35mm M42 lens - opinion needed

[Ash]

I am getting deals on these lense: soligor 35/2.8 (nice condition), Yashinon 35/2.8 (stiff focus), Vivitar 35/2.5 (Tokina make).

Does anyone have any experience with these? Any recommendations?

[fish4570]

i have a vivitar/tokina 35/2.8 that is very, very good ...

[Poolhall]

Just guessing but the Yashinon should be excellent I have A 50/2 and its superb- the Soligor could be very good or very poor plenty here have had both but someone else might help with more info on that.

[Nesster]

depends on which Yashinon... I like my DX quite a bit
the Viv 2.5's all have a good rep (I have a TX version), and I would expect the Soligor to also be a decent lens.

For me, as long as there's sufficient performance, I like a) petite size and weight and b) charm and character. The Yashinon DX provides both. The Viv 2.5 TX may do better optically, and does have character, but is a big chunk of a lens.

Several of the first-party makes had 35mm f/3.5 lenses with truly exceptional performance and small size, and due to the non-sexy aperture often sell for fairly little money.

[Ash]

Thanks everybody for your input. I have heard a lot about Yashinon lenses. So I am thinking to buy it. How hard it is to fix stiff focus?

Lens have these on them:

yashinon lens read: Yashica Super Yashinon-R 35mm f2.8

Soligor lens: Soligor Wide Auto 1:2.8 35mm

Vivitar: Vivitar 35mm f2.5 Auto Wide Angle Serial: 37xxxxxx

This might help further to recognize it.

Thanks in advance.

[fish4570]

my viv 35/2.8 is 1/2 inch longer than my super takumar 55/2. not much heavier. the viv is much smaller than my spiratone 28/2.8, which also is an excellent lens ...

[Cobalt60]

Uh, this "Yashica Super Yashinon-R 35mm f2.8" is the oldest M42 Yashinon you could be finding ... I doubt that this will have a real good IQ

[peterqd]

Viv would be my choice but all these lenses would need to be stopped down a bit I think.

[Ash]

Thanks every one.

fish4570: Do you have any sample shots from vivtar 35/2.8?

I have narrowed it down to vivitar 35 2.5 or 2.8.

[fish4570]

i think this is one (sorry, i sometimes do not take notes):



this one, too, i think (i seldom use my wides):

[Ash]

pretty sharp lens in my opinion !!

[fish4570]

i have far more samples of the spiratone 28, but i have owned it for several years. the viv 35 is a fairly recent purchase and i just have not used it much. those sample shots were hand-held ...

but i was inspired to run off the last five shots on a roll of fuji superia 400 with the viv 35, on tripod-mounted praktica ltl 3. just got back ...

[Ash]

Just won a soligor on ebay for $12.. looking for the vivitar 35 2.8 now... hopefully will get that too cheaply.

[fish4570]

my viv 35 is for sale, by the way, spiratone 28, too. cheap.

vivitar (komine made) 135/2.8, m42, very good, maybe excellent, shape, $45 (obo) shipped conus. paypal. photos shot by 'em both are in galleries.

vivitar (tokina made) 35/2.8, m42, very good shape except for small dent in filter ring, $30 (obo) shipped conus

here are the two vivitars:



this is a sound lens. coating on front has cleaning marks and one small scratch but they don't affect photos. $35 obo shipped conus. paypal.

[Ash]

look like a good bargain...how much shipping you will charge for chicago..? I am interested in 35mm f2.8 vivitar.

BTW I am getting another deal on a mint vivitar with rear, front cover and original lens bag: $25+ $12 shipping

[fish4570]

$30 each, includes shipping ...

[Ash]

I am sorry I overlooked it..

[fish4570]

no problemo. dropped the price a little on the spira anyhow ...

[Ash]

I am waiting for my soligor right now. Want to test it first before I hunt vivitar down.

I already got 28mm super takumar 2 days ago. So right now I am not looking for a 28mm one.

[fish4570]

aight ...