Image 80-200mm f/4.5 Auto Macro+Zoom (Makinon)

2016.06.23 - Published

2021.08.18 - Re-written, re-edit video

Here is a lens I found back in 2016 at a throwaway price, the Image 80-200mm f/4.5 (Makinon) in mint cosmetic condition. This version has two separate rings for focusing and zooming and is made by Makina Optical. There appears to be a later version of this lens (possibly Sigma) with same specs but a 'one-touch' design where the focus and zoom are merged into a single control ring.

From the moment I laid hands on it, this lens was mechanically super smooth, it beats even OEM lenses. The macro range is accessible at any range and you only need to focus continuously, no extra switches required. It came in M42 mount; I only had a Nikon DSLR at the time, so adapting this lens only allows macro focusing around 1 meter, beyond that is out of focus. This is a varifocal zoom, meaning you need to re-adjust focus after zooming.

There was balsam separation and light haze in the middle group. Despite its condition, the images appear okay with good colors and contrast especially stopped down to f/8, it is portrait-soft wide open, and color tint leaning slightly warm.

Makina Optical was founded in 1967 and originally sold their lenses under third party names like Vivitar (serial starts with '#32xxx'), Soligor, Hanimex, Promaster etc. They began selling under their own name 'Makinon' from 1975, with a complete range of primes and zooms. Their 28mm f/2.8 was well regarded. Makinon user community suspect that the company later contracted others to make their lenses (eg. Sigma or Samyang). They disappeared around 1985 when AF lenses were introduced to the market.