Any of the big slow zooms will darken the microprism.
My 300/4.5 is really tough to focus with a 1-13 screen
because of this. I'd recommend getting a 1-7 screen
for this purpose if you are going to try to use a
microprism to help you focus.
Mark Lloyd
--- The_Bobbs <sjea_bobb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> This group will undoubtedly have some opinions on
> this topic.
>
> I've been considering a particular range of zoom and
> know (from paper knowledge) of three quite different
> models that strike me as interesting and not too
> impossible to find used. So, I'm looking for advice
> and insights. I've not (yet) had the pleasure of
> looking through any of these three, so insights on
> these along with suggestions for others that cover a
> similar (or better) range and are also optically
> sound would be appreciated.
>
> The three (with the few pros and cons I know) are:
>
> Zuiko 65-200 f4
> Pro: Goes fairly short so it plus just a WA prime
> (eg 35mm) make a nice day kit. Not too beastly
> heavy
> Cons: A bit weak on the telephoto end. I often
> desire something longer than 200mm.
>
> Zuiko 85-250 f5
> Pro: about 250nger on the telephoto end, for
> only the loss of 2/3 of a stop in light. Separate
> zoom ring (I like that, actually)
> Cons: Heavier, slower and won't go quite as short
> as the 65-200. Looks to be quite a bit pricier than
> the 65-200 as well?
>
> Tokina AT-X 100-300 f4
> Pro: Reasonably fast for a 300mm lens, highly
> praised and covers about 500nger than the 65-200
> Cons: Rather expensive (how bad?), _very_ heavy.
> Around 4 lbs of lens? ... scary!!
>
> One thing to keep in mind: I really don't like
> distortion. I've seen some cheaper telephoto zooms
> but the pincushion is so pronounced that it is
> glaringly obvious in the viewfinder, just looking at
> a fence or other subject with straight lines.
>
>
> Questions:
>
> a) Is the f5 too dark for the standard split image
> focus screen under overcast or forest lighting?
> Also, f5 seems mightly small at portrait lengths!
> in practice how annoyed are you 85-250 owners with
> that f5 (and it's DOF!) when you are shooting at
> 85-135?
>
> b) Are there other choices you might recommend --
> especially where pincushion is minimal? By way of
> comparison, the few samples I have seen of the Zuiko
> 300mm f4.5 and 200mm f4 primes have minimal or no
> pincushion that I observed. (But the goal is to
> avoid having to buy an 85mm, 100mm, 135mm, 200mm and
> 300mm -- but rather get four of those five focal
> lengths for 1/3 or so of the cost of all five --
> used prices in all cases. Getting something heavier
> than the 300mm f4.5 Zuiko is also undesired)
>
> c) Yes, I know that Vivitar offers a new 75-300, but
> at $129 (B&H new) I have to think that thing's got
> to be a coke bottle. Maybe I'm unfairly dissing the
> bargain of the century but I doubt it. There's also
> the 100-500mm Phoenix at $349, but I'm afraid that
> an f5.6-8 is too dark for my tastes. I've got a
> no-name 135mm f2.8 that I like just fine -- I can't
> imagine losing two full (or more?) stops at that
> length.
>
> Stuart
>
>
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