Vivitar Series 1 650-1300mm (!)

[Quicksand]

This can't be any good, can it?

Amazon.com: Vivitar 650-1300mm f/8-16 Series 1 Variable Zoom Lens - Requires T-Mount Adapter: Camera & Photo

The Vivitar/Samyang/Polar/etc. recent 85mm f/1.4 has been pretty well-received around here, but I haven't heard a single word about this one. Anyone crazy enough to try it?

[RioRico]

Originally Posted by Quicksand

This can't be any good, can it? ... I haven't heard a single word about this one. Anyone crazy enough to try it?

You buy it, I'll try it. I just googled it and found NOT ONE SINGLE REVIEW or user comment, beyond "this isn't an auspicious start". I'd expect a bit of CA, eh? Yeah, this should be just about perfect for distant B&W surveillance shots.

[WerTicus]

I've heard its terrible and your better off with one of those 500 or 800mm mirror lenses which are only 'not great'

[Quicksand]

Originally Posted by RioRico

You buy it, I'll try it.

Heh, nice try! $300 is a lot of scratch for an Opteka-quality lens. I see their 500mm f/8 lenses for under $100 all the time on the eBay and even then I'm not terribly tempted.

And now that I have mentioned the dreaded Opteka lenses, and going back and doing a Google search, I see that there is also an Opteka 650-1300mm that has been around for a while.

Amazon.com: Opteka 650-1300mm High Definition Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS 40D, 30D, 20D, 10D, Digital Rebel XT, XTi, XS, & XSi: Camera & Photo

I would bet dollars to doughnuts that this is exactly the same lens as the Vivitar. Excepting, of course, the stylish Canon-L-style white paint the Opteka boasts.

The Amazon reviews for that lens are more positive than I would have guessed, but for that matter some people DO eat at Applebee's. Elsewhere on the 'net there is a lot of griping about softness and CA, unsurprisingly enough.

Bottom line: I woudn't buy it with YOUR money.

[monochrome]

Originally Posted by Quicksand

The Amazon reviews for that lens are more positive than I would have guessed . . . .

How do we know the Vivitar National Sales Manager, his daughter and his secretary's nephew didin't post those "User Reviews?"