Tokina Tele-Auto 135/3.5 M42 - rare Tokina-branded lens

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

I picked this up because of its branding only, these early Tokina automatics are not common in the actual Tokina brand.

I believe it dates from perhaps 1967-68, very likely one of the first auto Tokinas sold.

I have the same lens in the Soligor and Vivitar brands in T4 interchangable mount -

http://forum.mflenses.com/soligor-tokina-135-3-5-t4-the-last-of-a-kind-t10182,highlight,135.html

I have seen these first auto Tokinas in fixed mount under numerous other brands, such as Lentar and Hanimex. To make it easier to change the mount (at the factory) the lens mount subassembly is a neat, fixed unit that is easily removed and substituted for another - the silver knurled part in the pictures. Many other makers did the same in those days. Its just a small jumpt to an interchangable mount.

Tokina was probably the most prolific third-party supplier of these types of lenses in the late 1960's-early 1970's, so its not surprising that this one is about as unsurprising and conventional as can be. Its only real issue is that minimum focus is fairly long at 6ft/2m. Its a very solid piece of the typical excellent build quality common in those days.

As for performance, this is a sharp lens that easily maxes out my sensor at all apertures. There is no flare or any other detectable fault, and no lack of contrast under any circumstances. There are no bad 135's of course, but its even harder to find fault among 135's of small aperture. There is even less to go wrong.

Some shots with extension ring.

The bird -

crop -

ManualFocus-G · Expire: 2014-11-24

What a sexy looking lens! I've never seen a Tokina branded one of that age before, so quite a find! And the results look excellent, very, very sharp Smile

scsambrook · Expire: 2011-11-18

Sold lots of these back in the late 1960s, under different brand names. The Hanimex label went at about 15% lower price than the Soligor one - folks used to opt for the Soligor because it had a "better" reputation. Mmm, were we innocent, ignorant, or plain deceitful salesmen back then?

no-X · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 7:53 am Post subject:

I see 3D

Esp. the nectarines are amazing! Great lens Smile

casualcollector · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:05 pm Post subject:

Good catch, Luis! I have a Tokina branded Auto 35/2.8 in uncoupled (no prong) Nikon F mount. You're making me a believer in the "No bad 135s" theory!

estudleon · Joined: 15 May 2008 Posts: 3754 Location: Argentina

Very good job. Once more time !! Again you did it !!

Your pics do that any lens seems to be an excelent one.

I'm sure that these tokina lens is a so-so performer (like my tokina-mamiya 2,8/135 your is older), but your pics. . . .

Thanks for sharing that rare 135.

Congratulations!!! Rino.

Screamin Scott · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

Where did you manage to find this one?

Crille · Joined: 30 Aug 2013 Posts: 1

How much is this lens worth? I bought mine for $12... And now I don't need it anymore...

Oldhand · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:02 am Post subject:

scsambrook · Expire: 2011-11-18

Oldhand · Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 9:28 am Post subject:

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I just stumbled on this old post from 2009 & 2013 while looking for information on a different Tokina lens, and I've had one of these lenses for years, it's one of my favorite 135's, so I thought I'd resurrect the post with a picture of mine. I shall add some pic's from the lens shortly.

papasito · Joined: 09 Jan 2015 Posts: 1658

I saw it in mamiya brand

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

Yes...I'm pretty certain all three lenses here are the same basic lens - the Tokina. Looking inside them the aperture mechanism is identical, they have many common features. But they have different coatings and obviously different cosmetic styles.

They are all very good lenses, of their time, and I use them regularly because I like them. The Tokina came with the biggest bargain stash ever, I paid £20 for two huge sports bags of Minolta gear that I struggled to carry. The Soligor and the Mamiya Sekor are pretty much unused, the Soligor was given to me by someone special, the Mamiya is new - old stock, I have cases, hoods and caps for both. I'm very lucky to have these three lenses, especially in the condition they are. Logic says I should sell two and keep one, but they sit side by side on a shelf.

casualcollector · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 7:10 pm Post subject:

That Tokina appears to be very special. Part of the Automount family of lenses. The lens mount is interchangeable and retained by the silver ring. I've never determined if they were predecessors of, or concurrent with the T4 lenses.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01