Focal lens manufacturers

[xkaes]

I just found a very nice 28-80mm f3.5/4.5 zoom at the local thrift store.

The "BRAND" is FOCAL -- which I know means 1980's K-MART.

It's a one-touch zoom with a "macro" setting to 1:5, multi-coated, a 72mm filter thread, solid-metal construction, with a rubber-waffle focusing ring identical to that of the Minolta Rokkor-X lenses.

Minolta never made a lens like this, although they did made 28-85mm lenses, and K-MART sold a lot of Minolta gear -- often re-badged, but not as FOCAL, such as the Minolta SRTMC (http://www.subclub.org/minman/srtmc.htm).

I assume that several lens makes sold their optics under K-MART's "FOCAL" label at K-mart -- like this 28-80mm lens, but I've never seen a FOCAL lens that looks like a lens that Minolta sold.

So what lens makerS made FOCAL lenses?

 

[Paul Howell]

Good question, by the 80s Wards, Sears, and Kmart were sell K mount gear, I have Sear's lens made in Japan and in Korea, but I have that lens sitting in front of me, mine is a 3.5 to a 4.5 as well, it is a Chinon, which may have been made by Cosina.

 

[xkaes]

I'll check into that -- thanks.

 

[BrianShaw]

I have a vague recollection that Cosina made some of them. You might investigate that a bit further.

 

[xkaes]

I can find the exact same ONE-touch lens with a 72mm filter thread under the Makinon label, and I find a very similar lens as a TWO-touch zoom under the Makinon and Star-D labels, but the only Cosina / Chinon ones I can find have a 62mm filter thread.

I know Focal & Makinon didn't make this ONE-touch lens with a 72mm filter thread, and it probably appeared under other labels as well.