, but I'm not sure at all, I wouldn't bet on it Smile

cyberjunkie · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:22 pm Post subject:

55 · Expire: 2022-06-15