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Model history (2)

Specification

Source of data

• Spiratone photo & video accessory catalog No. 852 (Fall/Winter 1985).

Manufacturer description #1

From the Popular Photography magazine (July 1982):

NEW from SPIRATONE

NOW SHORTER, NOW LIGHTER, NOW CLOSER FOCUSING

The NEW Spiratone Pre-Set '400-S' SHARPSHOOTER TELEPHOTO

Provides Fully Automatic Exposure

when used with your Canon A-1, AV-1; CONTAX; NIKON F3, FE, FG, EM; PENTAX LX, ME, MG, MV, K2; MINOLTA XD, XG-1, 7, 9, X-700; OLYMPUS OM-2, 10; YASHICA FX-1, FR-1, 2; and other aperture-preferred automatic SLRs. With all other models of these cameras, plus KONICA, MAMIYA, RICOH, PRACTICA and most other 35mm SLRs, you use the Sharpshooter's preset diaphragm for through-the-lens stop-down metering.

The Spiratone 400mm f/6.3 SHARPSHOOTER has been acknowledged as the outstanding value in long telephotos for well over a decade. Testimonials from users and test reports and feature articles in the major camera magazines have confirmed the excellent resolution, color correction and contrast it produces. For example, Norman Rothschild, in an article in Popular Photography entitled "don't underrate the low cost 400mm teles" wrote enthusiastically about the Spiratone '400's' quality and versatility. Modern Photography concluded its test report with these words: "one of the most fantastic buys ever available in the telephoto area".

Now the SHARPSHOOTER '400' has been redesigned to make it an even more remarkable value.

The new SHARPSHOOTER '400-S' incorporates a computer-generated, integrally designed, true-telephoto optical system of 4 elements in 4 groups, to create, a truly compact lens, only 10 inches long (almost 3" shorter than its predecessor). And it focuses closer (6m to infinity), barely weighs 21 oz. (4 oz. less than the previous model) and uses economical 67mm filters. It utilizes a convenient pre-set diaphragm with stops from f/6.3 to f/32 for extra depth of field when needed.

And Spiratone guarantees you that the new SHARPSHOOTER '400-S' you buy will be equal to ot surpass the quality and performance of its widely acclaimed predecessor!

Imagine the "reach" of the Sharpshooter '400-S' - reducing effective camera-to-subject distance by 87%; magnifying the image 8X (64X the area) compared with your normal 50mm lens! And while this light compact lens is most 'handholdable', it's equipped with a rotating tripod collar for convenient vertical or horizontal positioning when tripod mounting is desired. There are many useful, inexpensive accessories which we have especially designed for the Spiratone '400-S'.

Manufacturer description #2

From the Spiratone photo & video accessory catalog No. 852 (Fall/Winter 1985):

Spiratone' PRE-SET '400-S' SHARPSHOOTER TELEPHOTO PROVIDES FULLY AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE

when used with your Canon A-1, AL-1, T70; Contax; Minolta Maxxum, XD, XG, X series, XK; Nikon F3, FE, FG, FA, EM; Olympus OM-2, 4, F, G, 10; Pentax LX, MG, ME, Super Program, K2; Yashica FX, FR and other aperture preferred SLRs. With all non-aperture preferred SLRs, you use the Sharpshooter's preset diaphragm for stop-down method of metering, still taking advantage of your behind-the-lens metering system for accurate exposures.

The Spiratone 400mm f/6.3 SHARPSHOOTER has been acknowledged as the outstanding value in long telephotos for well over a decade. Testimonials from users and test reports and feature articles in the major camera magazines have confirmed the excellent resolution, color correction and contrast it produces.

COMPUTER DESIGNED... SHARP, COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT

The SHARPSHOOTER '400-S' incorporates a computer-generated, integrally designed, true-telephoto optical system of 4 elements in 4 groups, to create, a truly compact lens, only 10 inches long. Focuses from as close as 6m to infinity, barely weighs 21 oz. and uses economical 67mm filters. It utilizes a convenient pre-set diaphragm with stops from f/6.3 to f/32 for extra depth of field when needed.

Imagine the "reach" of the Sharpshooter '400-S' - reducing effective camera-to-subject distance by 87%; magnifying the image 8X (64X the area) compared with your normal 50mm lens! And while this light compact lens is most 'handholdable', it's equipped with a rotating tripod collar for convenient vertical or horizontal positioning when tripod mounting is desired. There are many useful, inexpensive accessories which we have especially designed for the Spiratone '400-S'.

The Spiratone '400-S' is also available with MULTI-COATING in the PLURA-COAT MODEL

The Spiratone '400-S' PLURA-COAT MODEL is MULTI-COATED to control ghosting and to provide maximum contrast and color saturation, even in back-lighted, distant scenes. Add to cost of lens or lens outfit ONLY $10 ADD'L.

SPIRATONE '400-S' ACCESSORIES EXTEND CAMERA/LENS VERSATILITY

• Tubular Deluxe Carrying Case w. filter compartment inside cover
• Super Case Model '100' holds camera with '400-S' in 'everready' position
• Custom Screw-in Metal Telephoto long Lenshood
• 67mm Custom Coated Screw-in Filters - Haze/UV, Skylight, Yellow, Red, Neutral Density 4X, 80B, 82A, 85B
• 67mm Custom Polarizer
• 67mm Hard-coated Optical Glass Opticap

CONVERT TO 800mm

The multi-coated 800mm Sharpshooter Converter makes the Spiratone '400-S' into an 800mm f/12.6 super telephoto for almost unbelievable magnification of 16X your normal lens.

Notes

• Independent-brand lenses were made for 35mm film SLR cameras by companies that competed with the camera manufacturers. Some came from factories that made lenses under their own brand names (Angenieux, Kiron, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina). Many others were national and international marketing organizations (Kalimar, Panagor, Rokunar, Soligor, Starblitz) that bought lenses from anonymous manufacturers. One firm — Vivitar — actually designed its own lenses and accessories, which were then subcontracted to manufacturing firms. Still others were private labels, sold only by specific photo specialty shops (Cambron, Quantaray, Spiratone).

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