Unusual Rokunar Lens

neeksgeek said:

So I picked up an oddball T-mount lens in a junk shop. It’s a Rokunar 25mm f/3.5, with a preset aperture. I’ve found exactly nothing about it online, except for a single eBay listing for a cosmetically identical lens, branded Camron, with the same specs. Anybody seen one of these? I’ve shot with it a little and it seems decent, covers the 35mm frame with minimal falloff at f/8, a little soft in the corners.

Attached a couple pics, plus one of the Camron. I find the consecutive serial numbers fascinating.

My next stop is my local university library, which boasts a collection of Popular Photography magazines going back to the 1950s. I may find it listed in ads or articles there. Thought I’d ask here first. I’m just curious as to its provenance.

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xkaes said:

Wide-angle T-mount lens?

Given that it is a pre-set lens, it's pretty early, but you need to determine if it is a 42mm T-mount (42mmx0.75mm) or a a 42mm Praktica/Pentax-mount (42mmx1.0mm) lens. If I were to guess, I'd suspect the latter.

In any event, some Spiratone, Cambron, etc. lenses were excellent -- made by Tomioka, Tamron, Tokina, Sigma, Sun, etc. Others? Pretty mediocre. Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

I have a Spiratone Minitel 500mm f8 -- for example -- that was made by Tomioka, and is the same lens as the Yashica DX 500mm f8. Simply the best of the best.

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