Can't find any info on the Promaster Spectrum 7 28-80mm 3.5-4.5 Macro

Sethata · 02-06-2017, 02:21 PM

Hey everyone. I recently purchased a camera set on Craigslist because it had the Pentax A 50mm 1.7 which I had been wanting to try out. The rest of the set came with an old film body, a couple of filters and this Promaster Spectrum 7 28-80mm 3.5-4.5 Macro lens. I was intrigued by it but unfortunately I can't find any information on it at all. It doesn't seem to exist in the online world. I figured I would come here and see if anyone else has experience with this lens. I'm not expecting much as it was simply thrown in the lot with the other stuff I bought but it would be nice to hear from others about it.

Sethata · 02-06-2017, 02:55 PM

Here are some pictures of the lens.

**jatrax** · 02-06-2017, 03:53 PM

If I remember right Promaster was a house brand for Ritz Camera. They were made by various companies over the years. Some were quite good, others not so much.

**boriscleto** · 02-06-2017, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

If I remember right Promaster was a house brand for Ritz Camera. They were made by various companies over the years. Some were quite good, others not so much.

Quantaray was the Ritz house brand. Promaster was a Cosina brand like Phoenix and later Vivitar.

UMC · 02-06-2017, 05:01 PM - **1 Like**

Promaster still exists: Our Story

They have sold many different OEM lenses in the past, primarily rebadged Tamron. However, the lens shown in the OP apparently is an Osawa MC 1:3.5-4.5 28-80mm Macro, which was also sold as Bell & Howell 1:3.5-4.5 28-80mm Macro. Osawa was a Japanese trading company that went bankrupt in the early 80ies, one of the very few examples of a large Japanese company going bankrupt. Osawa was somehow affiliated with Mamiya - most of the Mamiya 35mm lenses were available with other mounts under the Osawa and/or Bell&Howell brand. The end of Osawa also meant the end of all 35mm activities of Mamiya, some time around 1983.

Sethata · 02-06-2017, 07:53 PM

Thanks everyone! I knew there would be some good information out there =)

Sagala · 02-06-2017, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by Sethata

Here are some pictures of the lens.

Same as Osawa 28-80 mm f / 3.5-4.5 MC Macro.

**othar** · 02-07-2017, 05:38 AM

It looks like a newer version of the Sun 28-80mm f3.5-4.5 Macro MC to me. ( Sun 28-80mm f3.5-4.5 Macro MC Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database )

Snappertim · 02-07-2017, 07:18 AM

The lens was available under several name but outside the US market it was sold under Tokina and Kiron (Kino Precision Industries Limited), they made the 35 - 105 3.5/4.5 Olympus Zuiko
and later a 28 80 version, you can tell they all had a chrome button on a ring that you pressed to engage a close focus operation.

02-06-2017, 02:21 PM	#1
Sethata New Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 4	Can't find any info on the Promaster Spectrum 7 28-80mm 3.5-4.5 Macro Hey everyone. I recently purchased a camera set on Craigslist because it had the Pentax A 50mm 1.7 which I had been wanting to try out. The rest of the set came with an old film body, a couple of filters and this Promaster Spectrum 7 28-80mm 3.5-4.5 Macro lens. I was intrigued by it but unfortunately I can't find any information on it at all. It doesn't seem to exist in the online world. I figured I would come here and see if anyone else has experience with this lens. I'm not expecting much as it was simply thrown in the lot with the other stuff I bought but it would be nice to hear from others about it.

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02-06-2017, 03:53 PM	#3
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	If I remember right Promaster was a house brand for Ritz Camera. They were made by various companies over the years. Some were quite good, others not so much.

02-06-2017, 03:57 PM	#4
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by jatrax If I remember right Promaster was a house brand for Ritz Camera. They were made by various companies over the years. Some were quite good, others not so much. Quantaray was the Ritz house brand. Promaster was a Cosina brand like Phoenix and later Vivitar.

02-06-2017, 05:01 PM - 1 Like	#5
UMC Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Vienna Photos: Gallery Posts: 205	Promaster still exists: Our Story They have sold many different OEM lenses in the past, primarily rebadged Tamron. However, the lens shown in the OP apparently is an Osawa MC 1:3.5-4.5 28-80mm Macro, which was also sold as Bell & Howell 1:3.5-4.5 28-80mm Macro. Osawa was a Japanese trading company that went bankrupt in the early 80ies, one of the very few examples of a large Japanese company going bankrupt. Osawa was somehow affiliated with Mamiya - most of the Mamiya 35mm lenses were available with other mounts under the Osawa and/or Bell&Howell brand. The end of Osawa also meant the end of all 35mm activities of Mamiya, some time around 1983.

02-06-2017, 07:53 PM	#6
Sethata New Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Thanks everyone! I knew there would be some good information out there =)

02-06-2017, 07:56 PM	#7
Sagala Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Montréal Photos: Gallery Posts: 101	Originally posted by Sethata Here are some pictures of the lens. Same as Osawa 28-80 mm f / 3.5-4.5 MC Macro.

02-07-2017, 05:38 AM	#8
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	It looks like a newer version of the Sun 28-80mm f3.5-4.5 Macro MC to me. ( Sun 28-80mm f3.5-4.5 Macro MC Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database )

02-07-2017, 07:18 AM	#9
Snappertim Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 88	The lens was available under several name but outside the US market it was sold under Tokina and Kiron (Kino Precision Industries Limited), they made the 35 - 105 3.5/4.5 Olympus Zuiko and later a 28 80 version, you can tell they all had a chrome button on a ring that you pressed to engage a close focus operation.