Optomax Auto-Zoom 80-250mm f/4.5 - Tokina in disguise!

[ManualFocus-G]

I purchased this back in early 2009 for just £3.20, put it on the shelf and then never touched it again...until last week

Here's the beast:


Optomax Auto-Zoom 80-250/4.5 by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr


Optomax Auto-Zoom 80-250/4.5 (3) by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr


Optomax Auto-Zoom 80-250/4.5 (2) by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

Looks to the same as the Tokina model:


Tokina 80-250 fix 4,5 M42 by jómagam - egyszeriember, on Flickr

Here's some samples from the zoo (small contrast boost and my normal sharpening applied):


Rhino @ Marwell Zoo by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr


Emu @ Marwell Zoo by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr


Ducks @ Marwell by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr


Madarin Duck @ Marwell Zoo by ManualFocus-G, on Flickr

I'm really surprised by it! Certainly good value at £3.20! I'd say wide open it needs a touch of sharpening and it's a bit sharper for closer subjects than those further towards infinity. There is some red/orange fringing, but it's pretty decent overall, in my opinion.

[fatdeeman]

Looks pretty good to me!

[ManualFocus-G]

Thanks I should add that they were shot wide open, except the last one which was f5.6, if I recall correctly.

[Olivier]

Very good for such a zoom !
It seems light conditions were in its favor.

Graham, What about flare and CA ?

[ManualFocus-G]

Flare doesn't seem to be a problem, but there is some orange CA...see the last picture by the feet. I'll stick some crops up later.