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guardian
Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 9:00 pm Post subject: Sun Optical 600mm f8 preset |
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guardian wrote:
I recently bid on this lens only to lose out. Still, in researching the lens I found little . . . well really nothing on this exact lens. It is apparently circa 1950's/1960's. Its 600mm focal length is what makes the lens stand out. I own a couple of Sun Optical lenses from the same era, but of course nothing as desirable as this. I've not prior run across a copy of this lens anywhere in the last seven or eight years, and I will be surprised to see another. So I wanted to create a record here even though, beyond a few photos, I do not have much to offer on this lens. Here are the photos:
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WNG555
Joined: 18 Dec 2014 Posts: 784 Location: Arrid-Zone-A, USA
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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WNG555 wrote:
A handsome beast!
I recall Tokina produced a similar one where it unscrewed in the middle to make it more compact. _________________ "The eyes are useless when the mind is blind."
Sony ILCE-6000, SELP1650, SEL1855, SEL55210, SEL5018. Sigma 19/30/60mm f2.8 EX DN Art.
Rokinon 8mm f3.5 Fish-Eye, 14mm f2.8 IF ED UMC. Samyang 12mm f2.8 ED AS NCS Fish-Eye.
And a bunch of Manual-Focus Lenses
My Flickr |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
Thanks !
This is a very uncommon lens.
Especially in the original wooden box !
I don't think I have seen this in importers brands before.
It is quite different from the Tokina and Kawanon 600/8's. _________________ 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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guardian
Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746
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Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2016 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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guardian wrote:
Appreciate the responses, guys. Thank you.
I guess I should have bid higher. I had qualms bidding on something this expensive, to wit:
I could not see the entire name ring, and there was no branding anywhere in the photos except on the wooden box.
The "H" prefix gave me concern it might actually be a Tokina lens, though of course, Luis, I very much respect your contrary indication. Still, had I been 100% certain (instead of perhaps 90%) it was a real Sun Optical lens I would have bid higher.
From what I could find, Sun Optical, back at that time, made their own lenses. If Sun Optical, as now appears to be the case, actually made this lens, then to me that makes it worth more than if it is merely a re-branded lens manufactured by a different company. |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:22 am Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
The Tokina is different - it has the "gunsight" pointing aid, which is its distinctive feature. _________________ 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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calvin83
Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7555 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 8:17 am Post subject: |
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calvin83 wrote:
I am curious to know if there is a sun logo on the name plate. _________________ https://lensfever.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_lens_fever/
The best lens is the one you have with you. |
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guardian
Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 9:43 am Post subject: |
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guardian wrote:
calvin83 wrote: |
I am curious to know if there is a sun logo on the name plate. |
Agreed, calvin83. That old Sun Optical logo was very distinctive and definitive. It appears on the (far less interesting or valuable) Sun Optical lenses I already own. It is mentioned in this write up, regarding Sun Optical, which I found when researching this lens:
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Sun
where this is written:
"Its logo was an elongated "S" crossed by two brackets."
But does that logo, or at least the Sun Optical name, appear on this 600mm lens itself, and not just on the case? That was my my concern, too. |
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calvin83
Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7555 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 10:32 am Post subject: |
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calvin83 wrote:
The logo is not always there. For example, some of the 9cm F4 does have the logo and some don't. However, I think we need to check if the name SUN is present on the nameplate. Sometimes, the name might be different to that one on the sticker. _________________ https://lensfever.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_lens_fever/
The best lens is the one you have with you. |
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guardian
Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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guardian wrote:
calvin83 wrote: |
The logo is not always there. For example, some of the 9cm F4 does have the logo and some don't. However, I think we need to check if the name SUN is present on the nameplate. Sometimes, the name might be different to that one on the sticker. |
Yes, agreed calvin83. I wish the photo had shown the entire name ring. Regrettably, at this point since I lost the auction, I will never know the answer to the very reasonable question you pose . . . . . . not unless the auction winner happens also to be a member of this forum and comes forward with the information. That would be a good thing. |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
I actually would like to try one of these.
The Kawanon and Tokina 600/8's really can't be handheld (though I did try).
Because in both the focus ring is behind the point of balance - the tripod mount - makes it very difficult to use without a tripod or at least a monopod. With a 600/8 you will be fussing with focus a lot.
This Sun looks much better balanced - the point of balance seems to me to be just on the focus ring (see where they had to put the tripod mount, on an extension arm), so hand-holding is probably more practical. It will never be a snapshot lens, probably, but who knows.
Minimum focus is probably some tremendous distance though. _________________ 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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SVP
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 665 Location: Greece
Expire: 2017-12-17
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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SVP wrote:
Looks identical to the Vemar-branded 600/8 clone.
I wonder who the OEM was... |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
It seems clear this is a Sun, which could have been rebranded as Vemar, as Bittco (owner of Vemar brand) did import from several makers, maybe including Sun.
I did see a Tokina 600/8 (focus helical behind tripod mount, aiming "gunsight" as a Vemar. _________________ 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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SVP
Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 665 Location: Greece
Expire: 2017-12-17
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Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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SVP wrote:
Possibly; what puzzles me is the letter "H" used as prefix on all 600/8s of this type (I own #H35561, btw), whilst SUN doesn't seem to have used such prefix in their other series of lenses (unless of course I'm missing something). |
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