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"the worst lens sold" Soligor 35-140mm ?
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:49 pm
Post subject: Soligor Zoom 70-160mm F3.5 - Single Ring version
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:49 pm
Post subject: Soligor Zoom 70-160mm F3.5 - Single Ring version
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this message is outdated and deleted!

Last edited by Aykman on Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:51 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:31 am
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:31 am
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I might as well jump in, since I have the Tokina Twins.
I know nothing about these, except they are sharp and
present a nice contrast. I read about the 70-210, and the
reviews were very favorable, so when I found a cheap
price, I picked it up. I was not disappointed. This is a very
compact lens. If anyone can give me info on these, I would
greatly appreciate it.

SD 28-70/3.5-4.5
SD70-210/4-5.6






Also have the Soligor CD 35-70/2.5-3.5 Macro 1:2.7
(shown with Tokina 70-210), which has rather flat contrast,
but superb true-to-life colors, and good to excellent out-of-focus
highlights at a pretty fast 2.5 wide open.
All images were taken with Sigma SD-14 and Industar 50/3.5 lens.



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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:29 am
Post subject: Re: "the worst lens sold" Soligor 35-140mm ?
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:29 am
Post subject: Re: "the worst lens sold" Soligor 35-140mm ?
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Xpres wrote:
At least two members have or have had it and describe it as the 'worst', so I wondered how bad that was. I got it because I wanted the I-S mount but have never used it until now. So
this morning I had a quick shot or two with my copy of this lens to see just how bad, or not, it was.

I had one (35-140 3.5) because it came with a contax camera I bought some months ago. I tested it and saw it was really bad, so I recently sold it on eBay (just to get rid of it, i don't need more junk in my room), it went for $5 Laughing
My test photos resemble yours, really soft/dreamy wide open, never really sharp, no quality particularly outstanding. I'm even thinking, is it possible that these lenses have a common flaw that makes them deteriorate after years? bad coatings or cements, something? i mean, people really bought this crap in the 70s?


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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:40 pm
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Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:40 pm
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Well, honestly naplam, the Tokina 70-210 that I showed above really IS a pretty good lens. I wouldn't go so far as to call it crap. Laughing

The others -- I could take them or leave them -- since I already have them, they do see some use, as they aren't seeming to be really bad in sharpness.

Best, Larry


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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:34 am
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:34 am
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I don't know about the 70-210 (i guess it's easier to make a better 3x zoom tele too), but the 35-140 i had was terrible, really. I admit the "crap" qualification is subjective, though Laughing


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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:03 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:03 pm
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Laurence wrote:


I know we're gettng further and further afield from the original subject here but Larry's Tokinas rang a little bell in my head. These Tamrons have the same specifications as the Tokinas. Some differences to allow for the Adapt All system and some stylistic changes.







I see that the focus direction is opposite, Tokina compared with Tamron. I'm betting your Tokinas are K mount. For a while in, the late manual focus era, Sigma ads trumpeted that their lenses matched the focusing orientation of the cameras they were fitted for. Nikon and Pentax focused opposite just about everyone else. I think that towards the end of the manual focus era Sigma, Tamron and Tokina cooperated on production of some models. These being an example. Perhaps Cosina was involved too.

But wait, there's more! This Minolta MD seems very similar. It reads 28-70 f3.5-4.8 vs te 3.5-4.5 of the Tamron and has 55mm filter ring against 52 of the Tammy and 8 leaf iris vs 6. Overall, it shares the same feel as the Tamron.



Another late era lens and Minolta may have gone to the aftermarket for it.

Bill


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Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:45 am
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Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:45 am
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Which lens? The Soligor?


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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:49 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:49 pm
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In a continuation of the previous discussion about the 35-70/f2.5-3.5. Now I don't need to look for similarity between this lens and 70-160/f3.5 to tell it is also made by Tefnon.




As you can see this is the same lens as Soligor just without a built-in hood.

Exactly the same lens as Tefnon was also sold under the name Access.



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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:55 pm
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:55 pm
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dimitrygo wrote:
In a continuation of the previous discussion about the 35-70/f2.5-3.5. Now I don't need to look for similarity between this lens and 70-160/f3.5 to tell it is also made by Tefnon.


Not absolutely sure because i found today this ad on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220455359744&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

for a samyang lens and the om mount is EXACTLY the same mount of my soligor 35/70 2.5..
Samyang beeing one of the greatest lens manufacturer, the lens is certaliny made by them


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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:12 pm
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:12 pm
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PBFACTS wrote:
... the om mount is EXACTLY the same mount of my soligor 35/70 2.5..
Samyang beeing one of the greatest lens manufacturer, the lens is certaliny made by them


I am not talking about mount but the lens itself. As I have written on the previous page there is a close resemblance in the build and looking of the 70-162/f3.5 and 35-70/f2.5-3.5 lenses. And since I see now both of them made by Tefnon (that is/was a Japanese lens making company) I don't have any reason to think they are made by other company. BTW both lenses are made in Japan and Samyang is a Korean company if I am not mistaken.


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Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:45 pm
Post subject: 35-70mm 1:2.5
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Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:45 pm
Post subject: 35-70mm 1:2.5
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I have lens that is obviously from the same manufacturer but it's called UNITOR 2.5-3.5/35-70mm PK mount. It produces very good images and with macro ratio 1:2.7 one can achieve nice shallow depth effects.


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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:05 pm
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:05 pm
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Someone is going to be disappointed with their purchase!

Click here to see on Ebay

If only they would do some google research first!


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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:29 pm
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:29 pm
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I have an Asanuma autozoom C/D 45-150mm 3.5; I have seen Soligor sold the same lens, marked C/D too.
Mine is with MD mount, so I could only try the lens on film. Really not bad at all, with useful macro.
Normal MFD is 1.40m, filter 67mm and nearly as heavy as my Vivitar S1 (Kiron) 70-210mm 3.5. Rolling Eyes


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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 8:08 pm
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 8:08 pm
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Today i shot for 1 EUR a "Sun 35-70 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro" with FD-Mount. While waiting for delivery, i will search some information about this lens.

Do somebody have experience with this lens (or similar lens with other brand)?
Who was the manufacturer?


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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 8:54 pm
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 8:54 pm
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GoldMark wrote:
Today i shot for 1 EUR a "Sun 35-70 mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro" with FD-Mount. While waiting for delivery, i will search some information about this lens.

Do somebody have experience with this lens (or similar lens with other brand)?
Who was the manufacturer?


Made by Sun! also

http://forum.mflenses.com/three-suns-sun-opt-zoom-set-t29966.html


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Posted: Mon May 15, 2023 12:43 am
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2023 12:43 am
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A friend just dropped his old camera with me, an Asahi SP1000 with this lens and a Vivitar DSC flash
Havent had the time to test it, but this thread made me smile.
T


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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 8:52 pm
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 8:52 pm
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Sorry for reviving an old thread with a simple technical question. I have a clean 35-140 I stopped using long ago because it comes with a FD mount which I don't use anymore since the start of the digital thing. Some of you guys mention that it comes with the Y/S mount, but it looks quite different to me. Much more like a fixed mount and I thought it is one, until I read this thread again. I have 2 YS mounts which I could use on that lens but the positions of the screws (and the size) are not the same at all.
Googling some pics of the lens one can see that there are 2 types of mount. The one is quite short and looks a lot like a fixed mount (OM mount) , and the other (like my FD) looks like an added mount, like an YS or T-mount, but with the different screws. Any comment on that? (no, I didn't try to do anything) Thanks a lot.


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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 11:18 pm
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2024 11:18 pm
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Some pictures would help.

I had some YS mount lenses where T2 adapter bottomed out before seating completely against the lens, preventing infinity focus.

There is also another iinterchangeable mount system, the SOLIGOR. I-S Mount
https://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-i-s-mount-t80411.html


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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 6:15 pm
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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 6:15 pm
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Never heard of the Soligor specific mount. It's interesting given that Soligor had many different manufacturers make their lenses.

Here is a PK mounted example :
https://vintagecameradeals.co.za/MINT-SOLIGOR-35-140-f3.5-Multicoated-Zoom-and-Macro-G-S-Auto-lens-with-case-caps-filter-Pentax-K
Scroll to pic #5
Obviously not an YS or a T-mount.

Here is the FD type (like mine, but not mine). But after wondering a bit I realized the FDs have their locking ring which could pass for a T-mount at a first quick glance.
https://recycledphoto.com/cdn/shop/products/57_f9b6163f-2441-4fba-aff2-a73d3c2d3644.jpg?v=1678355366&width=1100

I'm intrigued by the mention of an YS version. Who has seen one? 🤔


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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 7:06 pm
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Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2024 7:06 pm
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Sun used YS

https://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-c-d-zoomandmacro-3-8-5-3-35-140mm-mc-nikon-mount-t15075.html
Xpres wrote:
... I have an I-S version, but it's two touch and f3.5 all through.



https://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-35-140mm-with-c-y-mount-t44057.html
Rolf wrote:
Seems that we are talking about a different lens.

This here is a 1:3.8-5.3/35-140 mm lens but with macro too.





First image samples in the next days.

Wink


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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:58 pm
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2025 5:58 pm
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visualopsins wrote:
Sun used YS


1975-180 .. sun used ys mount then developped the i/s (u-s) mount

https://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-c-d-zoomandmacro-3-8-5-3-35-140mm-mc-nikon-mount-t15075.html
Xpres wrote:
... I have an I-S version, but it's two touch and f3.5 all through.



first version of sun made 35/140

https://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-35-140mm-with-c-y-mount-t44057.html
Rolf wrote:
Seems that we are talking about a different lens.

This here is a 1:3.8-5.3/35-140 mm lens but with macro too.





2nd version of sun made 35/140


Last info the 2.5/3.5 35-70 is definitely kobori (= tefnon) made

Wink
[/quote]


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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 7:40 am
Post subject: Re: "the worst lens sold" Soligor 35-140mm ?
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 7:40 am
Post subject: Re: "the worst lens sold" Soligor 35-140mm ?
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Xpres wrote:
Out of curiosity...
https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/photo_audio_video/2916026899?kp=google&ka=seabdc&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwwqfABhBcEiwAZJjC3riWOXNX7xLcSafEEXeStVOMXaBKdjJ8EpT-k23GI062KUzUZ-j1IhoCrPIQAvD_BwE%23at_medium%3Dsl&at_campaign=fr_lbc_all_com_ggshop_part_prospecting-pmax-shopping-camera__pr_hmq____
I was reminded about my copy of this lens in the earlier thread
At least two members have or have had it and describe it as the 'worst', so I wondered how bad that was. I got it because I wanted the I-S mount but have never used it until now. So
this morning I had a quick shot or two with my copy of this lens to see just how bad, or not, it was.


the Soligor 35-140mm f3.5 two touch macro zoom.
interchangeable I-S multi mount ( also available as G/S )
From the late seventies.
13 Elements in 10 groups
1:3 macro
72mm filter
Weighs 800g

A couple of quotes found via google - Someone liked it... and it wasn't cheap

Art Haykin , Nov 19, 2003; 08:26 a.m.
I have but one Soligor I bought new at dealer's net in the '70's, and used it quite a bit on a K-1000 as a personal lens. It's surprisingly good, and has held up. It's built like a safe, and weighs a "ton." It's a 35-140 f/3.5 Macro Autozoom with a 72mm filter ring. The macro goes down to 1:3. As I recall, it wholesaled for around $300 then.

soligor 35-140 3.5 80 $319 $664 auto zoom, macro g/s

...135/2.0; and 200/2.8. Most were available in screwmount. The finest-performing Soligor zoom was probably their 35-140 f/3.5 macro. Soligor images tend to have a green cast. Paul Franklin Stregevsky

So why so bad?


Well... wide open it really isn't that good - quite soft and lots of SA. Doesn't sharpen up until F8. I haven't tried macro yet so will give that a quick try. I may also try some portraits which may suit the lens.

No reason to keep it though.


Wide open at 35mm setting, Picasa default raw conversion from Orf - no changes. No hood



At 75mm setting (sorry, I moved to the right.. Embarassed)



At 140mm setting




Poster on a door at f3.5, f5.6 and f8 - I had to up the iso on each shot to maintain a shutter speed as these were handheld.










And one more wide open.



And crop



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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 5:20 pm
Post subject: Re: "the worst lens sold" Soligor 35-140mm ?
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2025 5:20 pm
Post subject: Re: "the worst lens sold" Soligor 35-140mm ?
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iroshnikov.v.o@gmail.com wrote:
Xpres wrote:
Xpres post


Welcome iroshnikov.v.o@gmail.com Did you want to say something? Smile
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