seifert@ihuxl.UUCP (D.A. Seifert) (11/08/84)
Hi gang!
I'm looking for a zoom (or vari-focal) lens of the
70-210mm (or similar) range. Camera is a Canon T-70. (has
everything but the rs-232 connector :-) )
The new Vivitar series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4 seems
pretty nice. The controls are nice and smooth, it doesn't
change focal length when tilted, compact, light. Anyone
have one of these things? How is the optical performance?
How does it compare to the "big name" lenses (Canon, Nikon,
Leica, etc) Will the variable apature(sp?) cause any problems
with the light meter? (not counting bizzareness such as
zooming _d_u_r_i_n_g exposure) If I zoom in, lock the exposure,
zoom back out and release the shutter, will the exposure be off?
(yeah, I might want to do this, even with the 11% spot)
Canon has a 70-210mm f/4, but it's hard to believe they
put their name on it, it's such a piece of garbage. Big,
heavy, slow, changes focal length when tilted. They also
have a 80-200mm I haven't seen, which is much more expensive.
Should I look at this one?
Also saw a Tokina (I think) 70-200 (approx) f/2.8
which is nice and fast (2.8 even at 200), and has a tripod
mount. It's bigger (but well balanced), not too heavy, and
more money. Controls weren't as smooth as the Vivitar,
dispite it's supposedly being a "better" lens.
Any other lenses I should look at?
Important features:
full coupling for auto exposure
good optical quality
fast
good mechanical quality - smooth controls, doesn't move when
tilted (if one-touch variety)
medium important
weight and balance
somewhat less important
size
price
tripod mount
not important
true zoom
stops down to f/500,000
--
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/_______\
|___| Snoopy
____|___|_____ ihnp4!ihuxl!seifertherbie@watdcsu.UUCP (Herb Chong, Computing Services) (11/09/84)
Some people I know have also had good experiences with Soligor and Tamron
lenses. As far as the Vivitar Series 1 lenses are concerned, I think they
are the equal of any but the finest of the camera manufacturer's lenses.
I think that the Series 1 is a good choice.
Herb Chong...
I'm user-friendly -- I don't byte, I nybble....
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NETNORTH, BITNET: herbie@watdcs, herbie@watdcsumichaelk@azure.UUCP (Michael Kersenbrock) (11/09/84)
I recently purchased the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f2.8-4 zoom lens for
my Pentax Super Program (yes, Vivitar now has at least something with
the KA mount). I bought it for pretty much the reasons already mentioned
(SMOOTH, easy to move one-touch that DOESN'T slip, reasonably fast speed,
and compact for it's type). Not having a Nikon zoom lens for my pentax,
it is hard to compare personally, but so far (about 1.5 months), I have
no complaints about the optical quality. I have not yet used it for
any demanding situations as yet. The most demanding I've used it
for is when I attended the DAVIS CUP semifinals (ag'n Australia) and
took a roll of pic's with it zoom'd to 210 (mostly, although I was in the
eighth row, center side) and the lens wide open ("natural" coliseum lighting)
for a shutter speed of 2 mS. True, the film was a fast one, but the grain in
the corner was sharp :-). The len's continuous transition into "macro mode"
is excellent. It doesn't have a clear "mode" as such, but continues
focusing below the "normal" 5 foot (whatever) range such that above this
point (to infinity) is the normal true-zoom lens, and below this point
down to the "end" is vari-focal. At the "end", is the "Macro mode" mark
where it is "true-zoom" again ("variable reproduction ratio"). The
ratio at this point "zooms" between 2.5 and 11, and the sharpness is
excellent.
Mike Kersenbrock
Tektronix Microcomputer Development Products
Aloha, Oregonmarsano@fortune.UUCP (Derek Marsano) (11/13/84)
I've used the Vivitar 70/210mm zoom extensively. While the lens worked well and gave ok results, I found that the lens gave a fuzzy quality to my pictures, and was relatively difficult to focus sharply. Also, it is somewhat heavy and bulky, and the large diameter (~65mm) is cumbersome (not to mention the premium one pays for filters) and not really justified by the relatively slow speed of the lens (f3.8). I'm glad I had the use of this lens without having to buy it. Unfortunately, I recently (February) bought a Tokina 35/105mm zoom and have noticed a similar fuzziness about the photographs taken with it. My Nikkor 50mm 1.4 gives far better and more consistent results. Since I'm not happy with the third-party zooms, my next one will be a Nikkor. I'd recommend a Tokina zoom in the focal range you're interested in, in the $100 to $300 price range, if you're unwilling to spend $500 to $800 for a high quality lens (i.e., avoid the Vivitar). If you're at all picky about the quality of your photographs, though, spend the extra dough. Derek Marsano
rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) (11/19/84)
When talking about the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 zoom, it is important to realize that there have been 2 (possibly more?) completely different versions of this lens. The original 70-210 Series one was quite heavy, used a larger than usual filter (62 mm, I think), and was f3.8. It also had a macro capability (non-continuos, controlled by a "ring") that went all the way down to almost half-size, 1:2.2., and allowed focusing to a few inches (3", I believe). I have this lens, and have been pretty happy with it, although it is clearly not as sharp as as the f1.7 50 mm "normal" lens. Around two years ago, Vivitar came out with a new design for the 70-210 Series 1 zoom. This new design is/was built under spec. by Tokina, and is virtually identical to the Tokina 70-210 zoom of the same time. It is f3.5 (oops, as I now remember, the old zoom described above was also f3.5, not f3.8), had "macro" down to 1:4 (quarter-size), but with continuos focusing. Close focusing was now limited to about 4 feet or so. This new design was smaller, much lighter, and I believe somewhat sharper. The trade-off was less real macro capability, at least for extreme close-up work. I had the choice of both, and picked the older design, primarily because I wanted the ability to focus to 3", and get all the way down to half-size. Occasionally I regret my choice, especially when I'm lugging around the extra weight of the older design. In summary, both designs seemed pretty nice, with good solid feel, smooth one-touch operation (without slipping when the lens is pointed up), and non-rotation of the filter during zooming (so polarizers and other position-sensitive filters don't have to be rotated after zooming). Bob Schleicher ihuxk!rs55611
michaelk@azure.UUCP (Michael Kersenbrock) (11/26/84)
> When talking about the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 zoom, it is important > to realize that there have been 2 (possibly more?) completely different > versions of this lens. The original 70-210 Series one was quite heavy, > used a larger than usual filter (62 mm, I think), and was f3.8. It also > had a macro capability (non-continuos, controlled by a "ring") that > went all the way down to almost half-size, 1:2.2., and allowed focusing > to a few inches (3", I believe). I have this lens, and have been pretty > happy with it, although it is clearly not as sharp as as the f1.7 > 50 mm "normal" lens. Around two years ago, Vivitar came out with a > new design for the 70-210 Series 1 zoom. This new design is/was built > under spec. by Tokina, and is virtually identical to the Tokina 70-210 > zoom of the same time. It is f3.5 (oops, as I now remember, the old > zoom described above was also f3.5, not f3.8), had "macro" down to > 1:4 (quarter-size), but with continuos focusing. Close focusing > was now limited to about 4 feet or so. This new design was smaller, > much lighter, and I believe somewhat sharper. The trade-off was > less real macro capability, at least for extreme close-up work. I had the > choice of both, and picked the older design, primarily because I wanted > the ability to focus to 3", and get all the way down to half-size. Occasionally > I regret my choice, especially when I'm lugging around the extra weight of > the older design. In summary, both designs seemed pretty nice, with > good solid feel, smooth one-touch operation (without slipping when the lens > is pointed up), and non-rotation of the filter during zooming (so polarizers > and other position-sensitive filters don't have to be rotated after zooming). > > Bob Schleicher > ihuxk!rs55611 There is currently a THIRD incarnation of the Vivitar Series 1 20-210 lens that came out this summer (I've submitted prevously about this) that was designed in the U.S. , and mfg'd in Japan. You can tell it from the older two versions because it is f2.8 and a little shorter/smaller than the two previous versions (although still a bit heavy). This new lens macros to 1:2.5 or so. (I have this lens in the KA mount for my Pentax Super-program.) Mike Kersenbrock Tektronix Microcomputer Development Products Aloha, Oregon
rafe@reed.UUCP (Needleman) (11/28/84)
[munch munch] Re: The Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f3.5 Zoom. I have one of these (the second version, which focuses down to 1:4 and is somewhat smaller than the first), and although it's optically OK, there are some things about it that have always bugged me: 1) The front of the lens rotates when you change focus. 2) Ever since I've had the lens (more than two years now, I think), the zoom collar has slipped when the lens is pointed up or down. It doesn't go "clunk" and shake the whole rig to bits like some cheaper lenses do, it just slowly creeps up or down. Most annoying when shooting still-lifes or other static things. 3) Lens flare (at all f-stops) is pretty bad. On the other hand, I got it cheap, and it does what I want with no fuss 90% of the time. - Rafe. ...!tektronix!reed!rafe