Legendary TOMIOKA Optical lenses the charm and history

Hello, my name is hiron. I am a vintage lens addict. (Twitter / Youtube)

This time, I will introduce Tomioka Optical’s vintage lenses that inspired me.

While reviewing the history of Tomioka Optical, we will introduce six standard lenses.

To confirm that the OEM product is made by Tomioka Optical, this blog (Japanese) was used as a reference.

XR Rikenon 50mm F2 (PENTAX K mount)

XR Rikenon 50mm F2 is also called “poor man ’s Summicron” and is famous in Japan for its good image quality despite its low price.

I bought this lens for only US $ 20.

There are four types. The first two of these four types are made by Tomioka Optical.

The initial XR Rikenon’s minimum focus distance is only 45cm and the others are 60cm. I think that there are no inferior differences in depiction.

The above photo samples are from XR Rikenon S. I was amazed at the sharpness of this photo. This lens made me addicted to vintage lenses.

XR Rikenon 50mm F2 Review

Auto Rikenon 55mm F1.4 (M42 mount)

AUTO RIKENON 55mm F1.4 was released around 1964 as a lens for Ricohflex TLS.

This is the lens I bought because I really wanted Tomioka Optical lenses. Tomioka Optical Company provided lenses to OEMs for multiple camera manufacturers.

This lens has an aperture of F1.4 and creates a soft Bokeh. I felt that it was a lens that was very easy to focus on.

Auto Rikenon 55mm F1.4 Review

Auto Revuenon 55mm F1.2 TOMIOKA (M42 mount)

photo by ebay

photo by ebay

Revuenon is a camera lens sold by the former West German catalog mail order company “Quelle”.

The Tomioka Optical Company also provided lenses for this company as an OEM. One of them is Auto Revuenon 55mm F1.2.

Since there is “TOMIOKA” on the lens nameplate, you can see its brand power.

I don’t own this lens. This is one of my favorite lenses.

Auto Revuenon 28mm F2.8 Review

Auto Yashinon 5.5cm F1.8 (M42 mount)

In 1968, Tomioka Optics became a member of Yashica. Therefore, Yashica brand lenses are also known as Tomioka Optics.

(The XR Rikenon that I first introduced is a lens provided by OEMs in the Yashica era)

I forgot to use Auto Yashinon 5.5cm F1.8 for a while after purchasing it. However, when I used it, I was surprised at how good it was.

The photo color, Bokeh, and flare with this lens were all different from other lenses. It was a lens that was once again enthusiastic about the charm of Tomioka Optical lenses.

Auto Yashinon 5.5cm F1.8 Review

Yashica ML 50mm F1.9 (CONTAX/Yashica mount)

In 1972, Yashica worked with Carl Zeiss to develop a new SLR. The CONTAX brand was revived.

This Yashica ML 50mm f / 1.9 is a lens released for Yashica SLR. At this time, Yashica was supplied by other lens manufacturers, so it cannot be concluded that this lens is made by Tomioka Optical. Please note.

The Swirly Bokeh with this lens is similar to that with the Helios 44 series. Close-up Bokeh is very soft.

Yashica ML 50mm F1.9 Review

CONTAX Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm F1.4 (CONTAX/Yashica mount)

CONTAX is very popular with Japanese camera fans. I didn’t know that this CONTAX Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm F1.4 vintage lens was made by Tomioka Optical.

This lens is called the King of 50mm lenses.

These are made in Japan and made in Germany, and those made in Japan are Tomioka Optical lenses.

The photos produced by the Red T coating are very beautiful. I would love to see this lens.

CONTAX Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm F1.4(AEJ) Review

Summary – Tomioka Optical Company became a member of Kyocera Optech.

In 1983, Yashica was merged into Kyocera Optech. The Tomioka Optical Company is now part of Kyocera.

Even after becoming Kyocera, the compact film camera CONTAX T series was released and gained popularity. These are still popular with young Japanese film camera fans.

I introduced the vintage lenses along with the history of Tomioka Optical Company. Its history is one of the charms of vintage lenses.

Thank you for reading to the end.