Suggestions on midrange zooms for AF100

seanothon

seanothon

Active member
I am looking for a fast zoom in the 24mm-80mm range that's not going to break the bank. A few I'm looking at are Sigma EX 28.70mm f/2.8, Sigma [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]24 mm - 70 mm f/2.8,[/FONT] Tokina [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]AF 28-70mm f/2.6-2.8, and Sigma [/FONT]28-105 f/2.8-4. I really like the idea of a constant aperture but I know that means $$$ so I'm open to others as long as they stay relatively fast. Any suggestions would be appreciated
 
I have an old Olympus OM mount Kiron 28-85mm f2.8-3.8 (Vivitar 28-85mm rebranded) that produces an amazing image. It's nick named the "Stovepipe". I picked it up for $15 at a local camera shop, the OM to m43 adapter costed more. It's a great lens, I promise you won't be disappointed with the image. It's a perfect interview lens.
 
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Brian@202020 said:
I have an old Olympus OM mount Kiron 28-85mm f2.8-3.8 (Vivitar 28-85mm rebranded) that produces an amazing image. It's nick named the "Stovepipe". I picked it up for $15 at a local camera shop, the OM to m43 adapter costed more. It's a great lens, I promise you won't be disappointed with the image. It's a perfect interview lens.
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I haven't actually used a Kiron lens but I have heard they are great
 
It's a varifocal zoom so as long as you don't have to zoom mid shot it's great. It's my default interview lens and I prefer it's look over my Nikon primes for that. it's worth it to probably pick one up at that cost until you can save up for a more expensive constant aperture lens. I'm telling you, great lens, and cheap.
 
The Canon FD series 35-105 F3.5 is highly regarded and can be found dirt cheap. I found mine in mint condition for $60. But if you want something to impress the clients you can always find the Leica Vario-Elmarit R 28-90 Aspheric for around $3K although at that price point it is starting to get into PL mount territory.
 
Brian@202020 said:
It's a varifocal zoom so as long as you don't have to zoom mid shot it's great. It's my default interview lens and I prefer it's look over my Nikon primes for that. it's worth it to probably pick one up at that cost until you can save up for a more expensive constant aperture lens. I'm telling you, great lens, and cheap.
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I was hoping to have a lens I could zoom in and out with, while shooting, but I might check this out just because its so cheap and sounds great
 
Recently got a similar lens, the Vivitar Series 1 28-90 2.8-3.5, OM mount, for something like $50. Push-pull zoom, and absolutely varifocal, but makes for a good variable prime. Now to declick it...
 
I decided on a Tokina 28-80 f2.8. I also got a Vivitar Series 1 28-90 2.8-3.5 by Komine earlier for a good deal on ebay and that also came with a [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Vivitar 28mm 2.5 by Kiron. [/FONT]Needless to say, I'm pretty excited for the mail this week.
 
Letzring said:
I'm curious why you decided on the Tokina instead of some of the legacy lens choices available from Canon or Nikon?
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I am using this lens for run and gun type of situations (weddings, etc) so I couldn't be fumbling around with a handful of primes. I wanted a fast midrange zoom that wouldn't break the bank. The Canon or Nikons that were equally fast were more expensive. I'm sure they're better zooms, but you are paying for it.
 
As seanothon pointed out, a used Tokina AT-X 280 Pro in excellent condition can be obtained for less than half the price of the equivalent Nikon 28-70mm f2.8 D lens. In addition, the Tokina is lighter and better adapted for use on a run-and-gun shoulder rig, as its front lens barrel neither extends nor rotates when focusing or zooming. While the Nikkor is a superb lens, its front lens barrel extends when zoomed, making it awkward to use with a rails-mounted matte box:

http://www.photozone.de/nikon--nikk...-af-s-28-70mm-f28-d-if-ed-review--test-report
 
I've been using a Vivitar 28-85 which I was given by a friend... great price... anyway, this lens is reviewed as actually mechanically better than the equivalent Nikkor, plus it has the advantage of focusing in the correct direction.

I found another one in like-new condition for $50 and bought it as well... So, for $50 or less you can get a decent 28-85 f2.8-3.5 lens that's relatively light.. The one caveat I have is that it does tend to bloom when shooting into a light source (which I do regularly) but it's not an unattractive flare and can be used to advantage in some situations...
 
Vivitar lenses are pretty darned good, especially considering the negligible price at which they're sold.
 
Based on this thread, I did a Craigslist search for Oregon and located an ATX 280 28-80 f/2.8 over in the Valley and purchased it for $299. Stopped to do a wilderness shoot on Santiam pass on the way home and got some great material. One day of use and I'm convinced this lens in a Nikon mount via a Voigtlander MFT adaptor is a great match for the AF100. I'll probably be selling my FD 35-105 along with a few FD primes very soon.

I also recently bought a used Nikon 18-35 ED f/3.5 so I'm back in the Nikon camp with my old 80-200 ED f/2.8 and a 300mm ED f/4.
 
Hi folks.

I recently acquired an ATX Pro 28-80 2.8. I was wondering if the lens I have is worn as the focusing element(s) have some play as you move between focus directions resulting in a left-right (or right-left depending on the direction) shift of the image. It is not noticeable with objects 3-5 feet from the lens but gets more and more dramatic with objects in the distance.

It's not that the focus ring has play but it does seem like the focusing gear is a little loose. Of course, not being a cinema lens I don't know which is the case.
 
Petros Kolyvas said:
Hi folks.

I recently acquired an ATX Pro 28-80 2.8. I was wondering if the lens I have is worn as the focusing element(s) have some play as you move between focus directions resulting in a left-right (or right-left depending on the direction) shift of the image. It is not noticeable with objects 3-5 feet from the lens but gets more and more dramatic with objects in the distance.

It's not that the focus ring has play but it does seem like the focusing gear is a little loose. Of course, not being a cinema lens I don't know which is the case.
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My ATX280 is tight with no play at all in the focus or zoom mechanisms. Seller mentioned he used it for one job (his wedding) and decided to sell it because of the weight. I can see where it would be heavy on a SLR but on the AF100, it's a perfect balance.

Regards
Scott
 
Every time I do a bit of research on the Tokina mentioned in this thread ... I get confused by its dual personality.

Seems the ATX 280 Pro is sometimes a 28-70 and other times its a 28-80.

The reviews also confuse the issue further by mentioning both in the same breath.

Evidently I believe there was a special version of this lens that was designed by Angenieaux. That was the desireable version if you could find one.
 
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