nxs@fluke.UUCP (Bruce Golub) (12/21/84)
(This message is in response to the comparisons of Vivitar and Tokina zoom lenses.) For the last two years (for some unknown reason) certain Tokina lenses, espiecally their top-line models, have been simultaniously marketted under the Vivitar name. I have a pet theory that all the Japenese photo companies are really a large single entity that put on this appearance of seperate companies to fool the amerikans. Now for some real news. I have tried a lot of off-brand name zooms (i.e. Vivitar, Tokina, Kiron, etc.) in the 70mm-200mm range (in my opinion, the short foacl-lenth lenses all fall short of certain critical function like sharpness, speed, etc.). Except for the Kiron (a 80mm-210mm that was priced around $290.00) they are not worth the relatively small sum of money that they cost. The name-brand versions are not worth it either, since they typically cost twice as much and still suffer some of the same faults. The Kiron seemed to be the best compromise, though I would use a fixed lens whenever possible. waiting for the technological break-through, Bruce Golub John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
ktw@whuxi.UUCP (WOLMAN) (01/10/85)
I have found the old adage "You get what you pay for" more
correct than not. Whatever you may say about Vivitar,
Tokina, etc., a word of advice from one who knows: NEVER
buy a Sakar lens. I got one (Minolta MD mount) during the
summer (Macy's loves them) on sale for $41.95 (reduced from
$69.95!). Not bad for a 135 mm lens (ha-ha). Due to a billing
error the lens cost me about $9.00. That is approximately what
it is really worth. I would rather save my money for a Minolta
lens (either MD or Celtic, if the latter can be found new or
used) than play games with some of the lens-makers who seem
to find their best market in the back pages of Modern Photography
and Popular Photography ("SAKAR LENS RIOT SALE AT LABELLE OF
MAINE!!!!!"). It is also next to impossible, it seems, to
find fixed length lenses produced by the "off-brand" companies.
Once you get past 28 and 135 mm, you're into zooms, which
do not interest me because I tend to rely on available light,
and the minimum aperture on most zooms seems to be in the
neighborhood of f/3.5. For a 35 mm lens, you are all but
committed to the camera manufacturers.
Ken Wolman
Bellcore @ Livingston Corporate Center
lcuxc!kenw
(Trying to do for Wayne, New Jersey what George Tice
did for Paterson.)