Originally posted by estudleon Hi Steve.
The question is difficult to know.
If you see the vivitar pre set 85/1,8 (tokina made), the tokina T4 105/2,8 and the MAMIYAS 100/2,8, 105/2,8, 135/2,8 and 200/3,5 all have the same letters and numbers at the front, the same focus barrel, the same position of the infinite mark, and the same "stylus" of DOF numbers. And the same coating reflections,m with the same color rendering in film/sensor.
It's difficult to say anything but seems to be the same makers for all of them.
Yes, I agree, the question is difficult. Here is the reference I was working from on Ron Herron's Mamiya/Sekor Forum. For the benefit of forum readers, Ron is the big expert on the Web for vintage Mamiya.
Mamiya 35mm Forum - Who makes Mamiya Sekor M42 lenses?
(The reader may note that estudleon contributed to that thread as regarding a possible Tokina origin. Another forum member, blue, posted his thoughts there a few days ago as well. Obviously, this is a hot bed of controversy!
)
Again, I want to be sure you know that I am not disputing what you are saying regarding the similarities between the Tokina and Mamiya lenses. I have two Komine M42 Vivitars that are cosmetically very similar to my Mamiya 50/1.8. The lenses are definitely different, but I have wondered whether the barrels might have been sourced from the same suppliers.
From the 1960s through to the early 1980s there was significant mixing of lenses from many sources being sold under many different names. I remember reading in Modern Photography that Tamron, for example, was making lenses for quite a few of their competitors. There is also the matter of assembly from similar parts bins (generic barrels, helicoids, etc.) as well as use of outside shops to apply lens coatings. That lenses with different labels should resemble each other is really not too surprising.
Steve