New Guy: Vivitar 35-200mm F3-4.5 - Usable?

C

cd_albert

Active member
Hi,

New to adapters, actually waiting to buy a 2/3" version from Brevis or Letus...in the meantime buying lenses! Fun!

Want a run and gun lens for when there's not much time....will the Vivitar 35-200mm F3-4.5 be suitable?

Any probs with it?
 
Well, for starter that's a relatively slow lens; it's also made by a third party and zoom lenses generally aren't all that sharp. I would rather get several fast primes than one zoom. This is just a general comment without know anything about the mount, adapter or what you're planning to use it for. The rule of thumb is: don't use a zoom unless you can afford the really good ones.
 
Thanks Huy,

True, I have been reading a lot and primes are obviously the way to go, but I need a lens that I can use in a situation where there is no time to be swapping lenses...doco shooting etc.

What zoom in that range do you recommend?

I have already bought a Tokina 80-200 2.8.

Thanks, Chris.
 
I shoot with a 28-85mm 3.5 nikon zoom and I get good results with it. What you really want to be aware of is the size of the rear element. Small rear elements tend to produce the portholing effect.
 
One of our test lenses is a 28-200 f3.5 zoom (inexpensive). It works beautifully and was used in our original flip footage posting (waterfalls shots) at 28mm. It is 100% free of vignetting at all focal lengths when used wide open and framed to 36mm wide. You can actually squeak a 38mm wide frame if you want to with these zooms using our CF1Le imaging element. It's a strange thing to say, but slower zooms work better at wide angles with our unit than primes typically of the same speed. My hands-down favourite for a wide angle in testing is the Nikon 17-35mm f2.8D (constant aperture, internal focussing) lens although this one runs closer to $1400.

If you
 
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take a look at the
canon fd 35-105mm f3.5
asanuma 35-105mm f3.5
soligor 35-140mm f3.5
tamron 17-35mm f2.8-4
vivitar 70-210 f2.8-4
nikon 75-150 f3.5
 
As far as I can see the Tokina's have the best reputation of the lower priced spreads and you can get them all in f2.8 versions. I've used the 80-200 and the 28 - 70 and they are pretty good.
 
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