Veteran Member Registered: August, 2015 Location: Toulon, South of France Posts: 357 | | Review Date: September 22, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp wide open, compact, build quality, dynamic range, natural colors | | Cons: | heavy, no A mode | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K200D
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I didn't expect too much from a cheap manual zoom lens but although I've not tested it yet in all conditions, IQ is great for a zoom, mainly when set to its max focal 70mm.
It gives realy sharp photos at max focal, even wide open, results are better than with my 50mm 1.7 prime even if it is not as fast.
Contrast is very nice while keeping a high dynamic range where shadows have no loss at all, only whites may be a bit too strong and cause some CA when side by side with blacks, but there is no lateral CA. I tested it without any UV filter or hood.
Comparing this zoom to my 3 current primes (24, 28, 50mm) is the reason why I put a 10 overall rating, because in many aspects, it performs better than some of these primes. The only sad thing is it has no A mode.
Another cons would be the fact that using the zoom/focusing ring makes the filter thread rotate, making it hard to use with a CPL and better not use a tulip-hood with it.
Mechanics are smooth but not loose, very good metal build quality.
Deserves more daylight tests with UV filter and hood.
Samples just for testing close and longer range, both taken at 70mm wide open (ring on 3.5), photos have been absolutely untouched (LR RAW import and direct publish on flicker) :
Before buying this lens, I had the feeling it was the same build as the Yashica MC Zoom, and excepted small cosmetic differences (rings shapes, letterings) it realy looks as being the same optical and mechanical build, hard to be 100% sure though.
http://www.retrocamera.net/review-of-yashica-mc-zoom-35-70mm3-5-4-5.html | |
