Spiratone Lens | Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Just a quick post to introduce you (again) to a great little time machine. Take a simple and in this case inexpensive digital mirrorless camera (Fujifilm X-A10) mount a Fotodiox adapter behind some vintage 35mm camera lens and suddenly your older lenses have a new life.

In this set-up, a Fujifilm X-A10 digital mirrorless camera, a Fotodiox Pro FD-FX adapter, and a Canon FL 50mm f1.8 lens from around 1965.

Set your camera to aperture priority and select the proper lens focal length in the camera’s menu, set to manual focus and you’re good to go.

In this example I’ve mounted a vintage Spiratone 135mm f2.8 lens on a Fotodiox M42-FX adapter. The ‘FX’ identifies the mount found on Fujifilm digital camera bodies. The ‘M42’ indicates the type of mount on this lens. M42 is also known as a universal screw mount and is used on film cameras like Yashica, Pentax, Fujica, and a bunch more.

This image of the ferns below was shot using the Canon FL 50mm f1.8 lens and the appropriate adapter. Captured at f2.8 at about one meter.

This image of the same ferns below was taken using the Spiratone Tc 135mm f2.8 lens nearly fully wide open at f4 from three meters.

If you’re like me you have a bunch of beautiful vintage lenses just sitting around looking good in your display cabinet. Now and then you’ll shoot a roll of film and then it’s back into the cabinet. By purchasing a few inexpensive adapters for use on your mirrorless camera these classic lenses can see the literal light of day again. Remember that when these lenses were new they cost big bucks back in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Why let that investment go to waste.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Kinda hard to find lens from the late 1950s or maybe even the mid-1960s. This one was mounted on a Miranda SLR so it had an M44 T-mount that I removed.

Although the lens barrel looks like heck the glass is nearly flawless with only a very few dust specs inside. Since I purchased this from a photographer in New Mexico the dry climate has prevented any mold or fungus growth.

I have a T-mount to M42 adapter coming so I can hardly wait to give this little gem a try on my Fujifilm X-A10.

The serial number is No. 51496E which offers a clue as to who made the lens. I believe it was made by Sankor who also made lenses for darn near everybody under at least a dozen brands. If it’s the same maker, Sankor makes a very well respected line of cine lenses.

It’s not the prettiest lens in my collection but after nearly 60 years of use the glass is nearly flawless.

The serial number with the ‘E’ suffix is a clue to the original manufacturer.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop by my shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com – Chris

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, are the property of this blog and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris.

Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris

Yashica cameras and so much more!

Tag Spiratone Lens

Digital time machine by Fujifilm

Spiratone (Sankor) Telephoto Lens – 1950s?