Lens made by Sun optical

Tec · 02-28-2010, 12:51 PM

Sun Optical did som lenses in the 80:s.
I have tried to get some information about the 200mm and 300mm lenses but I cant find anythind.
I was looking for a review for Sun Optical 300mm f4.5 but cant find anything.

Anyone?

Blue · 02-28-2010, 01:42 PM

I have an 85-210 m42 Sun from the early 70s. I think they were a company that got assimilated. I think I have some info somewhere.

Clicker · 02-28-2010, 02:26 PM

Unless you want to buy it?

Sun Optical Lens Instruction Manuals and Review Material - ePHOTOzine.com

We need a enmasse Pentaxian search for our frugal comrade..lol *doing so right now*

jimH · 02-28-2010, 05:09 PM

I have a Sun Optical 110-180 f/4.5 zoom lens that I acquired while I was stationed in Japan from 1961 to 1963. I'm guessing I bought the lens sometime in 1962. The lens is in mint condition and it has some kind of a universal screw mount. I have both a Topcon bayonet mount and a Pentax K mount adapters for the lens. I think that the optics on this lens are quite good, although I'm sure they have no anti reflective coatings on the lens. I used it a lot with my Topcon R II 35mm camera and it's built like a tank. It is a preset lens and a sliding zoom. It is a constant aperture lens, so it has some quality optics in it. The lens was made in Japan by Sun Optics. I don't know who absorbed Sun Optics, although there is a Chinese company by that name today.

Tec · 03-01-2010, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by Clicker

Unless you want to buy it?

Sun Optical Lens Instruction Manuals and Review Material - ePHOTOzine.com

We need a enmasse Pentaxian search for our frugal comrade..lol *doing so right now*

Well i'm looking for the 300mm f4.5.
The 300mm f5.5 might not be so far away from the f4.5 ... ?

f8orbust · 03-01-2010, 02:56 PM

Is this the same make as Sun Actinon? If so I have a few mini reviews of some Zooms .

Phil P

Clicker · 03-01-2010, 04:51 PM

I came up empty, there is only one person i know who maybe able to help you...google the name Karen Nakamura and contact her from there...i don't think she's on this forum???

Good luck.

Tec · 03-04-2010, 09:37 AM

Thanks all, I will comtinue my search

Blue · 03-04-2010, 05:22 PM

I'm still looking for the info. I checked this out when I inherited an interesting zoom lens. I'm fairly certain that the reputable Sun Optics operated from about 1961 - to 1978. More recent use of the name seems dodgy.

Mechan1k · 03-12-2010, 09:10 AM

Originally posted by Blue

I have an 85-210 m42 Sun from the early 70s. I think they were a company that got assimilated. I think I have some info somewhere.

Pretty sure I have the same lens (needs a good clean) ... was given to me with a Spottie in half decent nick.

Might have to get it out and clean it up and see how it shoots.

RioRico · 03-12-2010, 10:02 AM

Would my big old M42 Suntar 135/2.8 be a Sun Optical lens, or just some 3rd party hijacking the name to sound classy --like my Rexatar, Toyo, Opticam, Ozunon, Kalcor, Vemar, and other such well-known brand-name lenses?

Blue · 03-12-2010, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by Mechan1k

Pretty sure I have the same lens (needs a good clean) ... was given to me with a Spottie in half decent nick.

Might have to get it out and clean it up and see how it shoots.

The one I have has a pistol grip on it that has a trigger that works the diaphragm.

Blue · 03-12-2010, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

Would my big old M42 Suntar 135/2.8 be a Sun Optical lens, or just some 3rd party hijacking the name to sound classy --like my Rexatar, Toyo, Opticam, Ozunon, Kalcor, Vemar, and other such well-known brand-name lenses?

Sun was one of the first 3rd party companies to make lenses for slr bodies. Some import firms probably rebadged some.

Here is an old thread at mflenses Manual Focus Lenses :: View topic - Suntar 135/2.8 - about as cheap as it gets

and Vemar

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=11929&view=next

The Toyo is more complicated and I don't know much about them other than they are into view and large format cameras at present.

RioRico · 03-12-2010, 11:08 AM

Originally posted by Blue

The Toyo is more complicated and I don't know much about them other than they are into view and large format cameras at present.

Not to threadjack, but the Toyo thing IS more complicated indeed. I tried tracking the corporate lifeline, which is obscure (at least in English language sources). There have been fine Toyo LF cameras for decades -- I once lusted after a lightweight 5x7" field camera. The 35mm lenses are something else, especially those called Five Star, which may be labeled Toyo or Tou or Toyu etc. It's unclear whether the Toyo LF producer is the same as the Five-Star producer (or marketer).

Thanks for the Suntar 135/2.8 link. I've seen that before, those beautiful pics, and the comment that the photographer could get great results using Coke bottle bottoms as lenses. In real estate it's location, location, location. In photography it's lighting, lighting, lighting.

DSG · 03-25-2013, 11:29 AM

The Sun Optical brand disappeared in the late 70's when the name was changed to Gotō Sun. Sometime during the 1980's the company was absorbed into the company Goyo Optical (who started out as a company in 1976).

02-28-2010, 12:51 PM	#1
Tec New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 11	Lens made by Sun optical Sun Optical did som lenses in the 80:s. I have tried to get some information about the 200mm and 300mm lenses but I cant find anythind. I was looking for a review for Sun Optical 300mm f4.5 but cant find anything. Anyone?

03-01-2010, 01:25 PM	#5
Tec New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Originally posted by Clicker Unless you want to buy it? Sun Optical Lens Instruction Manuals and Review Material - ePHOTOzine.com We need a enmasse Pentaxian search for our frugal comrade..lol doing so right now Well i'm looking for the 300mm f4.5. The 300mm f5.5 might not be so far away from the f4.5 ... ? Attached Images

03-01-2010, 02:56 PM	#6
f8orbust Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Greenwich, SE London, UK Posts: 36	Sun Optical Is this the same make as Sun Actinon? If so I have a few mini reviews of some Zooms . Phil P

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02-28-2010, 01:42 PM	#2
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	I have an 85-210 m42 Sun from the early 70s. I think they were a company that got assimilated. I think I have some info somewhere.

02-28-2010, 02:26 PM	#3
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	Unless you want to buy it? Sun Optical Lens Instruction Manuals and Review Material - ePHOTOzine.com We need a enmasse Pentaxian search for our frugal comrade..lol doing so right now

02-28-2010, 05:09 PM	#4
jimH Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Central Nebraska - USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,771	I have a Sun Optical 110-180 f/4.5 zoom lens that I acquired while I was stationed in Japan from 1961 to 1963. I'm guessing I bought the lens sometime in 1962. The lens is in mint condition and it has some kind of a universal screw mount. I have both a Topcon bayonet mount and a Pentax K mount adapters for the lens. I think that the optics on this lens are quite good, although I'm sure they have no anti reflective coatings on the lens. I used it a lot with my Topcon R II 35mm camera and it's built like a tank. It is a preset lens and a sliding zoom. It is a constant aperture lens, so it has some quality optics in it. The lens was made in Japan by Sun Optics. I don't know who absorbed Sun Optics, although there is a Chinese company by that name today.

03-01-2010, 04:51 PM	#7
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	I came up empty, there is only one person i know who maybe able to help you...google the name Karen Nakamura and contact her from there...i don't think she's on this forum??? Good luck.

03-04-2010, 09:37 AM	#8
Tec New Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Thanks all, I will comtinue my search

03-04-2010, 05:22 PM	#9
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	I'm still looking for the info. I checked this out when I inherited an interesting zoom lens. I'm fairly certain that the reputable Sun Optics operated from about 1961 - to 1978. More recent use of the name seems dodgy.

03-12-2010, 09:10 AM	#10
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	Originally posted by Blue I have an 85-210 m42 Sun from the early 70s. I think they were a company that got assimilated. I think I have some info somewhere. Pretty sure I have the same lens (needs a good clean) ... was given to me with a Spottie in half decent nick. Might have to get it out and clean it up and see how it shoots.

03-12-2010, 10:02 AM	#11
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Would my big old M42 Suntar 135/2.8 be a Sun Optical lens, or just some 3rd party hijacking the name to sound classy --like my Rexatar, Toyo, Opticam, Ozunon, Kalcor, Vemar, and other such well-known brand-name lenses?

03-12-2010, 10:34 AM	#12
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Mechan1k Pretty sure I have the same lens (needs a good clean) ... was given to me with a Spottie in half decent nick. Might have to get it out and clean it up and see how it shoots. The one I have has a pistol grip on it that has a trigger that works the diaphragm.

03-12-2010, 10:43 AM	#13
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by RioRico Would my big old M42 Suntar 135/2.8 be a Sun Optical lens, or just some 3rd party hijacking the name to sound classy --like my Rexatar, Toyo, Opticam, Ozunon, Kalcor, Vemar, and other such well-known brand-name lenses? Sun was one of the first 3rd party companies to make lenses for slr bodies. Some import firms probably rebadged some. Here is an old thread at mflenses Manual Focus Lenses :: View topic - Suntar 135/2.8 - about as cheap as it gets and Vemar http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=11929&view=next The Toyo is more complicated and I don't know much about them other than they are into view and large format cameras at present.

03-12-2010, 11:08 AM	#14
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Blue The Toyo is more complicated and I don't know much about them other than they are into view and large format cameras at present. Not to threadjack, but the Toyo thing IS more complicated indeed. I tried tracking the corporate lifeline, which is obscure (at least in English language sources). There have been fine Toyo LF cameras for decades -- I once lusted after a lightweight 5x7" field camera. The 35mm lenses are something else, especially those called Five Star, which may be labeled Toyo or Tou or Toyu etc. It's unclear whether the Toyo LF producer is the same as the Five-Star producer (or marketer). Thanks for the Suntar 135/2.8 link. I've seen that before, those beautiful pics, and the comment that the photographer could get great results using Coke bottle bottoms as lenses. In real estate it's location, location, location. In photography it's lighting, lighting, lighting.

03-25-2013, 11:29 AM	#15
DSG Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: London, UK. Posts: 19	The Sun Optical brand disappeared in the late 70's when the name was changed to Gotō Sun. Sometime during the 1980's the company was absorbed into the company Goyo Optical (who started out as a company in 1976).