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From: cff@uvaee.UUCP (Chuck Ferrara)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: Re: Re: 35-105 mm lense for Canon
Message-ID: <188@uvaee.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 14-Feb-85 15:48:04 EST
Article-I.D.: uvaee.188
Posted: Thu Feb 14 15:48:04 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Feb-85 20:26:51 EST
References: <256@wdl1.UUCP>
Organization: EE Dept., U of Virginia, Charlottesville
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> Aobut the Canon/Kiron/etc. debate:
> 
> Actually, the lens mount is very expensive to manufacture.  Most off-brand
> lenses are not as durable or well balanced as the native (like Canon)
> lens.  This really does matter if you are going to do a lot of motor
> drive photography, or change lenses a lot (like the newspaper stuff that
> I did in school).  Focusing and zooming cams are also expensive to do
> right.  They should be smooth, tight, and need a minimum of lubrication.
> The same is true for the aperature and the stop-down mechanisms (this
> is what falls apart during motor drive use).
> 
> I always use fixed focal lengths anyway.  I figured that I would never
> have enough money to buy a really good zoom anyway.  Now I have the
> money, but I'm too attached to my 35/2 and my 85/1.8 (talk about sharp!)
> to carry around a nasty, slow, heavy zoom lens.
> 
> So why do I carry around my heavy F-1?   I don't know.
> 
> -- photo by w. underwood

	You're right about the durability of off brand lenses, as far as I
can tell. I own 2 Vivitar lenses, each of which has had problems, while
my 3 Minolta Rokkors (50/1.7, 135/3.5 & 250/5.6) have been trouble free 
(although the 250 is still brand new and has no aperature ring or 
diphragm to worry about).
	My Vivitar Series 1 28-90 zoom (still under warantee) had to be repaired
for a loose zoom collar. It was clunking every time I shook the camera.
It's a sharp lens and fast (f/2.8-3.5) for a zoom, but it's bulky and weighs
a ton. I know it's not as sharp as a fixed focal length lens, but it's worth
it for not having to switch lenses all the time.
	I also own a Vivitar 28 mm f/2, which had its diaphragm crap out after
4 years. It had oil on the diaphragm and cost $30 to clean. Admittedlty, it's 
been through alot. I regularly take my equipment backpacking in all kinds of
weather and these lenses have seen everthing from -15 to +100 degrees.
	Both lenses are working fine now and I hope these problems were one
time flukes.