New Member Registered: February, 2012 Posts: 17 | | Review Date: November 10, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp wide open at all focal lengths, fast for a consumer zoom, good colours | | Cons: | Construction does not inspire confidence. Five foot minimum focus reduces utility in-doors | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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After finding a Cosina-made Vivitar 28-210mm manual zoom to be optically excellent, I was drawn to this fast consumer zoom, which was obviously mechanically related. $30 on e-Bay got me a P30, a Pentax 35-70mm f3.5-4.5, and this lens. However, I have allocated the entire purchase price to this item, since I don't see myself ever using the other bits and pieces.
The Ricoh pin prevented me mounting the lens when it first arrived. I undid the four screws that retain the mount, jammed a piece of cocktail stick in between a leaf spring and the underside of the mount to pull the pin down, and reassembled the lens. The components this lens has in common with the roughly contemporaneous 28-210mm were obvious.
The mechanics don't exactly inspire confidence. Zoom creep is apparent. However, this lens is in much better shape than my 28-210mm. Zoom and focus are smooth and light, yet nicely damped.
Focus throw, apart from the 'Macro' mode, is only 90 degrees, but the lens is fast enough and sharp enough for me to be able to focus it accurately manually with confidence.
I suspect that f2.8 is a bit optimistic. Compared with the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 at f2.8, this lens at 28mm tends to be given longer exposures. However, it is definitely faster than any of the f3.5 zooms that I have.
It seems to be just as sharp as the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 over their common focal range. However, the Tamron images always look better when I pixel peep; something to do with the colours being a little less saturated and contrast not being as good on the Cosina. Or perhaps it is veiling flare from the large front element and no hood. Not that the Cosina colours or contrast seem particularly deficient. Resized to a laptop computer screen, it is hard to see any difference.
Compared with the Pentax FA 28-105mm f4-5.6 Power Zoom, the Cosina is a stop faster, and yet is sharper. However, if the light is good enough, the Pentax images are more pleasing; this is definitely down to the colours.
The Cosina enjoys a big advantage in weight and bulk over the Pentax. The Pentax, though, focuses much closer.
The Cosina's 72mm front element is very exposed. I haven't tried using a hood, but it may well help.
The 5 foot minimum focus restricts the lens's usefulness in-doors.
Overall, highly recommended.
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