Jeff;
Here's what you should tell your friend:
***DON'T do it! NO NO NO a thousand times NO.
Cambridge is not only a rip-off, dishonest operation IMHO, but their
products are sh_t. I know, they burned me on a mirror lens with bait
and switch about 15 yrs ago. I'll never buy from them again. And if you
don't believe me, there's a web site with ratings on the NY camera
houses which will second my opinion. I regret that I do not have the
URL. Someone else will ...?
Next, let's forget about Cambridge for a minute and think about this
lens. That's a pretty long zoom ratio, so the glass (I mean plastic) had
better be real quality to get decent sharpness in any part of the range.
1:2 macro? (Ha Ha Ha) thru what part of the range - the whole range?
that's **laughable**. Only at the long end? (which is fairly typical of
macro/zooms) well, then they're saying you've got a 225/5.6 1:2 macro.
Hmmm. I don't know of any other zoom macro which claims 1:2
reproduction. Typically the zoom macro ratio is 1:4 to 1:10. Do you
really think the infamous optical engineers at Cambridge have been able
to do something no one else has? And for $160??? Additionally, how easy
do you think macro-focussing will be at f/5.6? And with extension for
macro, that may be more like f/8.
Here's a competing lens? The much-heralded breakthru lens from Nikon
which has macro focussing thruout it's zoom range of 70-180, although
I'm not sure it's 1:2. It's a 4.5-5.6 lens. Price? $1000.
Your friend would be MUCH better off (assuming he's an Oly user) if he
looked for a used Zuiko 65-200/4 macro. Similar range, about 1:7 macro
at 200mm only. Quality, sharp, solid glass lens for just a bit more
than $160.
Finally, not personal here, just a rant: ***When are people gonna learn
about Cambridge? I recall a thread on rec.photo asking if **anyone**
had a good experience with CAmbridge. Answer was a resounding NO. They
are modern-day snake oil salesmen, IMHO. Please people, don't waste your
money buying from them.****
Hope this helps. :>)
George
Jeffrey E Bellin wrote:
>
> Hi,
> You guys have been great in answering my questions in the past. I have
> another one for a friend this time.
> He's interested in buying a Cambron lens from Cambridge Camera in New
> York. Does anyone have anything good to say about their lenses. The one
> in question is a 55-225/3.5-5.6 Macro 1:2 lens. The price is $160. How do
> their lenses compare with Vivitar's.
> I know most of you probably would rather have an Olympus lens but he is
> really on a budget for this lens and just wants to have a little fun with
> it.
>
> Thanks for your help!
>
> Jeff Bellin
> Newton. MA
>
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