New Member Registered: January, 2020 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 2 | | Review Date: October 20, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $35.95
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive and light | | Cons: | Average image quality | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: Canon EOS R
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I generally don't use a zoom lens but I needed something with a telephoto reach that could be used in a pinch for times when I need to photograph a speaker from a distance during an event. After down sizing my equipment to just few primes and two camera bodies, I don't find the current telephoto lens offering attractive. The new Canon RF 85mm f2 was supposed to be my main telephoto for events but rendering of current lenses seem to be too flat or lifeless; some think that's partly due to high number lens elements or plastic aspherical lens. Because of the unsatisfying lens rendering I now increasingly use vintage third party lenses like these to supplement my professional assignments. I came across this lens at a local camera shop and I was surprised to notice that this didn't exhibit the typical zoom creeps common for push-pull zoom lenses of the day. I didn't expect the lens to render any better images than Nikkor 80-200mm f4 or Vivitar Series 1 70-210 I had briefly used long ago. This lens actually seem to render comparable images to the better known lenses. In fact this lens appears as good as Canon EF 70-210 f4 I had used before its zoom creep proved to be too annoying snd cumbersome to use. This lens seems to be made by Samyang which I consider to be good lens manufacturer and they're known for the popular cult classics like Rokinon 85mm 1.4 and 12mm f2.0.
I also appreciate this lens is lighter and smaller than the Nikkor 80-200 f4. The handling is similar in a lighter more compact package. Lens hood is recommended for such a lens and I found it to be more prone to lens flare and ghosting. When stepped down to f5.6, images are reasonably sharp. Macro function is not really practical.
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New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 14
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 10, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | a really very sharp macro lens f8-11 / intern marco tube | | Cons: | wide open close ups a few week in corners | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: k-5 k-s1, k-x, k200d, Mz5; Z20P; FUJI X-E1 + x-T100, Panasonic G3, Samsung nx1000 with adaper
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An interesting macro lens, which optical qualities are - for a zoom lens - nearly perfect (similar to a Zeiss single lens) and incuding a macro extension ring. So you don't need bellow or additional extension tubes.
Wow !!! this is not often to find. I perceived the integrated macro tube later, because it is unusual, that by a ring can be activated it, if you pull lens to approx. 150- 200mm.  You must turn the full 5cm ring to the right side and "MACRO RATIO" will appear. 1:5. What an additional inexpensive feature !
I've developped a special self made macro ring from VIA with a focal reductor therein (mono ocular, 30mm diameter glass, achromate 2/1 elements). By this way focal range reduces to approx 50-125mm, but macro shootings are extremely sharp up to 1:2 - 1:1,5 with f 11, approximately.. An enormous advantage !!!
++ very sharp macro shootings available - MUCH MORE THAN AVERIDGE !!!
++/+ very few CA's in the corners in macro mode, scarecely visible - visible only on very big posters.
++ neutral color rendition
++ high contrast
A special tele macro tele lens of 200mm will be much more expensive.... (500 to 1000$) you must accustom only to use 2 rings: front ring and you special a.m. macro ring - but results will be excellent
highly recommended by me!!!
Ps the Super Albinar 3,5/80-200 version is in the centre very sharp, too, but in the corners strong visible CA's of the other, brighter f3,5-version!!! The better version is the 3.9/80-200. I love it !
LENS RESOLUTION 75 LP = 150 lines /mm at very high level (with Fuji x-T100 24 MP) - self tested by test poster 48x72 cm. (with K-5 16 MP 60 LP = 120 lines /mm) - these are very good single lens values !!!
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