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[OM] Re: Advice on vivitar lens

Subject: [OM] Re: Advice on vivitar lens
From: "Lex Jenkins" <lexjenkins@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2001 22:27:46
John, I've quoted from the "cult classics" section of the Jeff Albro/Robert Monaghan site regarding the Vivitar Series 1 35-80/2.8 - sounds like a good 'un, and much better suited to the diminutive OM than my Fat Viv 28-90/2.8-3.5:

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"Vivitar Series I 35-85mm f/2.8

"This Series I lens provides a wide angle to short telephoto capability in a lens only 3.6 inches long that weighs only 26 ounces. Like its cousins, this Series I lens features a short ten inch close focus range providing a 1:3.5 reproduction ratio. What is more important is that the lens is very sharp throughout this range, with excellent contrast too (thanks to VMC multi-coating). Again, the lens is large in diameter, requiring a 72mm filter, but providing a reasonably fast f/2.8 constant aperture throughout its range.

"How could Vivitar provide optimal sharpness with such a zoom in the late 1970s that still holds up to the professional standards of the 1990s? The answer lay in abandoning true zoom action, and substituting a vari-focal zoom. With a vari-focal zoom, you have to re-focus the lens every time you change the focal length. But this trick frees the optical designer to maximize the lens sharpness and quality.

"This mechanical dual focusing control complexity puts off many users spoiled by true zooms. Consequently, you can often find this sharp zoom selling for surprisingly low prices (Cf. list $400 in 1978). But as its cult status gets better known, those bargains may be harder and harder to find!"
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Regarding the varifocal design requiring refocusing after changing the focal length, I've never found that to hinder my shooting speed. Vivitar thoughtfully (or serendipitously) combined a focusing throw that's short enough to facilitate quick refocusing without being so short it's touchy and difficult to focus accurately.

$90 for the lens in the advertised condition sounds very reasonable to me. In comparison I've seen the Series 1 28-90/2.8-3.5 varifocal priced at $120-$185, and would readily grab one at the lower end of this range.
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Lex Jenkins
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From: "John Duggan" <john.duggan1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 20:33:55 -0000

...comments on the...Vivitar series 1 35-85 f2.8...
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