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From: michaelk@azure.UUCP (Michael Kersenbrock)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: good 70-210 zoom?
Message-ID: <112@azure.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Nov-84 13:43:01 EST
Article-I.D.: azure.112
Posted: Fri Nov  9 13:43:01 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Nov-84 20:45:08 EST
References: <1433@ihuxl.UUCP>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 25

I recently purchased the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f2.8-4 zoom lens for
my Pentax Super Program (yes, Vivitar now has at least something with
the KA mount).  I bought it for pretty much the reasons already mentioned
(SMOOTH, easy to move one-touch that DOESN'T slip, reasonably fast speed,
and compact for it's type).  Not having a Nikon zoom lens for my pentax,
it is hard to compare personally, but so far (about 1.5 months), I have
no complaints about the optical quality.  I have not yet used it for
any demanding situations as yet.  The most demanding I've used it
for is when I attended the DAVIS CUP semifinals (ag'n Australia) and
took a roll of pic's with it zoom'd to 210 (mostly, although I was in the
eighth row, center side) and the lens wide open ("natural" coliseum lighting) 
for a shutter speed of 2 mS.  True, the film was a fast one, but the grain in
the corner was sharp :-).  The len's continuous transition into "macro mode"
is excellent.  It doesn't have a clear "mode" as such, but continues
focusing below the "normal" 5 foot (whatever) range such that  above this
point (to infinity) is the normal true-zoom lens, and below this point
down to the "end" is vari-focal.  At the "end", is the "Macro mode" mark
where it is "true-zoom" again ("variable reproduction ratio").  The
ratio at this point "zooms" between 2.5 and 11, and the sharpness is 
excellent.  

Mike Kersenbrock
Tektronix Microcomputer Development Products
Aloha, Oregon