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Post by physiognomy on Oct 18, 2006 16:39:22 GMT -5
Hi, I found a site that gives me plenty of info on these interchangeable lenses/mounts, but I have a couple of questions... It seems that most T4 adapters will work with TX lenses, but TX adapters normally don't work on T4 lenses. Luckily I have a Soligor T4 adapter, but I'm worried that the Vivitar 400/6.3 (TX mount) might be one of the TX mount lenses that is incompatible with the T4 mount... Does anyone know of a compatability list??? My other question is if anyone has experience with the quality of the longer T4/TX mount lenses... I'm looking specifically at the Soligor 200/3.5, 300/5.5, & Vivitar 400/6.3 ... Any info would be appreciated! Peter -edit- Here's the Soligor T4 website I mentioned... Not sure why I didn't post a link in the first place... www.vermontel.net/~wsalati/CasualCollector/t4_for_two.htm |
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Post by physiognomy on Oct 26, 2006 23:55:57 GMT -5
Sounds like no one here has heard of or used these lenses... I have picked up a few (35, 135, 200, 300mm) cheaply, so I guess I'll find out what they are like & let you know. The nice thing is I now have mounts/adapters for M42, FD, & nAI. If for some reason I 'accidentally' buy a camera with a different mount I won't have to go out & spend $$$ on a new kit of lenses... I'll just pick up another adapter. Here is my collection so far...  front: Soligor 300/5.5 - back (L-R): Soligor 200/3.5, 135/2.8, 35/2.8 Peter ps I'm also waiting on a 400/6.3 & 75-260 zoom that should be arriving any day now... |
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Post by John Parry on Oct 27, 2006 3:08:01 GMT -5
Hi Peter,
I don't have that particular mount, but I have a very nice set of Soligor M42 primes, from 28mm up to 400mm. Nice solid workhorses. The 400mm is a little short of light though - it would be worth spending more and trying to get hold of a 4.5 if you can find one.
Regards - John
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Oct 27, 2006 6:31:00 GMT -5
Hi Peter,
Guess I should have answered but I don't have the models you mentioned. In TX/T4 mount I have mounts for Petri, Miranda, Konica K/AR, Pentax M42, Olympus OM, Minolta, Canon, and one for Leicaflex. To be honest, I've never taken the time to see whether some were TX or T4, I just slap them on and use them. I have mostly Vivitar rather than Soligor in this mount, but have a Soligor 80-230 f4.5, Vivitar 90-230 f4.5, Vivitar 28 f2.8, Vivitar 105 f2.8, Vivitar 300 f5.6, Vivitar 135 f2.8, and a Vivitar 200 f4. Now if it were T mount, I have oodles of lenses and adapters, just seem to find them over the years.
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Post by physiognomy on Oct 27, 2006 11:38:23 GMT -5
Thanks for the info guys! The lenses did seem more 'solid' than I expected... Nice metal construction without weighing a ton.
John, I haven't recieved my 400/6.3 yet, but I did think it might be a little slow. Hopefully it will do for some good light shooting because I probably won't be able to afford anything faster for the time being. I will keep my eye out though as I'm not too familiar with the Vivitar branded lenses in this mount & would like a few more focal lengths to play with. I'm glad to hear from someone who thinks the Soligor lenses are more than 'cheap crap'... (quote from a friend who owns nothing but 'L' glass)
Curt, How do you find the quality of the zooms? I have both the 70-260/4.5 & 90-230/4.5 on their way to me... I have seen some people's shots posted online & thought they were quite acceptable. You have the 105/2.8! Cool... sounds like one of the better primes in this mount, & a little hard to get as well... I am thinking about getting the 28mm as well if I can find one cheap. What do you think of it?
Thanks again!
Peter
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Post by physiognomy on Oct 27, 2006 18:27:17 GMT -5
... John, I haven't recieved my 400/6.3 yet, but I did think it might be a little slow. Hopefully it will do for some good light shooting because I probably won't be able to afford anything faster for the time being... An update... My Vivitar 400/6.3 arrived in the mail toady. It's nice & sunny out (got to love Colorado, snows one day & then it's sunny the next!) so maybe that helps, but I don't think I'll have any trouble with the f6.3 aperture during the middle of the day. Focusing accurately will probably be an issue with morning/dusk lighting, but I can live with that for the time being. The other good thing is that my T4 adapters work perfectly on it... Now to see what sort of photo's it can take. Not sure I'll get time this weekend, but we'll see. Peter ps I was surprised how big it is compared to the 300/5.5... |
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Oct 30, 2006 19:54:00 GMT -5
Hi Peter, Sorry to be so late answering here. Of the two zooms I like the 90-230 best. More a range I'm used to but big and heavy. Could do double duty as a mugger deterrrent or baseball bat. My 105 is sort of a bittersweet deal. I got it in a group of items for next to nothing, but it has the hairlike beginnings of fungus so for now it resides in my "lenses with fungus" (yep, everyone has one or more, they just won't admit it) box to be tinkered with at a later time. Hard to find, usually not cheap so of course mine would have fungus, grrr. I have 3 Tamron 28mm's, a bunch of T mount 28's and the Vivitar 28mm, but I prefer the T4/TX lens the best.
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casualcollector
Lifetime Member
In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Nov 5, 2006 16:35:20 GMT -5
It seems that most T4 adapters will work with TX lenses, but TX adapters normally don't work on T4 lenses. Luckily I have a Soligor T4 adapter, but I'm worried that the Vivitar 400/6.3 (TX mount) might be one of the TX mount lenses that is incompatible with the T4 mount... The only TX mount that I have used on a T4 lens is the M42 "Universal" mount. Coupled M42 adapters for Fuji and Mamiya I haven't tried. Each T4 adapter I've tried on a TX lens has worked as intended. Have fun with 'em! Bill |
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Post by physiognomy on Jan 4, 2007 13:29:42 GMT -5
Just an update on my T4/TX mount collection... I did end up getting a Vivitar 28/2.8 from ebay (from a reputable seller), but the focusing is so stiff that it is almost unusable. I decided it wasn't worth the hassle of returning a $16 (inc. shipping) lens, so it's going to the box of things that I'll tinker with one day. Anyone had one of these open?
My better news is that I recently picked up a couple of lenses that I was having trouble finding... First was the Vivitar 55-135/3.5 zoom. No results to show just yet, but I used it as my main lens over the holidays & look forward to seeing what it can do. I found the focal length range very useful for scenic landscapes as well as portraits, so hopefully some of my shots will be worth sharing when I get them developed. Size was an initial concern as it's a little bigger than my 200/3.5, but in use it wasn't a problem even when hiking all day. I think I would have preferred if it had the Soligor scalloped focusing ring though. The Vivitar has the same knurling on the zoom & focusing rings & under quick shooting conditions I mixed them up on a few occasions.
Over Christmas I also snatched myself a bargain on a listing for both the Vivitar 105/2.8 and the 'rare' 250/4.5. As of yet I've only mounted a few adapters and played with them on different bodies, but they both look to be in very good condition. I look forward to shooting with them & especially to see whether the 105mm stands up to its reputation as a very sharp lens. Over the Christmas/New Years holidays I shot with my 300/5.5, so I am also keen to see some comparisons with the 250mm.
Peter
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casualcollector
Lifetime Member
In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Jan 4, 2007 23:12:46 GMT -5
Peter,
Good luck with your latest scores. I was questioning the existance of a Vivitar version of the 250/4.5. The magazines I have from the period never showed one listed by the mail order houses.
I've never disassembled a 28. I'd guess it's like most other japanese lenses. Try unscrewing the name ring from inside the filter ring and explore from there. Maybe it will free up with a little use...
Bill
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Post by physiognomy on Jan 6, 2007 0:29:18 GMT -5
Thanks Bill. Before Christmas I missed out on a Soligor 250/4.5 & I thought it would be a long time before seeing another one. Now the only focal lengths I don't have in t4 mount are the 21/3.8 and 24/2.8. Here is a picture comparing the 250/4.5 & 300/5.5 -  Peter |
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casualcollector
Lifetime Member
In Search of "R" Serial Soligors
Posts: 619
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Post by casualcollector on Jan 6, 2007 10:45:50 GMT -5
Nicely lit against the black background, Peter. I have the Soligor 250 and Vivitar 300. Was a bit surprised to find the 250 the bigger of the two! I've yet to find the 75-260 and 400/6.3, but haven't been looking hard.
Earlier in the quest I turned up several TX lenses including the 80-200 push-pull zoom. Two very different 135s also. A 135/2.5 which is quite chunky and a very compact 135/2.8. I think Tokina updated the lenses as more compact SLRs came into vogue.
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