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marcusBMG
Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1312 Location: Conwy N Wales
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 8:25 pm Post subject: Miranda 105mm f2.8 - to keep or not to keep? |
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marcusBMG wrote:
I acquired this lens as part of a job lot, there are some good pics/reports on this type of 105's around so I was quite interested to check it out.
The lens arrived with some fungus affliction and a horribly sticky oiled up iris. Eventually I got round to fixing it up,
a reasonably straightforward project with this relatively simple lens. It tuned out to be a 5 element design, a bit sonnar like actually, big fat element behind the front elements. Turns out too that this is an easy (as it gets!) conversion to PK: the miranda mount comes off leaving a flat plate,
the miranda mount can be used as a pattern to drill three holes in a M42-PK adapter, screw it on, voila!
But unfortunately I didn't succeed in recouping the difference in the registration distances, focus was limited to 1-10m approx!
I took it out today, a nice sunny interlude in the assault of the Atlantic storms. Favourably impressed with the images, the local fauna provided the portrait opportunities - what do you think? Just OtC jpg's, most cropped and resized.
I used auto adjust colors in Irfan View on this one , decided I liked the output.
100% crops off a roadsign. Only a tinge of fringing!
100%
So I am undecided. The infinity focus issue is a problem, but iq seems good... _________________ pentax ME super (retired)
Pentax K3-ii; pentax K-S2; Samsung NX 20; Lumix G1 + adapters;
Adaptall collection (proliferating!) inc 200-500mm 31A, 300mm f2.8, 400mm f4.
Primes: takumar 55mm; smc 28mm, 50mm; kino/komine 28mm f2's, helios 58mm, Tamron Nestar 400mm, novoflex 400mm, Vivitar 135mm close focus, 105mm macro; Jupiter 11A; CZJ 135mm.
A classic zoom or two: VS1 (komine), Kiron Zoomlock... |
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 5999 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
Results look quite good.
If you want to use it as a dedicated portrait lens the focus range will be almost ideal.
If not, well I would sell it, but then again - how much is it likely to fetch for you?
Cheers
OH |
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DR.JUAN
Joined: 08 Feb 2013 Posts: 661
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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DR.JUAN wrote:
It's a fine lens.
Like the 135s lenses, the little brothers, the 100/105s lenses, are good ones.
It has the same formula than the auto miranda-soligor- 135/2,8. And it has the same rendering too.
Almost any 100/105 lens will give you decent images.
In your shoes i buy it. If in the future you buy another 100/105 lens, the miranda is a nice lens to collect. |
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Attila
Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 57865 Location: Hungary
Expire: 2025-11-18
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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Attila wrote:
You can buy lot better lens on affordable price Nikkor 105mm f2.5 AIS most obvious example, I had this Miranda to test , loan from my friend, even if I did like it I not willing to buy it , until Nikkor available on actual price level. _________________ -------------------------------
Items on sale on Ebay
Sony NEX-7 Carl Zeiss Planar 85mm f1.4, Minolta MD 35mm f1.8, Konica 135mm f2.5, Minolta MD 50mm f1.2, Minolta MD 250mm f5.6, Carl Zeiss Sonnar 180mm f2.8
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Lloydy
Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 7786 Location: Ironbridge. UK.
Expire: 2022-01-01
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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Lloydy wrote:
AKA the chrome eared Soligor, a decent lens. I like my Soligor version a lot. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE.....
I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me.
My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/
My ipernity -
http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 |
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marcusBMG
Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1312 Location: Conwy N Wales
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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marcusBMG wrote:
Thanks for your thoughts
I'm guessing the nikkor would be more like a hundred as opposed to the 20-30 odd quid one of these Mirandas might cost/go for? And in any case Nikon F mount would also have infinity focus issue on my pentax. _________________ pentax ME super (retired)
Pentax K3-ii; pentax K-S2; Samsung NX 20; Lumix G1 + adapters;
Adaptall collection (proliferating!) inc 200-500mm 31A, 300mm f2.8, 400mm f4.
Primes: takumar 55mm; smc 28mm, 50mm; kino/komine 28mm f2's, helios 58mm, Tamron Nestar 400mm, novoflex 400mm, Vivitar 135mm close focus, 105mm macro; Jupiter 11A; CZJ 135mm.
A classic zoom or two: VS1 (komine), Kiron Zoomlock... |
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 5999 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
marcusBMG wrote: |
Thanks for your thoughts
I'm guessing the nikkor would be more like a hundred as opposed to the 20-30 odd quid one of these Mirandas might cost/go for? And in any case Nikon F mount would also have infinity focus issue on my pentax. |
Just keep using it as a portrait lens and enjoy it.
There are plenty of other lenses around that will give infinity focus.
In any case, how many times would we choose a lens of this focal length for landscapes.
Happy snaps
OH |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
I have this. Used it on film a few times on Miranda bodies.
Seems well made.
You should be getting sharper results wide open.
I like that you used my favorite models! _________________ I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work. |
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woodrim
Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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woodrim wrote:
Miranda is a brand I remember, but know little about. Did they actually make lenses themselves? I too notice the chrome ears seen on many other third party lenses. _________________ Regards,
Woodrim |
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nukemall
Joined: 24 Apr 2012 Posts: 96 Location: Blagoveschensk, Russia
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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nukemall wrote:
Good lens.
_________________ My blog |
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woodrim
Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 12:28 am Post subject: |
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woodrim wrote:
Very crisp. _________________ Regards,
Woodrim |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 12:46 am Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
As far as I know Miranda itself always contracted with other makers for everything. The resemblance to the "chrome ears" is no accident as during that period Miranda was owned and distributed by Allied Impex, the owners of the Soligor brand.
So there are a lot of Miranda lenses can be identified with known types that were also branded as Soligors. However, some lenses seem to have been exclusive to the Miranda brand and were not sold under other brands, even Soligor. The most complete series of these is the one to which this 105mm belongs, made for the very popular Sensorex series. There was a range of primes 25mm-180mm in this unique bunch. I have seen speculation that they were made by Kowa under some sort of exclusive contract. For sure they did not have the same formulas as typical Soligor branded lenses. Many had more elements. _________________ I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work. |
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marcusBMG
Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1312 Location: Conwy N Wales
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 5:26 pm Post subject: more test pics |
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marcusBMG wrote:
So I took these using a tripod, MLU etc for a more definitve assessment. 100% centre crops.
Distinctly soft at 2.8, sharpens up f4, sharp 5.6 and up - I would say same sort of ballaprk as my CZJ 135, Panagor 135, Jupiter 11A. But much warmer colours OtC.
_________________ pentax ME super (retired)
Pentax K3-ii; pentax K-S2; Samsung NX 20; Lumix G1 + adapters;
Adaptall collection (proliferating!) inc 200-500mm 31A, 300mm f2.8, 400mm f4.
Primes: takumar 55mm; smc 28mm, 50mm; kino/komine 28mm f2's, helios 58mm, Tamron Nestar 400mm, novoflex 400mm, Vivitar 135mm close focus, 105mm macro; Jupiter 11A; CZJ 135mm.
A classic zoom or two: VS1 (komine), Kiron Zoomlock... |
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TrueLoveOne
Joined: 30 Sep 2012 Posts: 1839 Location: Netherlands
Expire: 2013-12-24
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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TrueLoveOne wrote:
Found this set in a thrift store a while ago, i think you just gave me a reason to load it with film any time soon now!
Nukemall: very crisp examples!
Miranda Sensorex II by TrueLoveOne, on Flickr _________________ My Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chantalrene/
Sony A7, Canon 5D mkII, Minolta 7D + RD3000 and some more.....
Minolta and Konica collector.... slowly selling all the other stuff! |
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philslizzy
Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4744 Location: Cheshire, England
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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philslizzy wrote:
A super lens. It could be worth attempting to thin the adapter a bit with a file I have done this successfully and managed to convert OM lenses for my Nikon with infinity focus. _________________ Hero in the 'messin-with-cameras-for-the-hell-of-it department'. Official. |
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marcusBMG
Joined: 07 Dec 2012 Posts: 1312 Location: Conwy N Wales
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Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 8:55 pm Post subject: UPDATE: got infinity focus! |
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marcusBMG wrote:
I was looking at the lens and thought "I could use a rimless adapter on this" because of the position of the screw holes.
I used my chinese clone one. Only trouble with this is the engagement on my PK-MFT adapter is too loose (actually that is the case with all my M42 adapters except the better quality plated rimmed one I used first for this mod). I was using my G1 to test because the
protruding aperture lever is catching on the body of my Pentax so I'll have to figure out something with that.
Yes I just used a bit of blue tack to plug the gap for the mo..
Crop:
UPDATE: still short of infinity focus on my Pentax K-r. focusses to about 20m. _________________ pentax ME super (retired)
Pentax K3-ii; pentax K-S2; Samsung NX 20; Lumix G1 + adapters;
Adaptall collection (proliferating!) inc 200-500mm 31A, 300mm f2.8, 400mm f4.
Primes: takumar 55mm; smc 28mm, 50mm; kino/komine 28mm f2's, helios 58mm, Tamron Nestar 400mm, novoflex 400mm, Vivitar 135mm close focus, 105mm macro; Jupiter 11A; CZJ 135mm.
A classic zoom or two: VS1 (komine), Kiron Zoomlock... |
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