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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 10541
Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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 Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2023 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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visualopsins wrote:
| Oldhand wrote: |
| Tord55 wrote: |
| scsambrook wrote: |
I have a 20mm f3.5 Cosina which is an interesting mix of good and not good. Compared to my other lenses, it's seemingly wider than 20mm, which is good. It doesn't show an objectionable amount of vignetting nor is it particularly susceptible to flair. It's actually better than my Voigtlander 21mm Leica mount lens in that respect, but it hasn't as much contrast. It's nicely made, as far as I can tell without seeing it dismantled and in pieces.
The not-so-good good part is the de-centering which makes the definition fall away considerably towards one side of the image. Quality control as Messrs Cosina seemingly wasn't a priority when it was made. It's not particularly sharp wide open, but then it's an inexpensive ultra-wide angle lens - let's not forget it's a film-era design meant for 24x36 format. And it isn't ever as sharp at any aperture as my Voigtlander 21mm is wide open. At least, not on film or on my Leica M8. But used on my Lumix M4/3 camera it actually makes images that look better on screen than the Voigtlander ones. So . . . not brilliant, but not bad for what it cost when new. |
Agree about all said about this little wonder, excellent for focus-stacking, manually, but not the sharpest lens ever made.
Original poster posted in 03, very soon 20 years ago! How time flies! I was around 50 in those days! Sigh.
By the way, mine is a 20/3.5 not a 3.8, bought new in 2015, or so. |
Welcome to the forum Tord
Actually the original post was in 2014, but it's still a ways back.
Of course many of the current Voigtlander MF lenses are made by Cosina and are quite special as well. The 58mm f1.4 is exceptional
pics |
Welcome Tord!
@Oldhand -- nice wave! (just curious, how long a wait?)
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Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51BB), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013
Posts: 6009
Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2023 4:52 am Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
@Oldhand -- nice wave! (just curious, how long a wait?)[/quote]
Thank you.
Not long, if the swells are far enough apart - the swell hits the cliffs and the backwash collides with the next swell.
Cheers
Tom |
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Phalbert
Joined: 17 May 2009
Posts: 359
Location: Namibia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2023 7:18 am Post subject: |
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Phalbert wrote:
When the first generation of the 28-200s were marketed, Vivitar sold its first being a MF 3,5 - 5,3 (not 5,6) which I think was made y Cosina. Solid and heavy. That specific lens had very good reviews and is still used today by many. Now let's consider it for what it is. A cheap all around, better reaching improvement over a kit zoom of the time. In that category, this lens was probably the best. (that is, before the Tamrons and others with special glass)
It is not to be confused with the later not-so-good 28-210 f 3,8-5,6. and should only be compared with lenses in the same league. I have read things like: "My 100 macro is much better... etc..."
I wouldn't mind having a mint copy of one of these early Viv but with time those still around are plagued by haze and dust.
EDIT:
OK guys. I just see websites claiming that lens was made by Kobori, not Cosina. I'm leaving the posting for now. It might be helpfull still. 🤷♀️
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013
Posts: 6009
Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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| Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2023 7:37 am Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
| Phalbert wrote: |
When the first generation of the 28-200s were marketed, Vivitar sold its first being a MF 3,5 - 5,3 (not 5,6) which I think was made y Cosina. Solid and heavy. That specific lens had very good reviews and is still used today by many. Now let's consider it for what it is. A cheap all around, better reaching improvement over a kit zoom of the time. In that category, this lens was probably the best. (that is, before the Tamrons and others with special glass)
It is not to be confused with the later not-so-good 28-210 f 3,8-5,6. and should only be compared with lenses in the same league. I have read things like: "My 100 macro is much better... etc..."
I wouldn't mind having a mint copy of one of these early Viv but with time those still around are plagued by haze and dust.
EDIT:
OK guys. I just see websites claiming that lens was made by Kobori, not Cosina. I'm leaving the posting for now. It might be helpfull still. 🤷♀️ |
Yes there were several versions of the early super zooms from Vivitar.
Cosina did make one, but you are right - the best of them came from Kobori
Tom |
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cyberjunkie
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Posts: 282
Location: Chiang Mai, Bologna, Amsterdam
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:09 am Post subject: |
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cyberjunkie wrote:
The fifties made by Cosina are decent to good. The most interesting is the 1.2/55mm (also sold as Porst), but I strongly prefer the Tomioka design (available in different brands/versions, mine is marked Revuenon and is one of my favourite lenses).
The Vivitar/Cosina 3.8/19mm is also more than decent, and even better is the 2/28mm (mine is branded Petri and is in PK mount).
All the Cosina-made zooms I tried were forgettable. Including the 100-500mm marked Vivitar, that does not deserve the "Series 1" moniker.
Cheers
Paolo
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Pentax Bodies: 6x7, K2, MX, LX, Super A, Z-1, K-1, K-5 II, K-01, K10D, K200D
Other cameras: Leica CL, Leica M5, Rolleiflex, Mamiya Super 23, Horizont, and many bellows cameras from 4x5" to 8x10"
- Shooting only digital recently, FF and APS-C
- Collecting vintage large format lenses (plenty of them  )
- Looking for Pentax-A* 200mm Macro and Pentax-A* 1.8/135mm, Sigma 150mm or 180mm Macro PK, Sigma 50-500 AF PK, Enna 1.5/85mm M42; selling Pentacon Six/Pentax 67/Mamiya Press/Leica M/Rolleiflex/4x5"/Manfrotto stuff
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Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013
Posts: 6009
Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:38 am Post subject: |
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Oldhand wrote:
| cyberjunkie wrote: |
The fifties made by Cosina are decent to good. The most interesting is the 1.2/55mm (also sold as Porst), but I strongly prefer the Tomioka design (available in different brands/versions, mine is marked Revuenon and is one of my favourite lenses).
The Vivitar/Cosina 3.8/19mm is also more than decent, and even better is the 2/28mm (mine is branded Petri and is in PK mount).
All the Cosina-made zooms I tried were forgettable. Including the 100-500mm marked Vivitar, that does not deserve the "Series 1" moniker.
Cheers
Paolo |
I agree.
The Revuenon is excellent
Tom |
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Doc Sharptail
Joined: 23 Nov 2020
Posts: 993
Location: Winnipeg Canada
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| Posted: Sat Mar 18, 2023 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Doc Sharptail wrote:
Cosina made "Image" store branded 70-210mm f4.5-5.6 second from right in photo above.
It's small size is convenient.
Performance wise, it's a bit of a mix.
At 210mm and f8 here, at minimum focus distance.
The razor thin depth of focus is quite apparent.
Much improved at 70mm and f8.
Exhibiting a bit of "character" here at 210mm and f5.6.
Good performance on moderately distant subjects- about 55 meters here.
This is already in the very short end of the short focus throw, and quite time consuming to focus precisely.
At f8 and 70mm here. This image heavily corrected in post~ the lens wants to over-expose a bit at -15C. It clears up and shoots normally at -10C.
At 210mm and f8 with the same corrections in post as the image above.
Pushing the camera to the "vivid" I/Q setting helps boost things a lot when contrast is flat and muddy.
210mm wide open.
A good all-around lens if one is patient and has time to focus at moderately long distances.
The slow over-all speed of this lens is no real detriment in good daylight.
The long minimum focus distance is a bit of a let down, but at the time this was made, that was the trade-off for the compact size.
-D.S.
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35mm f2 O.C. nikkor
50 f2 H nikkor, 50 f 1.4 AI-s, 135 f3.5 Q,
50 f2 K nikkor 2x, 28-85mm f3.5-4.5 A/I-s, 35-105 3.5-4.5 A/I-s, 200mm f4 Micro A/I, partial list.
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"Oh Yeah... Alright" -Paul Simon |
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