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Re: [OM] 300/4.5+1.4X lenstest

Subject: Re: [OM] 300/4.5+1.4X lenstest
From: PCACala@xxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 15:28:37 EST
Ulf writes:

> First of all, I'd like to thank you for all the lenstests you've performed,
>  an astonishing feat (I hope you have great  discount on film!) A very great
>  aid for us all.

I had a bargain on the first 8 rolls, but now its eating me alive, esp. since
I insist on same day processing so I can do timely returns of borrowed lenses.
Good thing I'm committed.

>  I'm just wondering if I'm the only one puzzled by your listed performance
of
>  the 300/4.5+1.4x combo. IMO this delivers very good results that are hard
to
>  distinguish from the 300/4.5 going solo. It certainly doesn't fit with my
>  experiences. As long as my technique has been correct, I can tell you of
>  images as sharp and contrasty as one would just care to wish for.

The 1.4X teleconverter was in superb shape, the 300mm f/4.5 in a 8- shape.
I'm finding that with use and abuse we can expect diminished performance from
a Zuiko, esp. at wide apertures which require the strictest of tolerances.
I'm slowly retesting my lens collection with much better grade examples from
List members.  It's a hit or miss process, so I have no idea when I'd get
around to doing another 300mm f/4.5  Plus the chances of having both it and a
1.4X available at the same is rather low.

My retest of a 100mm f/2.8 (my old SC vs. a nice MC) was a real eye opener
which got me looking at resampling in cases where the results aren't as
expected.  BTW, I don't figure that camera vibration was a factor in the 300mm
plus 1.4X test.  That combo balances nicely on the 300mm trip socket using my
hefty Bogen 3040/3047 combo - unextended.

Last night I did the SQF values for a 35-70mm f/3.5~4.8 S Zuiko, a 17mm f/3.5
Vivitar, a 90mm f/2.5 Vivitar Series 1 and a 200mm f/2.3 Vivitar Series 1.
I'll likely have them posted on my WWW site within the next 24 hours.  There
are mostly in the B range, with the 17mm showing strong vignetting and barrel
distortion - not in the same class with the 18mm Zuiko!  The 200mm Vivitar
doesn't get good till f/8.  Rather like the 200mm Zuikos at larger apertures,
but better stopped down.

I will post along with my SQF's the Popular Photography SQF ratings at 20x24"
enlargement for the S Zuiko.  There aren't enough consistencies to draw
conclusions, though.  But where they gave A's, I gave B's or B+'s.  Where they
gave an F to the 35mm setting at f/3.5, I gave a C+ (center) and B- (corner).
Hum, sample variability . . .  There weren't any A- or A's in that S Zuiko,
for anyone who is wondering.

Gary Reese
Las Vegas, NV

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