Testing Topcor 3.5cm

[Zang]

I rebuilt this lens from the ground up. It had several issues when I got it. First, the helicoids were seized. Then, there was a lot of oil on the aperture. On top of that, a couple of small pins had fallen off the aperture blades. I fixed all these problems, and now the lens is basically like new.

I couldn’t wait any longer and tested it as soon as I put it back together. Here’s the emotional phases I went through

First, I was amazed by how well the lens was built. Then I was surprised by how good the image quality was. Finally, I did some pixel peeping and compared it with my Contax and Nikon counterparts... and that's when I started noticing all its flaws - LOL.

Attached are some shots taken with the aperture wide open.

[pluton]

The Topcor 3.5cm looks like it might be similar to my Nikkor 35/2.8 (6-element) K/Ai at least in some ways. The Nikkor seems set to have it's flattest field in the 1-2 meter focus range. When set at infinity, no amount of stopping down can make the sides of the 24x36 frame completely sharp.  Test yours at different distances.

[Zang]

And here are photos taken with aperture stopped down.

[Zang]

The Topcor 3.5cm looks like it might be similar to my Nikkor 35/2.8 (6-element) K/Ai at least in some ways. The Nikkor seems set to have it's flattest field in the 1-2 meter focus range. When set at infinity, no amount of stopping down can make the sides of the 24x36 frame completely sharp.  Test yours at different distances.

That's interesting. I'll try to verify that and will do more testing with the lens as well.

[Zang]

One thing worth mentioning is that Topcor focuses really close, almost like a macro lens

[Nasos Kosmas]

I see a lot of “character” on this lens, enjoy and don’t look back
Nice work

[Zang]

I see a lot of “character” on this lens, enjoy and don’t look back
Nice work

Thanks Nasos!

[Hugh_3170]

When Topcon originally got into cameras and lenses their products were well regarded.

Their SLR cameras appeared on the market before either Canons or Nikons and they were first to market with a TTL SLR (the Topcon RE Super).

Topcon cameras were hampered by their lens mountings - a modified form of the already outdated Exakta lens mount.

Today Topcon builds surveying instruments - but not cameras or lenses.


EDIT:  And the highly regarded 300 mm 2.8 Topcor lens was also offered by Topcon with Nikon F and Canon FL mounts.

[Zang]

When Topcon originally got into cameras and lenses their products were well regarded.

Their SLR cameras appeared on the market before either Canons or Nikons and they were first to market with a TTL SLR (the Topcon RE Super).

Topcon cameras were hampered by their lens mountings - a modified form of the already outdated Exakta lens mount.

Today Topcon builds surveying instruments - but not cameras or lenses.


EDIT:  And the highly regarded 300 mm 2.8 Topcor lens was also offered by Topcon with Nikon F and Canon FL mounts.

Thanks Hugh for the information. I did not know the brand before. Their lenses are a bit overpriced these days, I think. I was lucky to get that 3.5cm for cheap.

[Birna Rørslett]

There is a range named "UV Topcor". People mistakenly thought these were designed for UV photography and that created a price hike. In reality the UV Topcors had improved coating to reduce UV transmission, ie. the opposite. Further, the UV Topcor range were made to be used with a leaf shutter incorporated in the camera.

The information on the existence of a 300mm f/2.8 lens led me to further explorations. The lens, launched 1958, probably was not a true telephoto design as it was very long. I assume its colour aberrations were significant, since Nikon and Canon had to use quite exotic glass types in the early '70s to achieve better colour control. My Nikkor-Q 400mm f/4.5 from 1964 is very sharp, however the axial CA is prominent and the lens thus is best suited for b/w photography.

[paul hofseth]

a small footnote; colour aberration is undersirable  for B&W pictures as well as for colour. but far less  obvious in the unsharp bits , except when using small bandwith orthohromatic film or coloured filters. As for Topcon, they once marketed a M42 mount device with a 50mm lens not produced by them.

p.

[Zang]

Thanks Birna and Paul for the information. From what I know, UV Tocor lenses has their own mount and that mount is not very popular.