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Ismaelg
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Username: Ismaelg

Post Number: 40
Registered: 11-2009

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Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 04:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hello,

I recently acquired a Rexatar 200mm f3.3 lens in m42 screwmount basically for free. The lens was dusty inside and the blades were oily and sticky. The auto diaphragm pin is bent and broken.

http://images51.fotki.com/v1547/photos/4/1233394/8436659/IMGP3663-vi.jpg

http://images45.fotki.com/v1429/photos/4/1233394/8436659/IMGP3666-vi.jpg

http://images53.fotki.com/v444/photos/4/1233394/8436659/IMGP3668-vi.jpg

So I carefully took it apart. The auto pin was hopeless so it is stop down manually only. No big deal.
The blades were carefully cleaned with lighter fluid and all glass elements/groups were properly cleaned.

http://images53.fotki.com/v439/photos/4/1233394/8436659/IMGP3676-vi.jpg

Put everything back together and I now have a telephoto lens for my Spotmatic and my SV

http://images17.fotki.com/v522/photos/4/1233394/8436659/IMGP3681-vi.jpg

http://images17.fotki.com/v349/photos/4/1233394/8436659/IMGP3683-vi.jpg

http://images47.fotki.com/v1588/photos/4/1233394/8436659/IMGP3685-vi.jpg

Took it out for a test with a 1962 Pentax SV
Here are the results. Note: These are horrible scans from Walgreens. I'm sure that with good scanning these images would be even better.

http://images9.fotki.com/v449/photos/4/1233394/8432061/R116-vi.jpg

http://images20.fotki.com/v533/photos/4/1233394/8432061/R117-vi.jpg

http://images17.fotki.com/v274/photos/4/1233394/8432061/R123-vi.jpg

I think it passed the test. What do you think?
Does anyone has any information on Rexatar? The very little information I've gathered suggests that this japanese lens manufacturer built generic lenses back in the 60's.

Thanks,
Ismael
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Tom_cheshire
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Username: Tom_cheshire

Post Number: 259
Registered: 04-2009

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Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 05:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I have a Rexatar 35mm wide angle for Minolta that came in a bag with an XE-7 and 200mm (or was it 135mm?) Rexatar. Well, the 200mm was hopeless just like yours but the 35mm I cleaned and realigned the focusing scale since it wasn't accurate and it was fine. Unfortunately, it has since developed fungus on the glass and it doesn't seem worthwhile to rescue it a 2nd time.

Anyway Rexatar is one of dozens of "no-name" lenses churned out from Japan in the '70s. My belief is Sun Optical made most of the generic lenses.
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Finnegan
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Username: Finnegan

Post Number: 26
Registered: 09-2009

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Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 05:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Is that the Cabo Rojo lighthouse or the one down in Rincon?

How many M42 lenses do you have for your Pentaxes? What focal lengths?
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Ismaelg
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Username: Ismaelg

Post Number: 41
Registered: 11-2009

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Posted on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 08:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hello Finn,

That is the Arecibo lighthouse.

This is the Rincon lighthouse:
http://images39.fotki.com/v1349/photos/4/1233394/7438541/IMGP3315b-vi.jpg

http://images41.fotki.com/v195/photos/4/1233394/7438541/IMGP3330b-vi.jpg

and this is Cabo Rojo's
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/69687-cabo-rojo-lighthouse.h tml

and Fajardo's
http://images51.fotki.com/v748/photos/1/1233394/5524754/DSCF5476-vi.jpg

So far in m42 I have a SuperTakumar 55mm f1.8, a Helios 44-2 which is 58mm f2 and this 200mm f3.3 The SuperTak needs adjustment for infinite focus. I'll do that soon. The Helios is beaten up cosmetically but usable.
I am now considering a screwmount adapter to use these in my (gasp!) DSLR. :-)

Thanks,
Ismael
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Finnegan
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Username: Finnegan

Post Number: 27
Registered: 09-2009

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Posted on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - 06:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

The Takumar is supposed to be pretty good. A lot of people say they are better than the later K mount lenses. The Helios should be very good also but most Soviet stuff faces some prejudice since they never had an advertising dept. to make them as respectable as, let's say, a Nikon lens, for example.

Now, about that Rexatar, it is probably a bit "soft" wide open at f3.3 (have you shot it at f3.3?) but, believe it or not, the only consumer grade lens faster than the Rexatar is a Vivitar Series 1 @ f3.0 Sure, many faster lenses were made at f2.8 or faster but they would be considered "pro" grade and much more costly than a Rexatar.

Is the auto aperture mechanism damaged or does it just need the actuating pin?
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Finnegan
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Username: Finnegan

Post Number: 30
Registered: 09-2009

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Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 11:26 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Ismael, what is your latest project?
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Ismaelg
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Username: Ismaelg

Post Number: 43
Registered: 11-2009

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Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 05:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Finn,

I've been very busy at work lately but I'll try to post something tonight. A simple resto just to keep in shape :-)

Thanks,
Ismael
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Newskycars
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Username: Newskycars

Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2010

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Posted on Saturday, July 03, 2010 - 04:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I got this lens in need pretty much for free. If you have never heard of this brand before, Rexatar, it seems it was some sort of generic "brand name" japanese lens manufacturer in the 60's. I'd be interested in getting any additional information on this company. I've seen reference to a few other lenses in their line.

Rexatar 200mm f3.3 Prime. M42 mount

There was considerable internal dust and the diaphragm blades were oily and sticky
he auto diaphragm pin is broken and not worth saving, so it is disabled. The lens is now manually stop down only.
Took it apart very carefully and everything was cleaned. The blades were also carefully cleaned.
Newskycars
New Skycars

http://www.newskycars.com/
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Phantoo
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Username: Phantoo

Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2010

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Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 02:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hey everybody. I'm new to this group so I thought I would introduce myself.

My current M42 lenses are:

Super Takumar 35/2
SMC Takumar 50/1.4
Fujinon 55/1.8

And I have an S-M-C Takumar 85/1.8 coming in the mail any day now.

As long as I'm here, here is a question for you all: I'm looking for a sharp, moderately priced (i.e. under $150 U.S.) wide angle m42 lens to add to my collection. I had been thinking about a Flektagon 20/2.8, but these seem a bit out of my price range.

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Anabolic
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Username: Anabolic

Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2010

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Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 05:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I had a couple of M 28mm lenses with slow blades that were really problems with the other parts of the mechanism. On one, I cleaned the blades in place several times before realizing there were other issues. Finally when I decided to take everything apart, I discovered another part was loose. It was the post that connects the blades to the aperture lever, held on by just one screw. On another lens, the aperture lever itself was not moving right. I used some graphite lube on it after taking it off the lens, and carefully removed any excess before reinstalling. If it is oil on the blades and you end up cleaning individual blades and reasssembling, at least there are only 5.

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Chiccolini
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Username: Chiccolini

Post Number: 120
Registered: 06-2009

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Posted on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 - 05:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I found one of these marked Alpex in brushed chrome finish. Looks like a nice lens but the iris is slow closing so have to fix that. It is in Minolta MC mount. More later.

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