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| Sun Zoom 35-140mm f/3.8-5.3 MC Macro (One-Touch Zoom by Sun Optical) |
2016.09.29 - Published
2021.08.18 - Re-written, re-uploaded
2022.08.15 - Updated
Sun Zoom
35-140mm f/3.8-5.3
MC Macro
Maker - Sun Optical
Year - Late 1970s
Focusing - Manual, non-AF
Zooming - Varifocal, one-touch zoom
Focus Throw - 90 degrees
Minimum Focusing - 2 meters
Minimum Focusing - 2 meters
Macro - 1:4 at 35mm
Filter Thread Ø - 62 mm
Max 35mm - f/3.8
Max 140mm - f/5.3
Minimal Aperture - f/22
Minimal Aperture - f/22
Iris Blades - 6
Optical Formula - ?
Made in Japan
Photo Album:
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Impressions
I found a Sun Zoom 35-140mm f/3.8-5.3 MC Macro in minty new condition, plus an original Sun Lens cloth wipe, and original caps. The first thing you will notice is how beautifully smooth the mechanisms are, not even my Nikkor zooms of the time were that smooth. This is a 'one-touch' zoom where the focusing and zooming are combined into a single control ring. This is ideal for quickly nailing focus while shooting outdoor and events. It is all-metal, no plastics, but manages to be tiny and lightweight AND achieve a very beautiful aesthetic. Mechanically a great lens, I've had other Sun-made lenses and all of them at par or better than OEM lenses.
All the glass elements had fungus and fog but fortunately easy to clean. The colors are saturated, contrast and sharpness are good wide open; one would think the images were shot with a modern DSLR kit lens but this lens was from the early 1980s. That's rather impressive for its time. It is better than modern kit zoom lenses in a way because it breathes life into the picture with a vintage glow when shot against the light, whereas modern 18-55mm's appear flat and lifeless.
The lens has a minimum focusing of 2 meters, which is typical of zooms from that period. Macro can be accessed by pressing a button and twisting an extra ring at 35mm. Funny, I thought Macro was at 35mm only but I remember years ago that closeups at 140mm were also possible (it was about 0.5 meters at 140mm, about 20cm at 30mm).
It was in Olympus OM mount and I only had a Nikon DSLR at the time. It was possible to shoot by removing the mount and do 'freelensing' with it, which introduces distortions and light leaks; later, I temporarily swapped the mount for a Nikon mount.
It has a zoom range starting from 35mm f/3.8 at the wide end, and then 140mm f/5.6 at the telephoto. This is the range I find useful and often shoot with. It could have been swell if not for the minimum distance of 2 meters (again, typical of zooms of this range at the time). If I still have this lens, I'd love to use it again on my mirrorless camera. Sun Optical was really respected for producing high quality lenses during its day; too bad the introduction of AF lenses in 1985 killed many of these companies.
Sun Optical was one of the first third-party companies to offer lenses for SLR cameras. Its history begins as 'Kajiro Kogaku', a company founded by Kajiro Hitoshi in 1939; they sold lenses under the name 'K.O.L.' (Kajiro Optical Laboratory). It was renamed 'Gojo Koki Seisakusho' in 1941, but then ceased operation in 1945. The company was revived as 'Sun Koki' and then began using the name 'Sun Optical Co., Ltd.' from the 1950s. Again, they changed name to 'Goto Sun' around 1981. They were last known to exist in 1983 and disappeared shortly (the introduction of AF lenses to the market killed many companies). Goyo Optical absorbed them in the late 1980s; the same company that sold the Noktor 50mm f/0.95 in Micro Four Thirds mount from March 2010.
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| It was in minty cosmetic condition, even came with the original lens wipe. |
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| There are four cosmetic looks of Sun lenses. The lens featured here is the modern look. |
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Samples
Shot with Nikon D5200
14 June 2016
13, 14, 15, 18 August 2016
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| Macro 140mm |
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| Macro 35mm |
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| Macro at 70mm |
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| Macro |
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| Macro at the onset of evening |
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| It was rainy when I arrived at Manila Bay, Roxas Boulevard 35mm |
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| Manila Baywalk, Roxas Boulevard 140mm |
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| Plaza Carriedo late at night |
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| MacArthur Bridge/Carriedo Plaza Shot late at night, 140mm f/11 It glows when shot against the light, it breathes life where modern kit lenses would appear lifeless. |
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