You can avoid them but you't escape them: Sigma Zoom-n 1:4-5.6 f28-200mm Multi-Coated

Cost: $19.99 (average market price $20)

 

There are so many Sigma lenses sold of this era that they are difficult to avoid. This one seems rather little documented so far, but it's not that bad of a lens. The range is very attractive, from wide to tele, making this a good allrounder or walkabout lens.

It's pretty top-heavy lens, with a huge large front lens element, but well made. Looks are a little off, so difficult to give an opinion on. Just a matter of taste, if you ask me. As most Sigma lenses of that period, zoom and focus is a little to loose, and makes a nasty bang when reaching the end of the range.

Image quality is OK, with rich colors, and reasonable sharpness for a old zoom. It's a slow lens though, so you loose quality when going indoor or in low light situations. There is also some vignetting present.

So, if you can find one cheap, it's a nice lens to take out if you can only take one lens and do not want to spend tons of money. But, if you are looking for the best quality, buy a few old prime lenses instead.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 28-200mm
Maximum Aperture: F4-5.6
Minimum Aperture: F22
F22 Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: OM
Optics: unknown
Blades: 6
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 250cm (100cm in Macro)
Filter Size: 72mm
Weight: 713g
Length: 114-164mm
Production: unknown
Serial Number: 1009544
Made in: Japan

More information on: Sigma Corporation

Samples:

1/160 sec - ISO500 - Handheld

1/400 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/640 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/160 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/160 sec - ISO6400 - Handheld

1/160 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

Sources:
allphotolenses.com

Not bad at all: Vivitar 70-150mm 1:3.8 Close Focussing Auto Zoom

Cost: $19.99 (average market price $21.38)

There are actually two version of this lens. A one push, and an earlier two push lens. Both were made by Kino Precisions. The one tested here is the two-push version. It's a simple but good looking lens, with a nice retractable hood.

This lens is regarded as one of the better Vivitar zoom lenses of that time. It was possible to also purchase a matched 2x multiplier, developed specifically for this lens, getting you to a whopping 300mm without to much quality loss.

Build and operation are decent, with an all metal build, smooth focus and focal range. The aperture ring could be a little smoother for my taste, but that can just be the age of the lens.

Image quality is very decent with warm colors, and good sharpness across the frame. This is still a very usable lens today, especially with mirror-less camera's.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 70-150mm
Maximum Aperture: F3.8
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Optics: 15 elements in 10 groups
Blades: 6
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 150cm (40cm in macro mode)
Filter Size: 52mm
Weight: 585g
Length: 114-120mm
Production: Around 1980
Serial Number: 22760239
Made in: Japan

More information on: Vivitar Corporation
More info on: Kino Precision Industries Limited

Samples

1/1600 sec - ISO200 - Handheld

1/160 sec - ISO125 - Handheld

1/1000 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/400 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/200 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/1250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

Sources:

Pentax Forums

flikr.com

Promissing Range: Kalimar MC Auto Zoom/Macro 1:3.5-4.8 f=35-200mm

Cost: $39.99 (average market price $15)

Yet another Kalimar, but this time with the very useful range of 35 to 200mm. With a cost of $39.99, I probably paid to much again, but as there was no shipping with a local thrift store, that would still be a reasonable total price for a reasonable lens on eBay.

And yes, this is a reasonable lens. Nice colors, and sharp in the mid to close zoom and distance range, and especially with the Macro. Less sharp in extended zoom, or infinity focus. There is also some tenancy for vignetting, and a strong urge for flares. That latter could be nice if you want flare effects within the picture, but more often it happens when not desired.

This lens is average looking, with a solid metal build and a rubber zoom barrel. Focus is rather snappy, and zoom and aperture rings are smooth. I personally like the looks with the lens getting wider at the end. The Macro function is accessed by pressing a button and moving the zoom lens beyond the regular focus range. Zoom will be limited in this mode.

It's not a bad lens when used for the right pictures, and the range of 35mm to 200mm is very useful. It's a tad slow, and the tendency for flaring is annoying. It was a fun lens to play with, but it's not the all-rounder I would take with me when travelling. There are just a few issues too many like the flaring, lack of sharpness with infinity focus, and the not so little weight that you need to carry around. But for a nice afternoon stroll, it's the perfect lens to take with you.

MC: Multi-coated: chemical coating to combat partial reflection.

Auto: Ability to mechanically communicate aperture information to the camera. Does not work on current digital camera's.

Lens specification:

Focal Length: 35-200mm

Maximum Aperture: F3.5-4.8
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: MD
Optics: ?
Blades: 6
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 160cm
Filter Size: 67mm
Weight: 686g
Length: 126-167mm
Production: ?
Serial Number: 102587
Made in: Japan

More information on Kalimar

Samples:

1/160 sec - ISO200 - Handheld

1/320 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/500 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/100 sec - ISO6400 - Handheld

1/80 sec - ISO6400 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/100 sec - ISO6400 - Handheld

1/20 sec - ISO40 - Handheld

1/640 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/250 sec - ISO100 - Handheld

Still a basic lens: Yashica Lens ML 50mm 1:2

Cost: $14.99 (average market price $25)

And here we go with yet another Yashica ML lens. After the Yashica ML 50mm 1:1.9, it's now time for it's brother, the 50mm 1:2.0. Still a very small lens, but a little larger then it's 1.9 brother.

Some say these Yashica lenses are as good as Zeiss lenses. I would not make that statement, but they are pretty good and can hold their own.

Build quality is again nice with clear lettering, and both zoom and aperture are smooth to use. "Snaps" really easy into focus. A real pleasure to use.

Image quality is great, with perfect color rendering and very little color aberration. With center to frame sharpness, I like it a little more then the 1.9 version, but different copies might vary.

After reviewing these two lenses, I can't wait to find some other Yashica 50mm lenses. I believe there is a 1.7 and a 1.4 version, and not to mention a mouth watering 55mm 1.2.

Yashica DSB lenses are single coated, ML lenses are multi coated (ML stands for Multi-Layer) and were later renamed as MC for Multi Coated. Contrary to the quality jump from DSB to ML, there is no distinguishable quality difference between ML and MC lenses.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 50mm
Maximum Aperture: F2.0
Minimum Aperture: F16
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: C/Y
Optics: 6 elements, 4 groups
Blades: 6
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 5cm
Filter Size: 52mm
Weight: 161g
Length: 32-40mm
Production: unknown
Serial Number: A908630948
Made in: Japan

More information on: Yashica

Samples

1/320sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/320sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/160sec - ISO125 - Handheld

1/2000sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/500sec - ISO100 - Handheld

1/160sec - ISO3200 - Handheld

1/160sec - ISO2500 - Handheld

1/160sec - ISO5000 - Handheld

1/160 sec - ISO1250 - Handheld

Sources:
All Photo Lenses
cdegroot.com
flikr.com