Playing With Lenses: May 2017

Saturday 27 May 2017

Niiiiiceeeee: RMC Tokina 135mm 1:2.8

Cost: 17.99$ (average market price 40.44$)

As they say, it's hard to screw up a prime lens... And this lens is the proof in the pudding. Nice colors, lots of details and sharpness, good contrast, easy to focus. In short, a pleasure to take out and have some fun with. And very little correction to be done in Lightroom. Rumor has that it also has a nice bokeh, but I did not try on this session.

Solid, good looking, all-metal build with integrated extendable hood and fairly compact for a 133mm. Smooth focussing with exactly the right resistance. Fast enough so I did not have to go to high on my ISO.

I like this lens! It will be added to my collection of lenses I actual will use aside from a first test. Will have to look out for some other Tokina Prime lenses.

RMC, or Rainbow Multi Coated, stands for a multiple of chemical coatings for lens surfaces with minimum light loss. The result is a dramatic improvement in both color fidelity and brightness and the elimination of flare and ghost images.

Lens Specification:
Focal Length: 135mm
Maximum Aperture: F2.8
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Pentax PK
Optics: 4 Elements
Blades: 6
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 150cm
Filter Size: 52mm
Weight: 400g
Length: 75-90mm
Production: 1970's
Serial Number: 7905336
Made in: Japan

More information on: Tokino Co., Ltd

Samples:

All pictures taken with the Lens Turbo II adapter

1/400s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/320s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/800s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/1000s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/1250s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/125s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/640s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/320s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/500s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/800s - ISO500 - Handheld

1/320s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/100s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/500s - ISO200 - Handheld

1/640s - ISO200 - Handheld

Sources:
Pentaxforums
All Photo Lenses

Sunday 21 May 2017

Can a Tele Converter replace an expensive Super Tele? Vivitar MC Tele Converter 2X-22

Cost: free, came with a lens (average market price $8)

Can a cheap Tele Converter with a sharp lens replace an expensive Super Tele? The answer is "Hell No!" But I had to try...

I used the Tele Convertor with a sharp lens I tested before, the Tau/Five Star 200mm 1:4.5 MC. The results were lacking in contrast, not sharp at all, and a lot of chromatic aberration. On top, you loose a full stop, so I had to shoot in much higher ISO and there was hardly enough sharpness, light and contrast for the Peak Focus feature to work. So lot's of pictures that were out of focus.

In all fairness, results might be better with a higher end Tele Converter with more elements... I will not be using this one again...

Tele Converter Specification:

Conversion Factor: 2X
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Pentax PK
Optics: 4 Elements, 2 Groups
Weight: 134g
Length: 25mm
Production: unknown
Made in: Japan

More information on: Vivitar Corporation

Samples:

1/800s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/640s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/500s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/800s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/500s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1250s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/800s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/640s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1000s - ISO2000 - Handheld - Cropped

1/3200s - ISO1600 - Handheld - Cropped

1/640s - ISO2000 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1000s - ISO2000 - Handheld - Cropped

Pentax Forums

Sunday 14 May 2017

Good enough! Vivitar 70-210 1:4.5 MC Macro Focussing Zoom

Cost: 17$ (average market price $35)

As a no core manufacturer brand, I wasn't expecting to much. Although the lens is made of solid metal, the front barrel was a little wobbly. And the lens is kind of narrow for a big zoom lens of that time, resulting in a rather slow 4.5 maximum aperture. But it actually performed better then I expected, once I compensated with some extra ISO.

Very easy to focus, even for small subjects as a bird in an open sky (below picture of the Osprey was cropped extensively). Push and pull type, and when in focus, it remains in focus when zooming in or out. Good and fast enough to take a reasonable sharp picture of a heron in flight. I don't think that the other photographers in the reserve, using mouth watering 500mm Canon lenses, were that much better. I was also reasonable for Macro with a nice smooth Bokeh (red flower below) and enough detail to see the pollens on the bee's body.

All in all, a nice lens. Nothing to rave about, and it will not win beauty contests, but better then the price I paid would indicate. Will need to try some of the other Vivitar lenses I own.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 70-210mm
Maximum Aperture: F4.5
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Pentax PK
Optics: 8 Elements, 12 Groups
Blades: 6
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 160cm (110cm in macro mode)
Filter Size: 52mm
Weight: 530g
Length: 135mm
Production: 1980's
Serial Number: 77331609
Made in: Japan (by Kobori)
More information on: Vivitar Corporation
More information on: Kobori Manufacturing, Inc

Samples:
All pictures taken with the Lens Turbo II adapter