>MR THOMAS N CURLEE <JNVS44B@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>>
>>I picked up a Vivitar 28-85 F2.8-3.8 variable focus lens in
>>OM mount. The price was right at $40 US. Any comments
>>on the optical quality of this lens would be appreciated.
Kennedy replies:
>Would this be the Vivitar Series 1 28-85mm varifocal lens?
>Excellent piece of glass but a tad bulky for Olympus bodies.
>I seem to recall that it was f/2.8-3.5.
Wrong! These are two different lenses. Btw, Series 1 is 28-90.
Less than 24 hours ago, I posted a reply to a similar query
on a Tokina AT-X zoom, which contained the following excerpt:
# 28-85mm is my preferred FL range on a zoom, so I'm greatly
# disappointed with Olympus for failing to release their
# 28-85mm F3.5-4.5 AF zoom in manual focus version. Never the
# less, there are some decent alternatives out there. Here is
# a quick rundown:
#
# - Kiron 28-85mm F2.8-3.8 (1-touch, variofocal) - that's what
# I use these days; there is also a 28-105mm F3.2-4.5 version;
# - Vivitar 28-85mm F2.8-3.8 (same as above Kiron, but in matte
# finish);
# - Vivitar Series 1 28-90mm F2.8-3.5 (1-touch, variofocal) -
# a much celebrated performer; [snip]
I guess I must be in these two gentlemens' mail-list equivalent
of a kill file.
>The aperture ring is a little close to the shutter speed ring
>of Olympus cameras
This is a valid criticism of the Series 1 zoom. On Kiron/Vivitar
twins, the aperture ring was redesigned, and it no longer poses
a problem.
Btw, for a measly $40 this 28-85mm Vivitar is a steal. In fact,
for that kind of money ANY zoom covering this extremely useful
focal range is, IMHO, a bargain.
Cheers,
/Gary Schloss.
Studio City, CA
schloss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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