Well said.
Regards
Titoy
-----Original Message-----
From: Lex Jenkins <lexjenkins@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 7:27 PM
Subject: [OM] Regarding Vivitar Series 1 lenses
>Since I'm guilty of recommending Vivitar Series 1 lenses I suppose I should
>clarify - or qualify - my position.
>
>I *don't* regard them as equal to the better prime lenses or even some
zooms
>from Olympus, Canon, Nikon, et al. In some cases they may be, but that's
>not why I buy them.
>
>I consider the Series 1 (and certain other Vivitars like my older
non-Series
>1 20mm f/3.8, as well as the Soligor C/D series, and others) to be terrific
>bargains. To me that means a lens that costs around $100 or less -
>preferably less - and which provides usable images at all focal lengths and
>apertures, and very good or excellent images within at least a narrow or
>specific range of focal lengths or apertures.
>
>While Gary has cautioned to watch out for sluggish diaphragms, I simply
>haven't seen many Vivitars with that problem here in Texas - no more so
than
>Canons, Zuikos and other lenses. Other climates may produce different
>effects on lenses. It's always a good idea to inspect any used lens
closely
>for proper functioning.
>
>At the right price a good Vivitar (Series 1 or not) fills a void left by
>many lens makers. For example, most of the affordable midrange Canon zooms
>are simply junk - flimsy with poor optics. The common Canon 35-70
two-touch
>zoom is a good example...or perhaps I should say a bad example. The better
>Canon midrange zooms cost upward of $300 or more in excellent used
>condition. For my budget something like the Series 1 28-90/2.8-3.5 at
>around $100 is just right. It's well made, always produces acceptable
>images and is capable of producing outstanding images within its sweet
spot.
> Softness wide open simply isn't an issue for me - I reserve shooting wide
>open for portraits or similar subjects where optical softness is a
desirable
>characteristic.
>
>Anyone who's looking to a Series 1 lens to substitute for, say, a Zuiko
>35-80mm f/2.8, will be disappointed. It would also be a mistake to fall
for
>the notion of some mystique surrounding the Series 1 lenses and pay too
>much. But within their limits and at the right price they are very good
>additions to one's working tools.
>_________________________________________________________________
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>
>
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