Herbert Keppler (Pop Photo, formerly - sigh - of Modern Photo) has reported
more than once, and most recently I believe in Feb. or Nov. '97, about how
good these preset teles were and are. The 400mm f/6.3 was quite common for
a while, especially when I was a teenangster first getting into photography
in the early '70s. The 500mm f/8 is more common now and still made. Those
lenses were reportedly made by just a couple of optical makers in those
days, so it doesn't make much difference whose label is on 'em - Spiratone,
Vivitar, Cambron and a zillion others. I've seen more variation in the
current crop of 500/8 lens so apparently more manufacturers have joined the
fray.
Pretty generic lens formula according to Robert Monaghan, who's also a fan
of these lenses. As am I. My single favorite lens is a Lentar preset 135mm
f/3.5, tho' my favorite or most used type of lens is a normal 50mm
f/whatever. The Lentar's bokeh is wonderful. And the preset design gives
me a look at depth of field, a feature missing from my Canon T70 bodies.
That's one reason I'm so anxious to find a compatible T-mount adaptor for my
Vivitar 300mm f/5.6 preset.
As Dave mentioned, the 400/6.3 is relatively light. So is the 500/8.
They're mostly tube with, maybe, three strategically placed elements. But
so are the Zuiko super-teles, looking at the cutaway drawings. Oddly, the
smaller teles like mine *seem* heavier, but that's probably relative to the
length. They feel like nearly solid metal.
Lex
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