Anyone ever use a Soligor f/2.8 135mm

I

Imamacuser

Veteran
Anyone use a Soligor f/2.8 135mm AE? I saw one on FB market for $15, and am kinda tempted to get it, but it's in FD mound, and I don't have an adapter for testing. From what I've read, Soligor lenses are hit or miss, some models were good and some were bad. The serial number is: 284568111622
 
I'd probably skip it, even at $15. What are you trying to get, just a decent manual lens at 135mm? I'd just suggest going up a bunch to a decent Canon FD lens.

If you are just wanting to play with something ultra cheap, $15 is cheap enough, except for the $50 adapter you might need. The ultra cheap adapters may not give you infinity at the infinity stop, they normally go super cautious and give you infinity at about the 30 foot marking (adapter too short). I shimmed one of mine, handy that it was a two piece adapter.

Check Minolta MD and Olympus OM lenses too.

Also I should mention that if you are EF mount camera, do not buy an EF to FD adapter! They require a lens in the adapter. If you buy real Canon FD lenses, many can have the mount changed to EF. The problem is that EF is 44mm flange distance and FD is 42mm, since the lens can't sit inside that 2mm, you need some correction or a different mount.
 
It's more of a want than need, but you never know when it might come in handy. I'd be adapting it to E-mount, so I won't need an optical corrector. I've borrowed my Dad's old Olympus 135mm, and I think it's a great lens, but it has some fungus, and I'm nervous about using it.

Upon further research, it looks like the Soligor was made by Sun Optical in 1984; I've never heard of them before, I'm guessing because I'm either too young or they weren't any good.
 
Having shot with similar lenses of the era, Soligar, Vivitar, I would personally rent or buy good lenses. These lenses were junk even back in the day, I woulnd't waste your time. It's not going to be a treasure.
 
Look it up on MFLenses. I'm sure there will be a link and photo samples.

I had a Soligor zoom once, mostly for the useful focal range. The bokeh was kind of smeared and the rainbow flares were distracting. I had fun with it but ultimately decided to let it go. Here is some footage.

 
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