105/2.8 Rikenon Macro

dynachrome · Jun 26, 2023

I just bought a 105/2.8 Rikenon on the auction site. If the lens matches the description then the price was right. I have one Kiron version in Minolta MD mount, two Vivitar 100/2.8 versions in Canon FD mount and one Vivitar 100/2.8 version in Nikon AIS mount. The Rikenon is the odd one because it has the P pin. I have to be careful not to mount it on any Pentax AF film camera or on my K-x. It would get stuck and never come off. I do have several Ricoh cameras that use the P pin but I will probably use the lens mostly on manual focus Pentax and other K mount cameras.

I know that there are Kiron 105, Vivitar 100 and Vivitar 105 versions in Pentax K-A mount and I may look to get one of those too. In K mount I have the 100/4 Pentax, a number of Cosina-made 100/3.5 lenses and both versions of the Tamron SP 90/2.5.

xkaes · Jun 26, 2023

I'm not clear if you are gathering lenses for a 100mm Macro Lens Museum or some other endeavor, but the Rikenon 105mm f2.8 was made by Kino/Kiron. It might have been sold under other labels with other mounts, as well.

I must confess that I only use a single long MACRO, a Vivitar 105mm MACRO f2.5 -- made by Kiron -- but the Sigma 90mm MACRO f2.8 is a mighty fine optic, but apparently not on your radar screen.

Here's a list that might help you out no matter what your goal happens to be:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/lenstable.htm

dynachrome · Jun 26, 2023

I just happen to like that lens design. What about Sigma? I have the 90/2.8 Macro with the close-up lens for 1:1 in Minolta manual focus mount and two Sigma 90/2.8 AF Macros in Minolta A mount.

xkaes · Jun 26, 2023

The Sigma that passed my way reached 1:1 without an extension tube or 1:1 close-up lens. The extension tube was built-in. I have to assume the optical design was different from the other Sigma 90mm f2.8 MACRO -- I think it is 10/9.

I say "passed my way" because I'm selling it on EBAY right now -- if you need more information about it:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166187887773

Les Sarile · Jun 26, 2023

Mine is on an OM mount. Very good performing lens . . .

OM4T+Kiron 105mm f2.8 by Les DMess, on Flickr

dynachrome · Jun 27, 2023

A humorous note about the first reply from xkaes - I read it to my ***** wife and her response was "He should see your office." Yes, my office is shared with much of my camera collection. It keeps me company while I work. Do I have other 100mm macro lenses? I sure do. Too many to mention here now. The Minolta mount Sigma macro with accessories looks very nice. That 90 is indeed a later model than the manual focus one I have. I have a number of the similar looking Sigma 50/2.8 manual focus macro lenses, which also go to 1:1 without additional tubes. Working at 4X magnification requires great care and patience. When I have done it in the past, I either reversed a wide angle lens using an auto ring or used a Minolta Auto Bellows III with the 25mm f/2.5 Bellows Rokkor.
{Moderator's note - fixed that for you - we do whatever we can for marital harmony}

dynachrome · Jun 27, 2023

Yikes! Make that wife. She is not wide.

xkaes · Jun 27, 2023

While you may have a harem of macro lenses, I look at macro lenses as I do wives -- one is MORE than enough.

ic-racer · Jun 27, 2023

Curious what you all are using the lens for. I always struggle with macro subject matter due to the shallow DoF. I already took a picture of a coin and a watch. What next?? I'm half joking but half serious too. I don't have any good prints from my macro lenses.

Anyone care to share some images?

xkaes · Jun 28, 2023

Minolta Rokkor-X 100mm f4 Macro Bellows -- (second generation) @f16. DOF problem? I wouldn't want the whole thing in focus.

ic-racer · Jun 28, 2023

Nice!

xkaes · Jun 28, 2023

ic-racer said:
I always struggle with macro subject matter due to the shallow DoF.

For anyone having this problem, the first thing to do is turn off the auto-focusing -- if it's being used. A complete waste for macro work. Then focus on the most important plane of the subject, stop down as much as you dare/need, and use a tripod.

dynachrome · Jun 28, 2023

A few things - first let me say the photo is very nice. I have used that lens to photograph stamps with a bellows and a copy stand. While I have many lenses, I have had only one wife. We will celebrate our 34th anniversary later this year. I don't use AF for macro work either. In the AF macro range I have the 60/2.8 and 105/2.8 AF Nikkors, two 50/2.8 AF Minoltas, a 50/3.5 AF Minolta, two Sigma 90/2.8 AFs in A Mount and two 50/2.8 Sigmas, also in A Mount. I don't know how many of the Cosina made 100/3.5 AF macros I have. They are noisy but good.

ic-racer · Jun 29, 2023

xkaes said:
For anyone having this problem, the first thing to do is turn off the auto-focusing -- if it's being used. A complete waste for macro work. Then focus on the most important plane of the subject, stop down as much as you dare/need, and use a tripod.

Actually the only answer to lack of DoF is to go to a smaller format (reduce the 'Magnification' factor in the DoF equation). Otherwise, physics is always working against one.

dynachrome · Jun 30, 2023

The Rikenon arrived today and is in very nice condition. I forgot that it focuses the Nikon way and not the Canon way.

dynachrome · Jul 1, 2023

I just looked at the Vivitar version in Nikon AIS mount. It focuses the Canon way.

xkaes · Jul 1, 2023

Why not collect both for "The Macro Museum"?

105/2.8 Rikenon Macro

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