The Sankor Lens thread

cyberjunkie · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 5:37 pm Post subject:

I just received a nice Spiratone Tc 1:2.5 105mm, that has the typical design of Sankor preset lenses.
I have been lucky, it's like new and I was the sole bidder, cause the title of the auction mentioned only the accessory (Spiratone 2x telXtender), and not the lens itself.
I already ordered a cheap T-2 PK mount from China, cause the one that comes with the lens is for Nikon cameras.
I've read many positive comments about this lens, soon I will see how it performs compared to the Komura of identical speed/FL.
I have a special liking for Sankor's zebra objectives, in both versions.

I did some research, and found that probably the various rebrands played a little with advertised speed.
This lens looks practically identical to mine, but was sold as f/2.4, instead of f/2.5:

The same way, there were two very similar Sankor-made lenses that were either sold as 3.9/200mm or 4/200mm.
I have also seen a 135mm f/3.2. Maybe a bit too much optimistic if it's an f/3.5. Maybe it's a different design.
Any clue?
I know of at least two Vivitar lenses that were marked with an "optimistic" max aperture... so it wouldn't be a surprise Smile

GoldMark · Joined: 21 Aug 2012 Posts: 185 Location: Germany

cyberjunkie · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 9:59 pm Post subject: Accura Diamatic YS 1:2.5 105mm

My Spiratone looked quite bad in picture, but in reality it looks almost like new.
I decided to try my luck once more.
I found the auto version of what seems to be the same lens.
It's marked Accura Diamatic YS 1:2.5 105mm.
I'll check in due time if the reflections and the size of the external glasses are the same. From the shape of the barrel it could even be another design.
I paid it less than 45 euros, shipment from the USA included, so it's not a huge investment.
The glasses look terrible, maybe it will clean up, maybe not, but at least I'll have an YS adapter in M42 mount! Smile

If it cleans up nicely, maybe in the future I might even find for it an YS ring in PK mount. It would be more practical.
The style of the barrel is not as attractive as the two previous (preset) zebra versions. IMHO old preset Sankors are among the most gorgeous vintage lenses.
This lens is way more anonymous.
In my opinion most lens makers lost both aesthetic value and build quality in the transition from preset to automatic lenses.
Maybe I would have skipped this lens if it didn't come with the YS mount, and if I wasn't interested in comparing it with the other 105mm.

Here is the lens, what do you think of the state of the glasses? From the pictures, would you deem it cleanable?
I hope the beauty ring will come off easily. The front is bent in two places Sad

Oldhand · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 10:04 pm Post subject:

Most of the grunge seems to be on the front element.
Should clean up OK.
Interested to see your results
Tom

cyberjunkie · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 10:15 pm Post subject:

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1266

In my opinion most lens makers lost both aesthetic value and build quality in the transition from preset to automatic lenses.

I agree with you, the evolution in glass pushed the weight and the quality of mechanics to less, it's like the makers agreed that best quality of glass with less quality of mechanics would mean more sales for them, or even more money from CLA .

cyberjunkie · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:05 pm Post subject:

Found this Accura Supertel Tc 1:2.8 135mm.
It looks almost like new. It even has the original box and papers.
Bought it on a whim, without even asking to see a picture of the glass and of the mount.
The vendor asked TWICE if I really wanted to buy it, saying that there was no return and that the lens is very old Smile

Fortunately I managed to convince him to ship the lens via USPS First Class International (from the USA), so the shipment costs me a little more than the lens, not two or three times its price.
I already have a Sankor-made 2.8/135mm, marked Soligor, but it is an "auto" lens, with the typical A/M ring, the same seen in most late Sankor lenses. If I remember correctly the switch was also present in non-M42 lenses. Correct me if I'm wrong.
The optical design of that lens might well be different from the old preset one.

Before the pics, one little note.
I have found that the list of different Sankor models at the start of this thread is missing at least a couple of objectives.
For example, one of those that have not been mentioned is the 1.9/85mm.
I have seen it in the most common zebra version, the same as the following lens.

braz · Joined: 13 Apr 2018 Posts: 35

Here's the 85mm f/1.9...this was mine, I sold it a while back though.

cyberjunkie · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:01 am Post subject:

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

I'm pretty sure my f.r.b 105mm f2.4 is a sankor.

Looks the same as the accura supertel 105mm f2.4 pics above. And the series E 105mm reckoned to be sankor, but a f2.5.
Initial pics look nice, but not quite as sharp as the pentacon 100mm that arrived the same day.

cyberjunkie · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 3:04 pm Post subject:

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

Here you go cyberjunkie:

yep that's the 15 blade iris.

braz · Joined: 13 Apr 2018 Posts: 35

vivaldibow · Expire: 2021-03-09

cyberjunkie · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2019 5:54 pm Post subject:

vivaldibow · Expire: 2021-03-09

gower · Joined: 04 Apr 2019 Posts: 1 Location: Poland

Hello, I've recently bought an Unitor lens (see image above), 300 mm f5. It's great, very sharp, even wide open. Circa 1976 ( I've found similar, almost the same lens branded Fokanon with Exacta mount: https://vintagelens.nl/product/fokanon-auto-300mm-f5-0-exakta-mount/[/img]

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

Inventor of Lens Fungus · Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 1:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks a lot for this thread! Do you have any information on the scheme of this lens (28mm/f3.5)? I have one branded "EDIXAR"

I would need to know how the lenses inside exactly are aligned and grouped!

Inventor of Lens Fungus · Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 1:19 pm Post subject:

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

This is almost certainly a Sankor, but there is no mention of the Sankor name, only Series E.

Great lens as well.

Inventor of Lens Fungus · Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 3:08 pm Post subject:

papasito · Joined: 09 Jan 2015 Posts: 1662

And what about the Sankor Komura 200/4,5 IQ lens?

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 661 Location: New Zealand

I have had this lens for some time and been meaning to post it here. A quite unusual focal length for a Sankor made lens, I haven't noticed another in general searching.

vivaldibow · Expire: 2021-03-09