M42 & Ai-S Reprint / Auto Topcor 58mm F1.4
A review and Photo example of the COSINA reprinted Auto Topcor 58mm F1.4 with the SONY α900 and SIGMA SD10.
Table of contents
Gallery
The examples were taken with the SONY α900 (A900) and the SIGMA SD10.
Review
1．Overview
The Auto-Topcor 58mm F/1.4 is a 58mm focal length lens reproduced by Cosina.
It was released in M42 and NIKON-F mounts for SLR cameras.
It uses a double Gauss type with 7 elements in 6 groups, whereas the original Tokyo Kogaku RE. Auto-Topcor 58mm F/1.4 has 7 elements in 5 groups, so the lens configuration is not exactly the same. and the original has the second and third elements in the front group glued together.
The minimum focusing distance is 0.45m.
When new, the lens comes with a dedicated bayonet hood and a screw-on lens cap.
2．Usability
I have never owned the Auto-Topcor 58mm F/1.4 and the original Topcon 58mm, so I cannot compare them, but the reproduction lens is a lens that takes very good pictures, and can be used with confidence as a standard lens for SLR cameras. With a focal length of 58mm and a minimum shooting distance of 0.45m, it allows for more advanced shooting than with a normal standard lens.
Since it is a newly manufactured lens, the silver exterior is beautiful, and the dedicated bayonet hood is deep and provides good light blocking.
Since the lens mount is equipped with a pin for closing the aperture blades, which is unique to M42 lenses, you will need to use it at full aperture unless you have a camera that narrows the aperture by pressing the pin in, or a mount adapter that allows you to keep the pin in the pressed position.
The Auto-Topcor 58mm F/1.4 has been on the market for about 20 years, so it is rarely seen on the market, and some stores charge a premium price for it.
However, the same lens configuration has been renamed to the Voigtlander brand NOKTON 58mm and is still on sale, so if you don’t care about the M42 mount, brand name, or exterior design, it’s easier to get your hands on it. Also, the lens coating of the new model may have evolved over time, and backlight resistance may have improved.
When viewing reversal film on a light box, a magnifying glass is used, and a standard lens of about 50mm can be used as a magnifying glass, so this lens was quite good and I used it as a magnifying glass for viewing reversal film.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the Auto-Topcor 58mm F/1.4 is a very ordinary standard lens for SLR cameras with solid image quality. Although the focal length is a little long at 58mm, it can be handled with almost the same feeling as a 50mm.
Cosina released this Tokyo Kogyo Topcon lens as a brand following Voigtlander. However, this lens was the only Topcon-branded lens released by Cosina, and no other lenses were released.
Specification and Competitor
The lens construction diagrams are quoted from each company’s materials, and the sizes have been adjusted by us, so they are not exact.
| Items | Auto Topcor | RE.Auto Topcor |
| Focal length(mm) | 58 | 58 |
| Max aperture | 1.4 | 1.4 |
| Min aperture | 16 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 9 | 6 |
| Lens Construction | 7 elements in 6 groups | 7 elements in 5 groups |
| ASPH. lens | Not adopted | Not adopted |
| Min distance(m) | 0.45 | 0.45 |
| Lens length(mm) | 47.5 | 49 |
| Max diameter(mm) | 63.5 | ? |
| Lens hood | Dedicated bayonet hood | ? |
| Filter Size(mm) | 58 | 62 |
| Weight(g) | 305 | 340 |
| Lens mount | Ai-S、M42 | Topcon RE mount |
| Release date | 2003.12 | 1963 |
| Lens color | Silver | Silver or black |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | ¥49,500 | ? |
Reference links
Update history
- 2025.6.28
- 2024.03.28:modified article
- 2023.11.12:firest post
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