Some interior parts are so different from any other Zuikos, I still say,
not made by Olympus. Maybe not Tokina, but not Olympus.
___________________________________
John Hermanson
Camtech Photo Services, Inc.
21 South Lane, Huntington NY 11743
631-424-2121 | Olympus OM Service since 1977
http://www.zuiko.com | omtech1 AT verizon.net
Bernard Frangoulis wrote:
>>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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