Some more M42 lenses to identify!

[RioRico]

Another batch of M42 lenses arrived today, and a body. The average cost of everything, including shipping, was US$8 each. Such a deal! The body is a Focal 1000 TLX, probably by Ricoh. The lenses are a mixed lot, all made in Japan. Can anyone help me identify the lensmakers of each?

* Auto Rikenon 55/1.8 #31251; 52mm; M/A; f-index: red dot & line
* Fujinon 55/1.8 #330179; 49mm; auto; f-index: red dot & line
* Focal MC Auto 28/2.8 #540547; 55mm; M/A; f-index: red dot & line
* accura Diamatic 28/2.8 #291576; 52mm; M/A; f-index: red dot
* Auto Sears 135/2.8 #17388; 55mm; M/A; f-index: red dot
* Auto Focal 200/3.5 #C366672; 58mm; M/A; f-index: hollow red diamond
* Auto Sears Tele-Zoom 55-135/3.5 #201450; 62mm; M/A; solid red diamond

Also just arrived, with an average cost of US$12 each, are:

* Yashica ML 50/1.4 (C/Y) #A1004667; 52mm; f-index: red dot & line
* Vivitar Series 1 28-90/2.8-3.5 (MD) #28425866; f-index: red dot
* Promaster Spectrum 7 28-70/3.5-4.5 (KAF) - I know it's Tamron

The Promaster AF is Tamron and it's not manual, so forget I mentioned it. The Rikenon might be Ricoh, or is this a rebadged contract job? Of the others, the Sears 55-135 zoom is amazing, with almost Takumar-like build quality and movements, and with a short built-in hood. And it is HEAVY at 680g! The Sears 135 has similar build quality but different font, and focus is a bit sticky. The Focals both seem solid enough, as does the mysterious accura. Who made these?

Uh oh, that Vivitar macro is for Minolta, which I can't use; that goes straight to eBay. I've seen some plans for converting a C/Y mount to PK but I don't know if the conversion is reversible. I need to think about it... I haven't shot any of the other lenses yet (except the surprisingly good Promaster AF zoom) and don't know which I'll keep.

Thanks for any information on these cheap lenses!

[ManualFocus-G]

The Rikenon, Fujica and Yashica lenses should all be excellent. Great work!

[Attila]

[luisalegria]

The Rikenon's maker is very uncertain; there are various theories as to the makers of that line of Ricoh Mamiya Chinon and Yashica lenses. Some say Tomioka, some say a generic consortium of ddsigners and component makers.

Fuji would have made the Fujinon.

Focal was the store brand of K-Mart
Sears of course was Sears
Accura was a brand used by an importer

These all sold many makers lenses over the years, so there is no way to know for sure without seeing the lens. And even then ...

The Sears 55-135 62mm filter is very likely an early Tokina zoom. These were also made in T4 mount and sold as Soligors and Vivitars.

The Accura Diamatics seem to have been Sankors, or at least it seems many of them were.

[RioRico]

@luisalegria,
Thanks for the ID's. I know a little about Sears and Focal/KMart and their numerous suppliers, just not whom supplied what. I have a great Auto Sears 55/1.4 (Tomioka) and have read that even Pentax supplied some Sears lenses. This 55-135 zoom just seems heftier and smoother than other Tokina glass of that vintage that I've handled.

I know some of these are hard to ID, which is why I included serials and the type of aperture mark, just in case someone has that info stashed away in a database somewhere. I need all the help I can get!

[BRunner]

More helpful would be, if you include photos of the lenses. They can be more easily identified by similarities to better known brands.

[mo]

Nice score on the rikenons and fujinon...actually all of those lenses!!

[Big Dawg]

I have a Vivitar 55-135 Tokina made and it is very smooth as well as being a quite decent lens. It has a very smooth focus and like most of the T4's is on the heavy side.

[RioRico]

I just read a report of a rumour that Tomioka made many of the *non lenses (Revuenon, Yashinon, Fujinon, Chinon, Rikenon, etc). Is this merely an Urban Legend?

[revers]

How heavy is the Vivitar Series 1 28-90/2.8-3.5 (MD) #28425866; f-index: red dot ? I might be interested.

[RioRico]

Sorry for the delay. I'll have pix up soon.

[revers]

Thanks Rico.