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john_tribe

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Posts posted by john_tribe

    Tell me about "Komine"...

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>A bit late, but following on from my earlier post about Kino and Komine incarnations of the same Vivitar lens, I've now collected examples of the Kino and Komine versions of both the 200mm f/3.5 and the 135mm f/2.8. The Komine versions are dated approx one year later than the Kino versions, but there is no similarity in their construction, so whilst it would appear Vivitar may have laid down the specification for the lens it would seem it was left to the individual sub contractors to come up with their own solution.<br>

    There is a similarity between the Komine made Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 and the Panagor 200mm f/3.5 enough for me to venture the opinion that it too was made for Jaca Corp by Komine, but an Elicar (also a Jaca Corp brand name) branded version looks unlike either the Vivitar or the Panagor lens, leading me to believe a different contractor was used to manufacture that lens.<br>

    To my eye both the Vivitar and the Panagor 90mm f/2.8 macro lenses appear to be similar in construction, making me even more convinced that they were both made by Komine.<br>

    Despite extensive searches I've found nothing that links Komine to Kominar and remain convinced they are different companies.</p>

    • Like 1

    Tell me about "Komine"...

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>In a French article on Kiron and the origins of Kino Precision (KP), the remark was made that KP 'only made lenses for Vivitar'. Contrary to what I and others have said in the past, I now don't believe there is a direct connection between Panagor (JACA corporation) and Kino Precision. The people that I've contacted in Japan seem to be reluctant to talk about their history.<br>

    I'm trying to get my hands on a Kino made Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 and the later, more common, Komine made version, to see if the build is identical or not. That might go part way to establishing if the Panagor 90 and 55 macros were made by Kino or were indeed as now thought made by Komine who manufactured the Vivitar versions.<br>

    Komine also made some of the first self contained AutoFocus Vivitar Series 1 200mm f/3.5 lenses, before production was taken over by Cosina, both of these lenses seem identical so perhaps there is a Komine/Cosina link too?</p>

    Tell me about "Komine"...

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>I too have spent<br />ages going into dead ends with Komine. I had the address:</p>

    <p>Komine Company,Ltd.<br /><br />Manufacturers and Exporters <br /><br />4-2,2-chome,Hatanodai,Shinagawa,Tokyo142<br /><br />Cable Address: KOMINEMORO <br /><br />TOKYO<br /><br />Tel:03-781-4414<br /><br />Business Office:Suzufusa bldg.,16-12,1-chome, <br /><br /><br />kami-meguro,Meguro,Tokyo153 <br /><br />Tel:03-792-2421<br /><br />President:Manjiro Komine<br>

    <br />Contact with JETRO London gave the following:<br>

    <br /><em>There was the exact same company information about Komine Company ltd</em><br /><em>you sent us.</em><em> </em><em>It seems that the contact details of Komine was referred from 1982 Camarart Photrade Directory. However, the bulltein board said that Komine was </em><em>deleted from the list of 1993 Camarart Photrade Directory.</em><em> </em><br /><br /><em>For your further information, I found that Komine had been a specialist in OEM design and manufacture of lenses but the company has gone out of business before 2008 from my further internet research.</em><br>

    Previous contact with a nice lady at the Joint PhotoImaging Enterprises Association Int'l. in Japan, had given this information:<br>

    <em>Komine was one of our members and also<br />quit this association around the same time as Kino.</em><br>

    And:<br>

    <em>Kino Precision was a member of this association, but when AF SLR was<br /><br />introduced in 1985, many lens makers could not sustain their business due to<br /><br />high licensing fee to Minolta Camera Co. and many went out of business. Kino<br /><br />was one of them. I can't remember exactly when it withdrew from the lens<br /><br />business, maybe between 1986 and 1989.</em><br>

    <br />I’m fairly certain that Komine was a supplier to Panagor and Elicar (I think both tradenames belonged to the JACA Corporation), along with Vivitar, Rokunar and Soligor (before and after Allied Impex).<br>

    <br />If anyone has more detail on JACA I’d be interested to hear about it. <br>

    </p>

    What do you think of KIRON lenses?

    in Canon FD Mount

    Posted

    I'd like to post an alternative view. In the late 1970's Kino Precision were flat out producing lenses for Vivitar, Nikon (the series E) and themselves, (Panagor in Europe, and were about to launch Kiron in the USA, then Europe). The market at the time was bouyant. Kino decided to give up the Vivitar production, it's quite noticeable that some Komine made Vivitar lenses were similar to earlier Kino made lenses and some Kiron lenses. By 1984, camera/lens sales had passed their peak, and Kino looked back to their Vivitar connections. Vivitar 'bought' the Kiron 105mm f/2.8 macro lens (absolutely superb) and sold it as the 100mm f/2.8 macro before introducing the (still Kino made) 105mm f/2.5 version in approx 1986. By 1987 Kino had decided to move out of the waning photographic market and concentrate on 'industrial products'. At the final year or so, they had even sub contracted some lens production to Tokina, the 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 and 70-210mm f/4-5.6 were in fact SD clones.

    Kiron lenses are reknown, amongst those who have discovered them, for their solid construction and superb optics.

    There were a number of versions of the 80-200, the early f/4, and the later f/4.5 versions, the 'posher (more expensive) version having a 'Zoomlock' facilty. I would second the comments about checking the diaphragm, but at least with these lenses they can be taken apart and repaired, giving you a 'lens for life'.

    Canon 35-105 f/3.5 Macro Aspheric?

    in Canon FD Mount

    Posted

    Hello Jerome,

     

    Sorry but it IS the same lens see the MIR website for details:

    http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/fdzooms/50135.htm#35-105mmNEW

    and the Canon Camera Museum website:

    http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/f_lens.html

    Just a clever bit of marketing!

    Is it worth the price? It's only worth what you can sell it on for, check the eBay completed items for its current going rate.

    I have both 35-105 lenses and prefer this one (the 3.5-4.5) for its lighter weight for travel purposes, others will tell you that it has a 'weak' mount, and that the original is better optically. It's your money...

    Boggy

    Vivitar Series 1

    in Canon FD Mount

    Posted

    Easy question, complicated answer...

    try checking http://medfmt.8k.com/third/table1.txt, but as they were made by different sub-contractors/manufacturers it's a bit of a minefield...

    generally those with a serial number beginning 22.... are made by Kiron and are metal bodied solid good lenses, those begining with a 9 are made by Cosina and are of variable quality (variable because some lenses of the same type tend to perform differently than others of the same type....

    sorry this isn't too helpfull...

    CANON fd 35-105 ZOOM 3.5, 2-TOUCH

    in Canon FD Mount

    Posted

    Hi again Paul,

     

    Concentration must be going in my dotage.... I meant to talk about the Kiron 28-105mm f/3.2-4.5, but got confused with my 35mms....

    The Kiron 28-105 and Kiron 35-135 would suit your purposes Paul, both are well made, metal bodied lenses with excellent performance. It's OK to spend out lots on the Canon 35-105mm but sometimes the percentage difference in price is not matched by a percentage increase in performance.

    Your choice mate, but lets us know what you decide and how you get on please

     

    Boggy

    CANON fd 35-105 ZOOM 3.5, 2-TOUCH

    in Canon FD Mount

    Posted

    Hi Paul,

     

    If you want it for travelling you would be better of buying the newer Canon 35-105 f3.5-4.5, smaller, lighter, cheaper, 58mm filter size (instead of larger and heavier 72mm for the f3.5 version), maybe the quality is a bit reduced (arguable, but I don't think you'll notice the difference). More details on MIR...

    http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/fdzooms/50135.htm#35-105mmNEW

    Good luck

     

    Boggy

    Types of Canon lenses

    in Canon FD Mount

    Posted

    Just a bit extra, you can find out more information about abbreviations at:

    http://medfmt.8k.com/third/index.html

    and don't forget you can still buy Manual Focus lenses from Tamron

    more details and distributers at:

    http://www.tamron.com/frame.htm

    A word of caution however, only buy a lens because you NEED it, not because you think it might be nice to have one. Used at mid aperture settings most lenses are capable of producing excellent results.

    Boggy

    Focusing Screens for Canon A-1?

    in Canon FD Mount

    Posted

    Brooke,

     

    Further to previous advice:

    The AE-1P screens are slightly larger than the A-1 screen. In order to fit one into the A-1, you would have to remove it from it's frame (bend the retaining clip), remove the two locating tabs from the plastic screen and remove a mm from either side (file/scrape). This sounds very crude and can not be recomended. It should also be remembered that the AE-1P screens are slightly brighter than the A-1 screens and may cause the metering system to read higher than normal?

     

    Removing the front plate from the A-1 however does seem to be a good way of re-placing the mirror foam tho'!

     

    Boggy

    Canon A-1 aperture control

    in Canon FD Mount

    Posted

    Tried the test and the diaphragm didn't close. It did, however, on a camera I know is OK (and the lever moves with the lens off). The lever is definitely meant to move. I feel that something might be sticking as these cameras have been 'resting' for a while?
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