Oldie but goodie: UV Topcor 1:4 f=100mm Tokyo Kogaku

  Cost: $29 (market price $40 or more)

   

As a reminder, the UV mount lenses from Tokyo Kogaku were produced from the 1960's for Topcon's "cheap" line of camera's and do not have an aperture setting ring, as this is found on the camera body.

So, as I had both good an bad experiences with the Topcor lenses, I'm glad to state that once again, I was impressed. This lens was sharp, and did not display to many "old lens design" issues. In contrast the pictures show rich colors (probably thanks to the UV coating), and a crispiness that provides a true 3D feeling. The pictures feel like they have real depth. As bonus, a nice round bokeh effect, and ability to focus close to the subject. 

And it also follows the design and look of the other lenses in the series, so again a beautiful classic look. Also easy to use with smooth manual focus. For a 100mm, this lens is very small, almost the size of an older nifty fifty.

Yes, a keeper and part of my almost complete UV Topcor collection.

Lens Specification:
Focal Length: 100mm
Maximum Aperture: F4
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: UV Topcor
Optics: 6 elements
Blades: 5 blades
Focusing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 1.5m
Filter Size: 49mm
Weight: 179g
Length: 46-54mm
Production: 1960's
Serial Number: 9724187
Made in Japan

More information on: Topcon

Samples:

1/1600 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/400 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/500 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/1600 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/60 sec - ISO160 - Handheld

1/80 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/640 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/1250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/1000 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

Sources:

http://camera-wiki.org

http://allphotolenses.com

Long history but not convincing: Vivitar 85-205mm 1:3.8 Auto Zoom

Cost: $19.99 (market price around $18.75)

   

The Vivitar 85-205 f:3.8 is an early 2 touch zoom design, the very first zoom lens sold under the Vivitar badge, made in 6 different versions for more than 10 years and with that one of the longest running zoom lenses made by Vivitar. Early versions were swappable t-mount but most version are older with a fixed mount. Later versions also had a macro mode ring.

Version 1

The exterior of the lens was modified multiple times to match the appearance with other lenses of the then Vivitar family, starting with the chrome nose type and later all black versions with metal or rubber focus rings. Most of the variations of the 85-205mm zoom were simply cosmetic changes to the exterior hardware but one of the last versions of the lens included internal changes to allow closer focusing.

All versions of the lens are believed to have been manufactured by Kino Precision and were also sold to many other distributors such as Soligor, Hanimex, Panagor, Albinar, Montgomery Ward, and others.

Due to the high sales, especially the later version, these are very common, therefore this is one of the most available Vivitar lenses on the used market.

This version looks nice and slim and a 2 touch lens is always easy to use, and avoids the lens to sag when pointing down. It's fairly heavy, but with a solid build. So a pleasure to go out with and take pictures. However, I think the actual zoom range is very limiting. Not wide enough for street photography, and not long enough for birding. 

Picture quality is not horrible for a zoom lens of that era, but it's also not great. Not laser sharp, but good enough to capture details, with some color aberration on some pictures. 

Probably a keeper because of the historic value, but no actual value or image quality that makes it stand out. 

More examples on Flikr.

Lens Specification:
Focal Length: 85-205mm
Maximum Aperture: F3.8
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Nikon FD
Optics: 13 elements, 9 groups
Blades: 6
Focusing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 1.9mm
Filter Size: 58mm
Weight: 843g
Length: 186-208mm
Production: 1966 to late 1970's - 1973 to 1974 for this version
Serial Number: 22408800
Made in: Japan

More information on Vivitar

Samples:

1/500 sec. ISO100 - Handheld

1/160 sec. ISO320 - Handheld

1/500 sec. ISO100 - Handheld

1/160 sec. ISO800 - Handheld

1/160 sec. ISO400 - Handheld

1/160 sec. ISO100 - Handheld

1/1250 sec. ISO100 - Handheld

1/200 sec. ISO100 - Handheld

1/160 sec. ISO100 - Handheld

Sources:

https://www.pentaxforums.com

http://camera-wiki.org

May the fungus be with you: Asanuma Auto-Zoom 1:4.5 80mm-250mm

 Cost: $24.99 (market price unknown)

   

I was so looking forward to this lens, an early type of a 2-ring zoom lens. Nice heavy-duty metal design with a build-in metal hood and tripod mounting ring. And although not really a brand lens, it was sold by a company that use to make it's own camera's, so the lens might actually be good.

Sadly enough, I fond some fungus on the front element, on the inside. And it did impact the image quality, making some rather dull pictures. But there were indeed some pictures that showed the potential quality of this lens with nice colors, nice soft background bokeh, and not to much color aberration for a lens this age. 

Operation is smooth, with a soft damp feeling  on the zoom and focus rings. The aperture ring sounds and feels a little flimsy, but overall a good looking lens, 

But it's very heavy for a lens of this range. Nice for a short try-out, but I would not be walking with it for hours. In fact, I don't think this one is a real keeper for me.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 80-250mm
Maximum Aperture: 4.5
Minimum Aperture: 22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: OM
Focusing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 2m
Filter Size: 67mm
Weight: 1204g
Length: 200-210mm
Serial Number: 111592
Made in: Japan

More information on Asanuma

Samples:

1/250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO3200 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO1000 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO400 - Handheld