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Soligor Preset 180mm F3.5 Review RSS Feed

Soligor Preset 180mm F3.5

Sharpness 
 8.5
Aberrations 
 8.0
Bokeh 
 9.5
Handling 
 8.0
Value 
 9.5
Reviews Views Date of last review
5 22,949 Mon April 19, 2021
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $25.40 8.00
Soligor Preset 180mm F3.5

Soligor Preset 180mm F3.5
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Soligor Preset 180mm F3.5
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Soligor Preset 180mm F3.5
supersize
Soligor Preset 180mm F3.5
supersize
Soligor Preset 180mm F3.5
supersize

Description:
Like other soligors, there are several different 180/3.5's, komine, tamron and (probably) tokina are known manufacturers. Tamron made ones typically have Txxxxx serials, original specs here. Hxxxxx serials are probably Tokina. I have seen the chrome-eared ones with Mxxxx, 8xxxxx (pic 5) and 16xxxxxx serials. Pic 4 shows a curious WL-xxxx serial fixed Miranda mount example.
Pics 1-3 are of a Hxxxx version.
Non "chrome-eared" versions are earlier. This Soligor brochure (scan) is from 1966.

They are typically (but not necessarily according to the review below) t-mount, 2 ring preset aperture lenses.



Preset aperture
15 aperture blades
Reverse aperture open/close
~12cm full extension
hood: screw-on
~2m min focusing distance

The big Soligor thread (mflenses).

Mount Third-party (adapter required)
Price History:



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New Member

Registered: October, 2018
Posts: 2
Review Date: April 19, 2021 Recommended | Price: $27.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Sharp wide open, Warm colors
Cons: Front heavy
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 7    Value: 10    Camera Used: Fuji XT-1   

My lens is Soligor preset ("chrome ears") version with t-mount, 10 blades all metal body with 4 elements in 4groups optics.
I measured the weight is 404g ,with T2 to M42 adapter + hood is 465g
Lens is sharp from wide open at F3.5 with half stops from f4 to f16, at f5.6 you already have the peak of sharpness.
Handling is little uncomfortable because lens is front heavy and the focus throw is very long, this lens is prone to flare so you will need deep hood. In general am very pleased with the performance of this lens, for example the colors are much warmer than SMC Takumar, sharpness is similar but the fell and handling on Takumar is superior.
Recommended if you are in search for good MF lens close to 200mm length.
Photo sample aperture at f8 and f3.5 difference on minimal focus distance.

f8-f3.5
   
Site Supporter

Registered: May, 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 892
Review Date: April 10, 2017 Recommended | Price: $25.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Bokeh is nice, sharp.
Cons: Dull contrast
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: K-5   

My lens was labelled HARMONY but is so close to the Soligor it must just be relabelled. Mine was s/n M2378

I liked the lens while I had it but was disappointed enough with the lack of contrast in images and some exposure problems to sell it on for what I paid for it.
The lens was pretty sharp and easy to handle, I would recommend this lens for users with a liking for slightly muted colours and contrast. Users with the ability to adjust these in post processing may not find this a problem.

With a further crop.
   
Forum Member

Registered: February, 2015
Posts: 93

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: April 8, 2017 Recommended | Price: $20.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Colors, bokeh, charm
Cons: Nothing really
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K30   

OMG I love this lens. There's an old world charm to the colors and almost sublime softness that I can't get from any other lens I have.
Looks nicely odd on my camera as well...
The weird bokeh on the first photo was caused by shooting through the ballpark fencing
   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2011
Location: Mystery Bay, NSW
Posts: 4,111
Review Date: January 23, 2012 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: works well in low light. sharp and good colour saturation
Cons:
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 7    Value: 9   

Came with a bundle of other lenses and a camera. Didn't know what to expect. Have been pleasantly surprised with its performance.

Am still working on giving it a good run but so far it's provided very satisfactory results.

Low light - it's given me steady and sharp images that I sometimes struggle to get with an AF lens.

Sharp images and a nice bokeh. Lovely colour saturation and a nice creamy-esque rendering.

All metal construction but still relatively lightweight.

Mine is a M42 mount, not a T mount, and doesn't support CIF. I should probably get some al foil or electrical tape to try and fix this, but so far it's working ok for me.

Mine has a serial number with H in front of it, which google tells me is a komine make.

Other research has suggested that this is a sleeper lens that potentially outperforms a Takumar 200mm f4 preset. I would recommend this lens.

Some examples:

Low Light:



Sharpness:



Bokeh and rendering:

   
Forum Member

Registered: October, 2007
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 78
Review Date: April 4, 2011 Recommended | Price: $20.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: well-built, rounded aperture, sharp center even wide open
Cons: very prone to flare/low contrast, heavy, no coating?

A user here and elsewhere highly recommended this lens, so when I saw it listed on that auction site I took a chance on it. Though I've only had the lens a few days, I see why his reviews were glowing. This lens is nice.

I find it sharp wide open with very little fringing. Of course, there is pleasingly creamy bokeh. The aperture size ring moves very smoothly, while the aperture stop ring locks right into place.

If I have any complaints beyond what I listed above, it would be that controlling the aperture size is backward. That is, if I move the red dot on the size ring to line up with 3.5 above it the aperture is at its most closed, while moving it to a higher number/lower stop opens the aperture. I don't know if that makes sense, but know that this lens works differently than other preset lenses I own.

I am eager to use it out in the real world. If you can find one cheap and have the need for that focal length, get it.

Sample shot straight from camera, Natural, all sliders 0'd:

wide open
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