Vivitar Series 1, K 45-125 f/4.0, Kiron 70-150 f/3.8, DA 50-200 f/4.0-5.6What have I done!
I am in the process of trimming my gears and I can't find the logical choices as all four lens are similar and I like them all. In lure of my efforts in cutting down my gear to the minimal, I target to cut 2 out of the four. My ideal is to sell them all and save for DA* 50-135 but that would be sometime to come
- Pentax DA 50-200 f/4.0-5.6
- http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2007/07/photozonede-pentax-da-50-200-review.html
- I use this most often
- I find the AF and the range ideal for my boy's portrait
- I find it the lightest and the best suited for traveling
- I sold this lens before and later regret the small weight and versatility and hence I bought it about 2 months after I sold the lens
- I can roughly get back $100 to $130
- Penatx K 45-125 f/4.0
- http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/04/pentax-k-45-125mm-f40-test-shots.html
- This is a rare find for K mount lens. I can roughly get back $125 to $150 for the lens
- It has the best color among the three but it is very heavy like a DA* 50-135 and I call it the poor man's choice of DA* zoom
- It has one touch zoom design with fast focusing and zooming ability
- The lens is front heavy and zoom ring tends to fall towards the front
- The lens is best for portraits for its range. The fast focusing and zooming is also a great character of this rare lens
- Though not super fast, I find the constant f/4.0 plenty for the zoom
- http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/04/pentax-k-45-125mm-f40-test-shots.html
- Kiron 70-150 f/3.8
- http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/03/vivitar-70-150-f38-kiron-test-shots.html
- I probably get back $40 to $80
- It is well built and the cutest among the three for its small size. All metal build and it is a great bargain from Kiron.
- It is very sharp, the sharpness is better than DA 50-200 but I can't tell if it is in par with K 45-125. In terms of color and contrast, the two Pentax does better.
- http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/03/vivitar-70-150-f38-kiron-test-shots.html
- Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/3.5 Macro (from Tokina)
- I have not reveiwed this lens. But a previous purchase of the version #1 of Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/3.5 1:2.2 Macro from Kiron left me a pleasant memory on the Series 1 zoom with constant speed. The Kiron is truly phenomenal in terms of color, contrast and sharpness but it weighs 879g and the lesser weight of 710g in Tokina version #2 in the series 1 get me to buy again
- I probably get back $40 to $80
- Construction is not as good as the Kiron but it is still well built
- Weight at 710g is reasonable for a fast lens with constant aperture at f/3.5
- Macro is weaker on this lens and I think it is 1:4 in close up. Not as good as the Kiron version but I have problem with the Kiron in hand-holding for close up at 879g.
- I have not reveiwed this lens. But a previous purchase of the version #1 of Vivitar Series 1 70-210 f/3.5 1:2.2 Macro from Kiron left me a pleasant memory on the Series 1 zoom with constant speed. The Kiron is truly phenomenal in terms of color, contrast and sharpness but it weighs 879g and the lesser weight of 710g in Tokina version #2 in the series 1 get me to buy again
So far, based on my usage pattern, my Kiron 70-150 f/3.8 is probably the first candidate to go as I use it the least. But that lens is the cutest among the three. It is well constructed lens from Kiron. I will sure miss its sharpness and size. It is a shame that I get into owning similar lens before I realize that I have lens not used in my gear.
Kiron 70-150 f/3.8, DA 50-200What I have learned:
- Think twice about buying lens of similar focal range. Ask yourself if the new one is a replacement or something that you expect better in the newer gear.
- Follow up with testing to find the winner and trim the loser
- Have an exit plan if new lens don't match up with expectations.
- Have another exit plan if you like both just as much -- toss the coin, ask others for ideas or sleep on it.
- Access risk of in-decision in trimming
- Don't rush into selling, take the time to rate each lens with use and do comparison for my own liking
- For the least used gear, it is time to take it out and test it out again as a brand new gear. It is like a new gear old stock to be debuted with pictures
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