Soligor

Soligor (a trademark of Allied Impex Corp, or AIC) is the ultimate "chameleon" of the vintage lens world. Unlike Nikon or Canon, Soligor never manufactured a single lens. Instead, they were a powerful American distributor that contracted Japanese factories (like Tokina, Sun Optical, and Komura) to build lenses to their specifications.

For the Leica M-mount and LTM collector, Soligor represents the working-class hero of the 1950s and 60s. They popularized the T-Mount system, which allowed a single lens to be adapted to almost any camera, including Leica. While often dismissed as "budget" glass, knowledgeable collectors hunt for specific Soligor LTM lenses made by top-tier manufacturers, using the serial number to unlock their true origins.

History

Soligor's story is about logistics and branding rather than optical invention.

The Allied Impex Era (1956 to 1990s)

Based in the United States, Allied Impex Corp (AIC) created the Soligor brand to compete with German optics using affordable Japanese glass.

• The "Outsourcing" Model: Soligor was the precursor to brands like Vivitar. They would approach Japanese factories and say, "Build us a 35mm f/2.8." Depending on the year and the contract, the lens might be made by Tokina, Sun Optical, Komura, or Kawanon.
• The Serial Number Secret: This is the key to collecting Soligor. The first digit of the serial number often reveals the true manufacturer:
  • 1 = Tokina (Generally excellent quality).
  • 2 = Sun Optical (Solid performer).
  • 6 = Komine (Legendary for macro lenses).
  • 31 = Komura (Sankyo Kohki).

The T-Mount Revolution

Soligor was a primary champion of the T-Mount (T2) system. This simple screw mount allowed users to buy one lens and swap the rear adapter to fit a Leica Screw Mount, a Nikon F, or a Minolta SR. For LTM users, this means many vintage Soligor SLR lenses can be easily adapted to rangefinders using a T2-to-LTM adapter, opening up a massive library of cheap telephoto glass [[1]].

Product Lines (LTM Native & Adaptable)

While Soligor is famous for SLR zooms, they produced a specific line of compact primes for rangefinders in the late 1950s.

The Soligor 35mm f/2.8 & f/3.5

These are the most desirable native LTM lenses from the brand.

• Manufacturer: Often made by Tokina (check for serial starting with "1") or Komura.
• Design: Surprisingly compact and well-built. The f/2.8 version often features a heavy chrome-on-brass construction that mimics the Leitz Summaron.
• Performance: These are "classic" wide angles—sharp in the center but with significant vignetting and softness in the corners. They flare easily, creating a distinct vintage aesthetic that is perfect for black and white street photography.

The 105mm f/2.8 (The Portrait King)

• The "T-Mount" Special: This lens is rarely found in native LTM but is commonly found in T-Mount.
• Why it matters: It is a preset aperture lens with 10+ aperture blades. When adapted to a Leica, it becomes a fantastic, affordable portrait lens with perfectly circular bokeh, serving as a "poor man's" Nikkor 10.5cm.

The 135mm f/3.5

• The Ubiquitous Tele: If you see a cheap telephoto lens at a flea market, it is likely this one.
• Quality: While common, they are optically decent. Most are simple 4-element designs that are hard to mess up. They are heavy, long, and offer a cheap way to experiment with telephoto compression on a rangefinder.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	LTM (Leica Thread Mount) or T-Mount (T2) (requires adapter).
Focus Coupling	Coupled (Native LTM versions). Uncoupled (Most T-Mount adaptations will be scale focus only).
Build Materials	Brass/Chrome (1950s) or Anodized Aluminum (1960s+).
Decoding	1=Tokina, 2=Sun, 6=Komine. (Memorize this code!).
Filter Thread	Varies wildly. 46mm and 49mm are common.
Coatings	Single Coated (Early) or Multi-Coated (Marked "C/D" or "MC" in later SLR eras).
Quirk	Preset Apertures: Many Soligor lenses have two aperture rings—one to "set" the limit and one to open/close the iris. This is great for video but slow for photography.

Why Photographers Choose Soligor

• The Treasure Hunt: Collecting Soligor is a game. Finding a "1" series (Tokina) lens in a bargain bin for $20 feels like a victory. You are essentially getting high-end Japanese glass with a budget label.
• The "Circular Bokeh" of Presets: Because many Soligor lenses use preset apertures (simple mechanics), they often have 10 to 15 aperture blades. This puts them ahead of premium brands like Canon (which moved to 5 or 6 blades) for bokeh smoothness.
• T-Mount Versatility: A Soligor 105mm T-mount lens can be used on your Leica M (with adapter), your digital Sony, and your film Nikon. It is a universal soldier.

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Sources

• [1] CameraQuest (Soligor/Vivitar History): https://cameraquest.com/vivitar.htm
• [2] MFLenses (Soligor Serial Number Database): http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=33
• [3] Pentax Forums (Soligor Lens Reviews): https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/index.php?cat=83
• [4] Olypedia (Soligor Manufacturer Codes): https://olypedia.de/index.php?title=Soligor