Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Mar 22, 2012 10:39:25 GMT -5
Hi all! I just bought a Nikon N2020 at an antique shop two days ago. I don't have a lens to test it with, so I put it a bid for one on e-bay. Suprisingly enough, I won the bidding and the lens is being sent. It was very cheap (only 99 cents, I'm so cheap  ) I bid low as I'm not sure how the camera will work and didn't want to shell out a lot for a lens to test it with. Anyway, It's a TOU / Five Star zoom, 35-75mm / f3.5-4.8 with a Nikon Ai mount. I won't be able to use any auto focus features, but I don't really need to. That being said, here's my question; Does anyone have a clue as to who made this lens? So far, I've read that it could be by Toyo Optics, or Tokyo Kogaku. Tokyo Kogaku made Topcon I think, but did they make lenses re-badged as something else? I'll post some photos of it as soon as it arrives. Doug |
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photax
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Post by photax on Mar 22, 2012 13:26:56 GMT -5
Hi Doug,
Another great find ! I have never heard of and never seen a TOU before. I know some brandy with five stars, but no lens at all. Maybe you are right and this one was manufactred in Japan.
MIK
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Mar 22, 2012 14:22:13 GMT -5
Tokyo Kogaku did make some Leica screw lenses and one or two types other than their own specific fittings and Exacta bayonet. At the very end they made Pentax bayonet lenses, but I could think of having seen it said anywhere they they made any Nikon mounts lenses. Some lenses carried the Toko name and they made, and continue to make, optical instruments. Has anyone ever fully catalogued "Topcon's" output?
99c? Doug, you've been robbed! ;D
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Mar 22, 2012 22:25:30 GMT -5
Bought this one new back in 1980 for my Ricoh K mount bodies. Made by Toyo in Japan and comes with the Five Star name on the front ring and Toyo caps on the lens. One of my favourites for general shooting for many years. I've since bought several other Toyo lenses and been pleased with all.
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Post by pompiere on Mar 23, 2012 11:57:38 GMT -5
I am always a bit leery of buying off-brand lenses since there were a lot that had lower quality optics. I'm cheap as well, so I still buy them. Is there a list or ranking of good to bad lenses out there? Or, at least which ones to stay away from?
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Mar 23, 2012 16:57:23 GMT -5
I buy a lot of old Pop Photo Magazines (when I can find them) for the test reports that they used to print.
Also, if a lens comes up, I try to find out who the maker is, or was. Quite a few reputable makers rebadged their lenses.
Knowing where it was made helps sometimes.
When I can't find any information, if the lens is cheap and I need it, I'll take a chance.
If, however, I should ever find a lens marked "Five Goats" or something like that, I'll grab it up because I like the name ;D
I don't think that there's a list for "off brand" lenses.
Maybe we should start one.
Doug
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Mar 23, 2012 18:19:08 GMT -5
May I have the honour of being the first lens basher?
About 50 years ago I was thrilled to purchase for my 1953 Exakta VX IIa my very first wide angle lens.
It was a Cimco 35mm f2.8 manual stop down beauty made by Cima Kogaku I think.
My elation was short lived. It was dreadful. A coke bottle could out perform it.
I wont say it was the worst lens ever made but it was certainly the worst I ever owned.
Ha! I have finally got even - after all these years.
Mickey
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Mar 24, 2012 5:13:54 GMT -5
I did find a report (which I can't find now) that said of a Five Star Lens - decent optics, but cheap construction. I suppose they won't be alone in that, though some are the other way round.
Mickey, I had a Pentax bayonet zoom lens (70-150/), which I had bought is second hand, that was truly awful over its entire range. It appeared to have the resolving power of a pin-hole but without the clarity. I suppose it might have one of the elements out of true, but everything looked solid when I dissembled it.
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Mar 29, 2012 17:08:34 GMT -5
Hi! I got the package today. Instead of the lens, it contains an Olympus XA with flash  It's not a big deal (I like the little XA), but I'd prefer the lens. I'll keep you all informed as to what happens next. I've sent off an e-mail to the seller. Oh, by the way, the XA is missing it's battery cover. Doug |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2012 18:24:23 GMT -5
XA is a great camera.
W.
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Mar 29, 2012 19:32:57 GMT -5
For 99c you expect it to have a battery cover!  I bet someone out there is expecting an Olympus XA, but has ended up with a lens he/she can't use. |
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Mar 29, 2012 20:37:35 GMT -5
Hi Dave! That was my first thought as well, and it's what I told the seller. We'll see what happens Doug |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Mar 29, 2012 22:07:28 GMT -5
For 99c you expect it to have a battery cover! I bet someone out there is expecting an Olympus XA, but has ended up with a lens he/she can't use. Or has only received a battery cover. Mickey |
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daveh
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Post by daveh on Mar 30, 2012 1:49:25 GMT -5
Mickey, trust you to hatch a different scenario! ;D
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Mar 30, 2012 7:14:59 GMT -5
Maybe it was a THIRD person who received the battery cover  |
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