OT: Had to share - junk lens on junk camera = ?

[bmattock]

Sorry folks, just a quick station break away from all rangefinders all the time. I bought another used Canon T60 recently - the first Cosina-made SLR that shares most of the body parts with the Bessa series rangefinders (and in a twist of fate, the Bessaflex SLRs too). I also bought a VERY CHEAP and BAD Spiratone 105mm TC f2.5 with T-mount. Put a T-to-FD adapter on it and went out shooting today.

Huh. Not a bad lens. It's a pre-set, and it has some slop in it, but dang. I mean, dang. Focuses down to about 3.5 feet. Here's an example on some local foliage, wide open, shutter speed about 1/1000 with Fuji Superia XTRA 400 film.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - We now return you to all rangefinders all the time....

 

[Doug]

Pretty nifty, Bill, and a nice shot! I bet that's the same pre-set Spiratone 105 I had back in the 60's in Pentax thread. A very decent performer, I thought, but I got tired of the pre-set diaphragm and eventually replaced it with a 120mm SMC Pentax.

 

[bmattock]

Yeah, this looks like a '60's vintage, all right. I don't mind it being a preset at the moment, and I have both the T-to-FD and the T-to-M42 adapters, so I can shoot this lens on my two favorite SLR platforms, no problem. I was surprised, truly. Grumble - this lens is right up there with my muy expensive Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 Macro for FD. Grumble.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

PS - Here's another - a bit stopped down.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I had the Soligar 105mm F2.8 in T4 mount. A good, cheap lens that I gave to a friend's daughter while she was in High-School to use on her Nikon F Photomic T.

 

[bmattock]

I had the Soligar 105mm F2.8 in T4 mount. A good, cheap lens that I gave to a friend's daughter while she was in High-School to use on her Nikon F Photomic T.

So tell me again why I'm spending mucho ducats on 'wonderful' camera lenses? (scratching head)

Anyway, I'm pretty pleased with the performance from a junk camera (says the Canon experts) and the junk lens (says everyone else about Spiratone). 105mm and f2.5 is a useful focal length and nice and fast too. I think this one will stick around Chez Mattocks for awhile.

Whee!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[back alley]

it sure seems sharp on this monitor!

joe

 

[bmattock]

Thanks for the kind comments, folks. Here's the lens and camera...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Scarpia]

Would you believe, I have this lens bought new from Spiratone, I think during the Hoover administration, and have not used it in eons.In the original green box, no less. I bought an EOS adapter and have 42mm, 39mm (for an ancient Zenit) and Exakta adapters as well. Will have to use it.
Kurt M.

 

[bmattock]

Would you believe, I have this lens bought new from Spiratone, I think during the Hoover administration, and have not used it in eons.In the original green box, no less. I bought an EOS adapter and have 42mm, 39mm (for an ancient Zenit) and Exakta adapters as well. Will have to use it.
Kurt M.

Well, what are you waiting for? Get shooting! (grin)

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Scarpia]

Bill, I intend to do just that. However as this lens is in my NYC apartment and I am 225 miles away at my summer home I will not see it until about Oct. 5.
If my memory serves me correctly and as my wife never hesitates to remind me it often does not. I believe this lens received a good review from Modern Photography around the time Herb Keppler was learning to write.
I bought it at the Spiratone store on 31 St. in Manhattan. During the early eighties I used to drive my kids to the YMCA in Flushing, Queens for swimming and judo classes every Saturday. At that time Spiratone had opened a second store in Flushing which I had to drive by to get to the Y which was not far away. While my kids were attending class it was not a long walk to Spiratone, but I never went there. Now I can kick myself. When Fred Spira decided to retire his sons did not want to continue the business and it closed forever. Sad, because it was a great place.
Kurt M.