| Latest Review Posted | Vivitar MC MACRO FOCUSING ZOOM 28-85mm F3.5-4.5
(I'm using the Nikon AI-S mount version of this lens.)
This is an interesting lens. It exceeds my rather low pre-purchase expectations and is fun to use.
The first thing you notice when you start to use this lens is how very short the focus throw is. I estimate the main part of the throw (excluding the "macro" focus range) to be about 40 degrees. Mainly, that's because of this lens's very disappointing minimum focus distance of 5.5 feet (1.7 meters). Because of the long MFD, the ratio of the focus helicoid does not feel inordinately high, and it's still possible to focus precisely. But I'm constantly bumping up against the MFD, which is unfortunate.
At 85mm (only), you can engage the macro focusing range to focus down to 0.6 meters—still not very close, and far from true macro. There is no switch or ring to move to get into the macro range; you just keep turning the focus ring. There is a subtle "bump" and change in resistance when you turn past the normal MFD, so you can tell when you're in macro. Once you're in the macro range, you can't zoom out until you get out of it. I understand why the designer decided to allow macro mode at 85mm only: field curvature at the "macro" distances is extreme, so you really don't want to get into macro mode by accident.
One more note about focus: this lens has focus breathing in spades. It's very easy to see the image magnification grow and shrink as you rack focus.
Central sharpness of this lens... |
