Playing With Lenses

Thursday, 1 March 2018

About a kit lens: Minolta AF Zoom 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 D

Cost: $6.99 (average market price 20$)

I was for sure hesitating to grab this lens when I saw it at a local thrift store, as it was clearly yet another cheap kit lens. But, heck for $6.99, I did not have to hesitate to long. And I was pleasantly surprised. It's a super light lens, all made of plastic including the mount, but in contrast with other similar lenses, it actually feels well constructed.

It's very smooth in use, and event the manual focus was easy to use for a more recent auto focus lens. Do note that this lens does not have an aperture ring, so you do have to use an adapter that allows you to set the aperture on the adapter.

Image quality is nothing special, but also not to bad for a kit lens. Not very sharp beyond F8, but pleasant colors and a nice focal range for a walk around lens. I kind of liked it, but it's not as good as some of my stars in this range.

Cheap, good colors.. not to bad. If you need a lens when you want reasonable pictures, but would not mind if the lens gets damaged or lost, this is the one to take with you. Not bad for a kit lens.

"D": The "D" marked it as usable with advanced TTL flash control capabilities (ADI) of cameras like the Minolta Dynax 5.

"AF": Lens has the capability for auto focus on compatible camera's

Lens Specification

Focal Length: 28-80mm
Maximum Aperture: F3.5-5.6
Minimum Aperture: F22-38
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Minolta AF
Optics: 8 elements in 7 groups
Blades: 7
Focussing: Auto Focus
Minimum Focus: 40cm
Filter Size: 55
Weight: 186g
Length: 68mm
Production: 2001
Serial Number: 01215470
Made in: Japan

More information on Minolta

Samples

1/1250 sec - ISO 400 - Handheld

1/500 sec - ISO 400 - Handheld

1/320 sec - ISO 100 - Handheld

1/100 sec - ISO 100 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO 100 - Handheld

Sources:
Camerapedia.wikia.com
Dyxum.com

Sunday, 25 February 2018

Unknown and unloved: Ozunon MC AF Zoom 1:3.5-4.5 28-80mm

Cost: $16 (average market price $18)

I was first convinced this was yet another rebrand from one of the common lens suppliers, but pleasantly surprised, it is an original lens from a small, little known, Japanese lens manufacturer, Ozone Optical. Surprising as most of the smaller lens manufacturer were no longer able to compete with the larger brands when the more complex auto focus lenses came to market.

This is an all metal solid lens... heavy for it's size. It feels well constructed with smooth operation. A lens that will pass the test of time. It shows nice quality and proper markings.

As the AF electronics are not compatible with Sony camera's, I have to test it manually. Due to the very small focus ring, and little friction when focusing, it was hard to get the lens in proper focus, causing more then normal loss due to lack of sharpness. A problem that might not exist when used as a proper auto focus lens.

When accurately focussed, it still shows some softness, and some color fringing in the corners that is easily corrected in Adobe Lightroom. Color is nothing special, but not terrible either. 28-80mm is a nice range for a walk-around lens, but I found the lens to be underperforming. So, with nothing special about this lens, it's no wonder Ozunon remains unknown and unloved.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 28-80mm
Maximum Aperture: F3.5-4.5
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Minolta AF
Optics: ?
Blades: 6
Focussing: Auto Focus
Minimum Focus: 80cm
Filter Size: 55mm
Weight: 450g
Length: 85-95mm
Production: late 80's
Serial Number: 8802480
Made in: Japan

More information on Ozone Optical Company, Ltd.

Samples:

1/50 sec - ISO400 - Handheld

1/80 sec - ISO400 - Handheld

6 sec - ISO1600 - Tripod

1/40 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/60 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/60 sec - ISO100 - Handheld - Cropped

1/100 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/60 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/30 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/60 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/160 sec - ISO400 - Handheld

Sources:

Camera Wiki: Ozone Optical

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Nice getting to know you: Pentax-A Zoom 1:3.5-4.5 28-80mm

Cost: $24 (average market price $29.33)

Let's state from the beginning that there is a coated SMC version of this lens that should achieve better image quality. As this is an early zoom lens, I was not expecting to much, and my first photos seemed to confirm that sentiment. But, as I was using the lens during two shoots, it was starting to grow on me.

It's a smooth two-touch zoom lens that was pleasant to use. Easy to focus, easy to zoom. Worked well with the peak focus feature of the Sony a6000. The lens looked well used, but everything was still working as it was coming out of the factory. A testament to the quality build of these old Pentax lenses.

This lens is capable of reasonable sharpness across the whole image, especially when use at the outer edges of the range, and stopped down a few steps. Color is good, although some editing was required to make the colors pop. Even without SMC coating, the lens had little aberration, unless when used taking pictures in the direction of the sun.

So, nothing special, but for the low cost, it's not a bad lens. A good walk-around lens, with some occasional light macro work. A welcome addition to my Pentax collection that is still growing on me.
Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 28-80mm
Maximum Aperture: F3.5
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: PK
Optics: 8 elements in 8 groups
Blades: 8
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 100cm
Filter Size: 58mm
Weight: 434g
Length: 80-94mm
Production: 1989 to1994
Serial Number: 6870366
Made in: Taiwan
More information on Pentax

Samples:

Pictures taken with Lens Turbo II Adapter

1/1250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/3200 sec - ISO100 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/200 sec - ISO800 - Handheld

1/800 sec - ISO400 - Handheld

1/200 sec - ISO400 - Handheld

1/60 sec - ISO400 - Handheld

Sources:

Wikipedia: Pentax

Pentaxforums

Boijdar Dimitrov's Pentax K-mount Page

Sunday, 14 January 2018

Slippin'n sliding: Sigma Zoom AF-B 1:4-5.6 60-200mm

Cost: $19.99 (average market price $12)

This seems to be an obscure Sigma lens as there is almost no information to find, and it was only in production for one year, so likely not to many samples were made, but it also exists in a manual focus version. On my Sony a600, used with a non electronic Minolta AF-NEX adapter, I have to focus manually. So my review does not include any statement on how well it can auto-focus.

When handling the lens, I started to understand why it was only in production for a year. It kind of sucked... The lens mount is very loosely attached to the lens, although that might be a problem specific to this copy, it sure made for a very wobbly lens. A bigger problem is the zoom creep. This lens is a simple push/pull design, and on the heavy side. When pointing downwards, the outer barrel slowly slides to the maximum tele-end of the lens. It makes this lens unusable for macro, or any situation where you have to point down. The manual focus ring is very slim (the cartled front side of the lens), giving little grip, and the focussing itself has little resistance, making accurate focus difficult to do.

Image quality is nothing special. Regular sharpness, reasonable color, no extensive color fringing. But I did like the smooth bokeh. One other major problem... not sure if it was the adapter, or the lens, but I was not able to get infinity focus. It was just a little out of reach.

So, definitely not a keeper. But for someone who does have a compatible camera with autofocus, it might actually work as a low-market option to reach 200mm. But for me, the slippin'n sliding outer barrel was a deal breaker.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 60-200mm
Maximum Aperture: F4
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: AF
Optics: 12 elements in 9 groups
Blades: 6
Focussing: Manual & Auto Focus
Minimum Focus: 150cm
Filter Size: 52mm Weight: 497g
Length: 84-123mm
Production: 1986-1987
Serial Number: 1001737
Made in: Japan

More information on: Sigma Corporation

Samples: