Standard zoom with non-rotating front element?

pureaxis · Joined: 07 Dec 2017 Posts: 19

I been looking for a standard zoom (anywhere between 28 to 80) with non-rotating front element. It seems most lenses of this type like the common 35-70mm (or 28-50mm) rotates on focusing. Any recommendations?

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

A quick look through the dozen or so short zooms I've got only produces two lenses with a non rotating front end. One is the autofocus kit zoom Pentax 18-55 that came with my old Pentax K10 - which is a very good kit lens. But, for a manual focus lens the superb Vivitar Series 1 VMC 28-90 / 2.8 3.5 is everything you want, it's a superb lens.

( and I happen to have a Canon FD mount one for sale because I've got three of them Rolling Eyes

)

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

I have a C/Y Vivitar S1 28-90 like Lloydy. I need a proper adapter for mine.
It seems that a rotating front was a very popular cost savings measure employed by nearly all manufacturers, it's generally one of my least liked features in lens design.

kypfer · Joined: 27 Sep 2017 Posts: 516 Location: Jersey C.I.

A bit wider range than a "standard" zoom, the Tamron Adaptall-2 28-200mm type 171A (NOT the more common 71A) has a non-rotating front element and should come with a "flower petal" type lens hood. The only down-side, the filter thread is 72mm. Nevertheless, a very fine lens!

pureaxis · Joined: 07 Dec 2017 Posts: 19

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

I just took a look at all the zooms I own in that focal range and I found three:

The aforementioned Vivitar S1 28-90
The Vivitar S1 28-105 (replaced the 28-90 in the late '80s and not quite as good)
The Tamron SP 24-48 (an excellent lens -- compact, but with a limited focal range)

I can highly recommend the Vivitar 28-90 and the Tamron 24-48. The Vivitar 28-105 is a good lens, just not as good as the 28-90. But if you're looking for something small, relatively lightweight and compact, you might want to seriously consider that Tamron.

The Vivitar 28-90 was my walking around lens for years. That was back when I shot film and used old (and heavy) manual, mechanical SLRs. I didn't even think about how much it all weighed -- and I still try not to when I'm out shooting with the old stuff.

Lightshow · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary

pureaxis, I'm not a huge fan of zooms because they tend to be big compared to primes, or they have short ranges that are barely any more convenient than a prime.

blotafton · Joined: 08 Aug 2013 Posts: 1554 Location: Sweden

Makinon 28-80mm f/3.5. This lens is unusual by having the zoom ring on the top ring and the focus ring down by the mount.

On fullframe 28mm has heavy vignetting. 80mm is nice: https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/2403588625/download/3403489

kievuser · Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 551

I have an Olympus zuiko 35-70/3.6 that has a non-rotating front element. It was the second best standard zoom lens by Olympus next to the rare and much more expensive 35-80/2.8.

kypfer · Joined: 27 Sep 2017 Posts: 516 Location: Jersey C.I.

If you don't mind something a little more wide-angle, look out for the Sigma 21-35mm. It's got a built-in lens hood, so swapping filters and using a polariser is a little more fiddly, but it's a nice piece of glass!

pureaxis · Joined: 07 Dec 2017 Posts: 19

blotafton · Joined: 08 Aug 2013 Posts: 1554 Location: Sweden

This one, it's constant aperture unlike other versions.

0.23m mfd, 1:4 macro. Don't remember if it's varifocal but I have found that most lenses have to be refocused anyway.

3dpan · Joined: 05 Nov 2017 Posts: 65 Location: New Zealand

Probably too bulky/heavy for you, but very interesting though. And affordable.
The Vivitar Series 1, 35-85mm, constant f2.8.
The front element rotates a little on zooming, but not on focusing. Definitely front heavy on m4/3.
Short focus throw, 90 degrees from infinity to closeup.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

I have the Vivitar S1 35-85 f/2.8. Sharpness is better described as softness when wide open. Stopped down to about f/8 or so and it's pretty decent. But it is a rather large and bulky lens because of its constant f/2.8 aperture.

I have two more lenses to add to your list of lenses to consider. They're both AF lenses, though. The Tamron 28-105mm f/4-5.6 AF (IF) and the SMC Pentax FA 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 -AL-. The Pentax came with a ZX-7 camera I picked up recently, and I suspect the two sold as an outfit, since the lens is a brushed chrome finish, same as the camera. The Tamron has the Pentax PK-A mount. If I had to guess, I'd date it from the early to mid-90s because it looks very similar to a Tamron 24-70mm zoom I bought back in 1994. Both lenses have large zoom collars but rather narrow focusing rings, but they can still be used as MF lenses without too much difficulty.

Sciolist · Expire: 2021-04-16

My Pentax M 40-80 (2.8-4.0) is non-rotating to zoom. It does however rotate to focus.

willy35 · Joined: 17 Jul 2017 Posts: 97 Location: BREIZH

pureaxis · Joined: 07 Dec 2017 Posts: 19

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

I think it is safe to say the most zooms, regardless of whether they're two-ring or push-pull have rotating front elements. Non-rotating ones are the exception, it would appear.

Sciolist · Expire: 2021-04-16