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08-05-2008, 12:13 PM   #1
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Anyone Use TX Mount Lenses?

Never seen one in the flesh so I decided to splurge out fifty bucks on a Vivitar 28mm, since it comes with the K-mount adaptor I'll need. This'll be my first experience with a fully manual lens, long overdue I think.

Anyone use any other TX mount lenses? Thoughts?

08-05-2008, 12:28 PM   #2
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I got th tx 28 as well, bought it here actually. I like the lens, it's got a very 70's feel to the image, plus it looks cool on a K100D. Does yours have a way-cool aperture shape?

Immediately I started to remember others I'd seen - the f/stops running in two directions is memorable - and thinking I'd like a couple more.

I don't think these are at the top of the heap image quality wise, but they're not that far off either.
08-05-2008, 12:42 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by Nesster Quote
I got th tx 28 as well, bought it here actually. I like the lens, it's got a very 70's feel to the image, plus it looks cool on a K100D. Does yours have a way-cool aperture shape?
Have to wait until it gets here to see.

I guess I don't expect "top of the heap" but will nonetheless see if it can give the FA31 a run for its money.
08-05-2008, 01:25 PM   #4
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here's what I consider a signature look from my 28 TX, on a film body (Spotmatic)



And here it is on the K100D. I haven't managed a decent pic of the distinctive aperture shape as yet...



08-05-2008, 03:03 PM   #5
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08-05-2008, 03:16 PM   #6
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I've got a TX 400mm f5.6 with internal focus and no tripod collar it does pretty good if the sun isn't hitting it directly
08-06-2008, 06:24 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by Nesster Quote
I don't think these are at the top of the heap image quality wise, but they're not that far off either.
Some of them were/are pretty good and were often sharpest wide open or nearly wide open rather than stopped down.

Here is a link to a brochure for the last line-up of the TX's (I think): Vivitar TX Lenses Brochure Cover - Peter D'Aprix | Photographer

Here is a like to another forum that has a quote from the RM/MF site (original site not currently working) but you need to about halfway down the page: What's - Pentax Lenses - Digital SLR Cameras - Steves-digicams.com Forums

I have several of the T4/TX lenses and like the primes but the only zoom I had that I liked was the 35-135mm.

Jeff

08-06-2008, 07:43 AM   #8
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I am so glad I started this thread... information now flowing in! Thanks!
08-06-2008, 07:56 AM   #9
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I notice this:

"The Soligor T-4 lenses provided full aperture metering and automatic diaphragm operation with the appropriate auto-diaphragm camera models (Miranda, Pentax, Nikon, Minolta, Canon, Icarex, and Exakta."

Is it true that we get automatic metering on a Pentax? I was expecting stop-down metering.
08-06-2008, 08:02 AM   #10
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Mine's a screw mount TX, but it's marked for the Pentax ES and has all the same bits a S-M-C or SMC Takumar has, even down to the tiny little pin that locks/unlocks the auto/manual switch. So I expect the lens would behave like a SMC on an ES or F Spotmatic.
08-06-2008, 08:04 AM   #11
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This is the full T-4 series:
21mm f/3.8
35mm f/2.8
105mm f/2.8
135mm f/2.8
135mm f/3.5
250mm f/4.5

And the follow-on TX series:
24mm f/2.8
28mm f/2.5
35mm f/2.5
135mm f/2.5
200mm f/3.5
300mm f/5.6
400mm f/5.6
35-105mm f/3.5
90-230mm f/4.5
100-300mm f/5.0

These were branded as Soligor and Vivitar, but made by Tokina (first two digits "37").
08-06-2008, 07:17 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by rparmar Quote
Is it true that we get automatic metering on a Pentax? I was expecting stop-down metering.
With my K-mount T4 & TX mounts, the lenses act just like early K lenses.

Jeff

P.S. I think I may have an ES TX mount in a drawer somewhere if anyone wants to buy it (assuming I can find it).
08-07-2008, 03:06 PM   #13
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I did a quick lens test today. Main finding: for such a standard mount, M42 sure can give problems! I'll post about that sometime.

Meanwhile, I have 5 28s... though the newest one, a Rikenon, is disqualified for a peculiarity with the mount... essentially I didn't get infinity with it.

All were shot on a tripod mounted K100D, though I didn't use a cable release. Consistently, looking at the jpeg sizes, the SMC-A came first, then the Super Tak nosed out the S-M-C Tak, and close on was the TX vivitar. Wide open the gap between the SMC-A and TX was a bit wider, as can be expected perhaps.

But looking at the detail with the four lenses, at 5.6, I can't say the Pentaxes run away with it. The TX holds better contrast and color throughout - I think this is a trick of the design, giving up a smidge of ultimate resolution for snappy detail. Stopped down a bit at least, the TX is fully up there with the Pentaxes.

Side note- the SMC-A's color and contrast is equivalent to the Takumars, and detail better. I'm not sure where the impression I (and others) have that it needs some help there.
08-07-2008, 05:00 PM   #14
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I now have two new 28mm coming my way... and maybe a third. All in different mounts, even. So soon we can have a mega 28mm cook-off! Someone might have to lend me their SMC-A though as I can't see myself buying one just to test it.
08-07-2008, 06:35 PM   #15
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I have the Vivitar 400 MM F5.6 in the TX mount, bought it on the marketplace here last year. For what I paid I am VERY pleased with it. Have not used it much, but it's there if I need a really loooong lens. I did try it a while back with a CPC 2X T/C attached to take a few moon shots. Also right after I bought it last year, I took it to a local park, and am pretty pleased with the results.

Moon with 2X T/C



Butterfly at about 25 feet away (maybe more)

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