Peter
I strongly suspect that the Exakta is a badge-engineered version of what is
sold in the US as a Samyang or Phoenix lens. There are references to both
available via a Google search, and I think there is also mention (not
unfavourable) on Robert Monaghan's MF site (either amongst "cult classics"
or under "ultra-wide angles").
I had one for a year or so, 18-28 f/4.0-f/4.5:
Annoying for its focus action going the "wrong way" compared to Zuiko and
Tamron.
Very bulky (long!) for an ultra-wide angle
Quite heavy (no PC components here).
72mm filters means Circ PLs are $$$.
Resolution not bad.
Depth of focus enormous.
Significant fall off in image brightness.
Great fun to use.
Extremely good value (I paid about USD70 for a "beater", and sold for about
USD50).
I found that I very rarely used it other than at the wide end, and having
discovered that I liked the ultra wide perspective, found (first) a Tamron
17mm and (second, only a couple of weeks ago) a Tamron 24-48** to replace it
and a Tamron 28-50.
I have never seen another one for sale used, but they are not expensive new,
from a German seller on a well-known auction site, I guess about USD125.
You get the value you pay for - a Zuiko 21 would be somewhat more expensive!
Piers
** Bill Barber will tell you he is searching for a hood for this 24-48.
It's a 27FH, and I need one more than he does :-)
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of petertje@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2003 4:01 PM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Some obscure OM objects
Hi,
Anybody know these ? All for OM of course...
Bower 3x teleconvertor
Exacta Varioplan 18-28mm/f4.0-4.5
(I found some reviews that are very mixed: some call the build
quality crap, some rave about it. Probably a lens-to-lens
thing.)
2nd question being of course, are they any good ? 3rd: value ?
Thanks !
Peter.
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