I already had a Vivitar 19-35 before I found the list and I've been
following posts about these 2 lenses since then.
As far as I can recall, there have been many direct comments about
mechanical characteristics and very few direct comments on performance.
Lots of "It's my understanding" and "I've heard", but very little
substantive.
Everyone agrees the Samyang is metal and heavy and the Vivitar is
plastic and light.
Everyone assumes the plastic one won't hold up. However, no one has
reported any mechanical problems with it.
The current Phoenix is identical to the Vivitar 'Series 1', but the
Samyang may also have been sold under the Phoenix name?
There seems to be a common assumption that metal construction is somehow
mystically associated with superior optics. Yet several list members
have made comments about the plastic one along the lines of "I can't
believe it will hold up, but it takes great pictures (and is so cheap I
can just buy another if it breaks after a few years)"
The only direct test I recall is Walt Wayman's 5/4/02 post comparing the
plastic 19-35 to the Zuiko 21/2.0 "When I got the slides back, I had a
hard time telling which ones were shot with which lens. It took close
scrutiny with a 10X loupe and some head scratching to decide on most."
I've taken several shots I think look technically great on 4x6 prints
with the 19-35, but none that I thought were
photographically/artistically interesting enougth to do anything more
with (yet?).
I just don't think there is enough evidence at hand to judge which is
the optically better lens.
Moose
Marten Beels wrote:
It is my understanding this this lens is better in both build quality and
optical performance then the
Phoenix/Vivitar, which I found out right after I bought my Series 1 19-35.
Maybe we can negotiate a trade!?!?
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