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[OM] Re: Zuiko 35-105 zoom

Subject: [OM] Re: Zuiko 35-105 zoom
From: Bernard Frangoulis <lists@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 2006 17:25:17 +0100
>I thinks it's a re-badged Tokina.  Parts list uses old "SC" parts
>nomenclature instead of common CA, CE, ZC, ZE parts numbers.

Moose, may I quote you here? This is what you said on 24/03/04:
>I've always been curious about the occasional posts suggesting that the
>35-105/3.5-4.5 might have been made by Tokina, presumably a custom
>version of the Tokina SMZ 35-105/3.5-4.3. So I invested (ha, ha) $44 in
>a Tokina to satisfy my curiosity.
>
>I can see where someone could at a casual look think they might be the
>same underneath. They are very similar in size, weight and overall
>appearance except for very different rubber focus/zoom ring covers. On
>closer inspection, I note the following:
>
>1.  Coating reflections are different colors, indicating different
>coating design/technology, and size/depths, indicating different
>internal element shape/configuration.
>
>2.  Front mounting of the front element of the zooming group is slightly
>different.
>
>3.  The Zuiko focusing helicoid takes considerably less rotation of the
>focus/zoom ring to get to its
> minimum of 1.5m and than the Tokina takes to go to its minimum of 1.6m
>
>4.  Zoom ring travel from 35-105mm is 20.8mm on the Zuik and 20.6mm on
>the Tokina.
>
>5.  Although the close focus mechanism uses the same principle of acting
>as an extension tube, the ring moves in opposite directions on the 2
>lenses, locks into CU position on the Zuiko, but not on the Tokina and
>has a different extension length, 6.6mm on the Zuiko and 8.3mm on the
>Tokina.
>
>6.  Both have 6 blade diaphrams that point their fingers clockwise, but
>they are mounted opposite ways, with the fingers on the Zuiko toward the
>front and the Tokina to the back. The Zuiko hexagon is also a bit more
>symmetrical and consistent as it is stopped down.
>
>7.  The rear element of the Tokina is considerably larger and mounted
>into its cell differently than the Zuiko.
>
>8.  The finish of the visible part of the mount is classic Oly matte on
>the Zuiko and shiny on the Tokina.
>
>9.  The mechanisms that convey aperture setting to the pin on the rear
>and operate the diaphram from the other pin on the rear are quite
>different designs, with the Zuiko using the same basic design as in
>other Zuikos I've had apart.
>
>10. The Zuiko has 16 elements in 12 groups and the Tokina has 16 in 13.
>
>11. Ths Zuiko is styled pretty much like the 70-150 and 35-70/3.6 &
>35.-4.5 except fot the close-up ring, which isn't on those zooms, but it
>is in the same relative position as the zoom rings on those 2 touch
>models. I assume the otherwise odd design of the CU ring with the groove
>around the middle is to differentiate it from the zoom rings on the
>others. The Tokina is styled just like the other Tokina zooms I have.
>Finish of the body surfaces is very similar.
>
>12. The nose of the Tokina in front of the zoom ring is much shorter
>than on the Zuiko, so the Oly hood doesn't clamp on as securely. The
>Tokina hood, which I didn't get, is a screw-in design which apparently
>is calculated for use with a filter and uses something like an empty
>filter ring when a filter isn't used to keep the hood in the right
>place. The Oly solution of a clamp on hood that doesn't interfere with
>filter use is much nicer.
>
>My conclusion? It is extremely unlikely that the Zuiko is an adaptation
>of the Tokina. There are just too many differences that wouldn't make
>sense if it were, especially things like reversing and changing the
>length of travel of the CU helicoid, changing the pitch of the focusing
>helicoid and changing the internal design of the auto aperture
>mechanisms. It also really does appear to me from the reflections that
>the internal elements differ quite a bit in surface curvatures and/or
>locations.
>
>Which is the better lens? I'll probably never know. I'll try some pics
>with the Tokina, but the chances of carefully matched comparisons are
>slim to none. The zoom action on my Zuiko has always been quite stiff.
>The Tokina is nicer without being in any way loose or liable to creep.
>Build quality? A toss up from external visuals and handling. The CU
>rings are both plastic, but the Tokina doesn't look like it. Which one
>to use on a chrome OM-1? The Tokina 'cause it is a silver nose! (Just a
>joke folks! Easy now!)
>
>A compulsive Moose


Anyway, a very fine and useful performer. I like it very much.

Bernard

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