Aftermarket Lenses

[Deleted]

Speaking of the quality of aftermarket lenses: I shot these today with the D300 using an ai manual focus Tokina 80-200 f2.8 zoom (300mm with the digital factor). f5.6, iso 320. The first photo shows a full frame, 2 and three show enlargements. On all the photos I shot RAW images then processed them in Nikon Capture NX.

On the plus side I probably paid 1/3 to 1/4 of what I would have had to pay for an 80-200 f2.8 Nikkor MF zoom. On the minus side , these older zooms tend to be heavier and less compact than the new models.

[PeterW]

Beautifully clear pictures, Wayne.

I've also had excellent results from a Tokina 80-200mm zoom with Canon mount, though mine's f/4.5 not 2.8.

I was also really surprised by the quality of an Optomax 300mm prime which I picked up for next to nothing from a part-time dealer, and from the Russian Tair 300mm prime which is part of my Photosniper kit.

PeterW

[Deleted]

Peter

I've heard good things about the Optomax and Tair lenses but have never owned one. The Tair on the Photosniper is legendary.

Wayne

[mickeyobe]

Wayne,

They are splendid pictures. One couldn't ask for anything more. Good photographer too.

I have used Vivitar Series I, 70<210mm (the original) and Vivitar Series I, 24<70mm ( This lens must have been a dog because it vanished frome dealers shelves shortly after it was introduced). However it became my "standard" lens. Perhaps I accidentally got a good one.

I also have a Sigma 70<210mm lens as a concession to my somewhat waning muscles.
These lenses have been used for a long time with my Canon FD's and I have been completely happy with them, both optically and mechanically.


On my Pentax K100D I have the Pentax kit lens and a Tamron Adaptall lens. The jury is still out on both of them.

Mickey

[Deleted]

Another--really stretching to the limit.

[Deleted]

Mickey:

Our daughter and son-in-law have a Pentax K110D--my understanding the same as you K100D but without image stabilization. I bought them a Promaster 80-200 zoom for the Pentax film model they previously had and it seems to do a good job on the digital, too. I have a 28-105 Promaster I used on my D100 when we went to Europe last year and it does a good job on the D300, too. Promaster is a house brand--mine allegedly made by Tamron but I don't know enough about the modern brands to tell. Besides, their stuff may come from Tamron one year and Sigma the next.