Toyo Optics

Hello,

 

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I just picked up a Toyo Optics Nikon mount (AI) 28mm-80mm f3.5 macro (true) zoom lens. A search of the web shows this company now makes large format equipment. does anyone know about this company's 35 mm camera lens? What is/was their reputation with these lens?

 

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Thanks,

 

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Tom

To the best of my knowledge, Toyo have absolutely NO reputation in the

field of 35mm lenses. In fact, I doubt that it's the same company that

manufactures the LF cameras and filmholders.<br>A quick websearch just

revealed two companies called Toyo, one selling electronic

instruments, and another selling tyres! It's probably the Japanese

equivalent of 'ACME'.<br>AFAIK, the Toyo LF

company has no optical manufacturing plant of its own, and these Toyo

lenses will almost certainly be re-badged versions made by someone

else.

Tom,

 

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I have a Toyo 2x converter for Canon FD mount lenses. Incidentally,

it works very well. When I bought it used several years ago, I

contacted the Toyo people (the large format Toyo) and asked them a

couple of questions about this particular piece of equipment. They

said that they did not manufacture any 35mm equipment and added that

the name Toyo is a very common one in Japan, in their words, "like

Smith or Jones in the US". They gave me no real leads as to the Toyo

company that actually manufactured the converter.

 

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I am sure someone else can add more insight than this little tidbit

but wanted to pass it on to you.

I have had a couple of Toyo Canon mount lenses which were actually of

excellent quality, mine were all metal etched marks with multicoat

optics made in Japan. Don't know who actually made them though. These

lenses are sold regularly on e-bay from 40-120 dollars so they must

have made a few of them. They're probably not worth much for resale

but are a bargain for what you get. The 80-200 Canon mount zoom was

over 200 dollars when I bought it in the late 70's so they were

probably comprable to the Vivitar series one in quality, probably as

good as the consumer quality Canon brand name lenses though not the

pro model lenses

I have a Minolta MD mount Toyo 2x TC that I use with my 300 f4.5

lens. Gotta say, it works VERY well.

 

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The image here: <img

src="http://calimages.worldbreak.com/egret2001_003.jpg">

 

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Was shot with that config on Fuji 400 print film!

 

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It seems to be sort of like the Ukranian camera situation... You roll

the dice with each bit of equipment. Shoot a couple of rolls through

it and see if you like it. If not, take it back/sell it.

I have two zoom lenses by Toyo Optics: a 35-75mm, and a 75-200mm. Also, I have on them Toyo Optics Skylight filters (55mm and 52mm, respectively.) I think these lenses work pretty well, even though they are quite old (they're from the late 80's and my dad gave them to me.). I'm assuming the company is respectable because they claim their lenses are "35mm Professional-Grade Lenses" on the instruction manual. On the inner rim of the lenses, there are the words "Five-Star." I don't know whether this is referring to the quality of the lenses, or it could be a manufacturer's name. Well, in any case, I still have my warranty documentation and the address of the company is as follows:

 

TOYO OPTICS OF USA, INC.

16560 Aston Street

Irvine, CA 92714

I know this is a super old thread, but I'm hoping you can help. Have you ever been able to clean the glass elements inside of the lens?

Apollo, you'd be much better off starting a fresh thread with this question.

 

Firstly, it's not really an 'Accessories' question, and secondly there's no mention of cleaning lenses in this thread to date. Thirdly, lens cleaning and disassembly isn't specific to one make of lens.

 

As a general guide, if you've never taken a lens apart before it's not for the faint-hearted. Especially zoom lenses.

 

Start with something simple that you don't mind wrecking beyond further use.

 

There are plenty of online videos showing people taking lenses apart. Sometimes this requires special tools, and certainly a degree of skill in using them.

 

The actual cleaning of lens elements is very simple. First, dust away any loose particles with a soft brush. Next, use a lens tissue to polish away any smearing. Not a microfibre scratching-cloth, a cotton-bud or a snotty old handkerchief.

 

Fungus growth needs a different approach, and in extreme cases you may just have to write off the whole lens.

 

Anyway, this isn't really a topic that can be dealt with in a single post. So I strongly suggest you start a new thread with maybe pictures of the lens in question and specific enquiries. After searching all of the existing posts on the subject of lens cleaning of course.