Soligor 45-150mm f3.5 CD macro zoom

[bychance]

Hello all My first post!

I just bought a Soligor 45-150mm f3.5 CD macro zoom. paid £9.99 boxed in mint condition. it looked in such good nick I couldnt help myself, weighs a ton but I like it. I bought the LensDoctor fd adapter which sounded like the best available so I'm not using crappy adapter but am strugling to get any pin sharp images with it hand held. I would appreciate any opinions of the lens and any tips for hand holding with FD zoomz and primes in general.

[iangreenhalgh1]

What camera are you using it on? If it's an SLR then I assume it's one of those converters with a glass element. If so, it's the adapter that is at fault, they always degrade the quality of the image and are best avoided, sorry to say.

[Lloydy]

That's a big old lens, and they take some practice to use with any success. I've got the Soligor CD 70-210 which is not a lens I carry in a backpack when I'm out walking very often! But it is a decent zoom lens, the CD lenses were Soligors competition to Vivitars Series 1 lenses.
My suggestions to get sharper pictures are, get and use a monopod - or better still a tripod. I carry a monopod clipped to my belt when I go out walking, it's worth the effort.
Shoot at the highest ISO and the largest aperture you can get away with - that gives the fastest shutter speed -until you get used to the lens. Heavy lenses aren't easy.
Enjoy the Soligor, post some pictures of the lens, and shots taken with it. I like Soligors and would like to see how it performs.

[philslizzy]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

What camera are you using, I think we have established it's a Canon FD fit lens, an adapter for a DSLR will only give you macro and if the adapter has a lens then you will lose some image quality but stopping down a couple of stops will help considerably.

If you are using it on a NEX, Samsing NX, or Micro four thirds camera you ought not to have this problem. Of course you must be able to see the screen image better in order to focus. My NEX has a 7x magnification button, the Lumix's have one too. maybe if you have it use it.

More details about your camera will help us to help you.

[bychance]

Thank you for the replies
I have a canon 1000d which was my first dslr and I think I'm outgrowing it a bit to be honest. As I said I got an adapter from 'The Lens Doctor' (£67.00 + delivery) [url] http://www.thelensdoctor.co.uk/page14.html [/url] I did some research and this came out as the best of the bunch and has the chip in it to allow focus confirmation in the viewfinder. I then proceeded to buy any fd mount lens I thought looked like a good buy and of course I now have 8, all delivered this week via ebay about £250.00 I've tried them all out but chose the Soligar for this question as it's sort of my favorite, without knowing much about it, it just feels right and I instantly developed a comfortable hand hold for it. I just cant keep it still enough for pinsharp shots yet plus all the best shots I have look slightly misty. I will post a few tomorrow to show this.

Here's what I bought
Vivitar 75-205 with matched multiplier (I Like this)
Canon 135 f2.5 turned out to be in crap condition, a stinky thing, I did not even sully my camera with it, its going back.
Canon 135 f3.5 This is a stunning thing absolutely mint + case and box I got my best shots with this.
Canon 35-70 F 3.5/4.5 Not very impressed with this.
Canon 28mm f2.8 Not in love with this either
Canon 100mm f4 Macro Utterly mint gorgeous lens, feels great to hold, this is a definate keeper, same results as the Soligar.
Canon FL 50mm 1.8 Why did they stop making lenses of this cosmetic design, It is a beautifull thing. I bought this for its looks
but it's also a keeper I think.
Soligor, as title (£9.99+post as new. I love this.

Two weeks ago I had never heard of FD lenses, now I'm bloody obsessed, the prices, the look, the handling and from what I've read, the quality of the glass used in them...

Just need to learn how to get the best out of them now!

[luisalegria]

Yes, the first stages of GAS (Glass Acquisition Syndrome). A classic case.

That's OK, we all suffer from that here. We admit we have no power before our addiction, and we need a higher power to overcome it.

Like my wife for instance.

[casualcollector]

Canon's FD line was some great stuff! Sadly, it doesn't adapt to DSLRs like my 5D mk2 gracefully. Fortunately, I have FD film bodies to accommodate the lenses. The 135/2.5 is one of my faves and I have clean versions in all the variations R, FL and FD.

The FL lenses were old school, all metal, heavy duty optics. Very nice. The FD line evolved over time with less expensive materials and manufacturing techniques creeping in to pare weight and hold the line on prices.

Good luck with the Soligor and Welcome to the group!

[dualmp]

[Tervueren]

Welcome both, now go out and buy a Sony Nex, cheap used and you will have great fun with your old legacy glass

[Minolfan]