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I recently received a Topcon 35mm Super RE camera with a Topcor 35 f/2.8 lens from a user here. I learned of this brand from a local photographer based here in Minnesota. He talked it up so much that I had to check it out for myself.
Topcon is a brand from Tokyo and was started in 1932. Originally they specialized in binoculars, cameras, and other optics for the Japanese army. In 1963 they released the TOPCON RE Super 35mm film camera, the first ever single-lens reflex camera with lens metering. The USA imported it as the Beseler Topcon Super D. While it was prepared to cater to the professional photographer, it was actually the US Navy who chose the Topcon Super RE as their official combat camera. The camera was most used in combat during the Vietnam War. Believe me when I say it's an absolute tank. I feel as though I could throw it against a brick wall with no damage. It's also a gorgeous camera with striking sharp corners, tight tolerances and an all-metal body. Production finally ceased in 1971 and it was soon overtaken by the Nikons and Canons of the world due to marketing, mainly in the US.
The lenses themselves are quietly some of the finest and sharpest around, with incredible manufacturing and great sharpness and microcontrast. The only downside to be found is due to the Exakta lens mount. It's too narrow, leaving no room for large back elements and leads to slower lenses than the competition.
The photos shown here are from the 35 f/2.8, shot on my A7II with the help of my Fostay Exakta-Sony E adapter. The focusing ring is well-dampened and has a large grippy rubber ring to make it easy to find. The aperture ring is great, I would have liked it to be only slightly clickier. The lens has 6 aperture blades, but the bokeh doesn’t show straight lines all that much. Speaking of which, the backgrounds are very smooth, and the transition from in-focus to out of focus is fantastic. Very pleased here. The sharpness is awesome, with the center being great at 2.8 and only the extreme corners being slightly smeared at f/8 and f/9. Being an older lens with worse coatings, it does flare with a hexagon shape. I noticed a couple of rainbows as well. Overall I’m extremely pleased with the sharpness and microcontrast. The photo of the stump below really shows the quality and IQ of this lens.
There are some other incredible Topcor lenses that I'd like to try, specifically the 58 f/1.4, and the 100 f/2.8. If there's interest, I could try to do an in-depth review across the frame between f/2.8 and f/11. Feel free to view these on Flickr as well, there are some additional ones there.
Enjoy!
Link to full album: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm5pG3BK
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4494/37562121462_d04ec01ae6_z.jpg |
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4477/37594296691_8479463d74_z.jpg |
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4454/37594295931_73c22169fa_z.jpg |
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4481/23741364558_f6f44f77ac_z.jpg |
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4454/37594297071_7350b072b7_z.jpg |
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f/2.8
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4476/37560928572_020bb4fa18_c.jpg |
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f/9
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4467/37593067781_6d89d5ab20_b.jpg |
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f/5.6
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4483/36922786303_47c053e338_c.jpg |
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f/5.6
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4453/36922786583_3cfce63113_c.jpg |
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f/9
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4507/37560909852_c739f85619_b.jpg |
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f/4
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4445/37544108256_ee814a3367_c.jpg |
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f/22 @ 1.6s
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https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4465/37334606930_a1b54d0135_b.jpg |
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