I am always in the lookout for inexpensive lens for my Pentax gear. A month agon, I even thought about selling my Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 to save money for a 2nd system. When I was asked about my replacement, I thought long and hard and tried to avoid the question. But the closest lens in my gear that matches the focal length is this Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron with two touch zoom designs. After I abandoned my idea in selling my DA* zoom, I just get a chance to try this Kiron zoom and it is found reasonably sharp like my previous version of Kiron 70-150mm f/3.8 one touch zoom ring. The size and weight is definitely bigger and heavier in this lens but the two touch zoom ring design is what I like about this lens the most.
The two touch zoom ring allow me to lock in a focal range without slight alternation and lets me concentrate on SR length accuracy, stop-down metering, and framing. The one touch zoom ring as in Pentax K 45-125mm f/4.0, Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm series, and many manual lens has a common problem in shifting the focal length upon focusing as the zoom ring is shared in both zooming and focusing.
let to rightVivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron -- this lens
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine
Test Shots:
Impressions & Notes
- I like about the handling of this lens a lot, especially on the two touch zoom ring design
- The close focus on this lens is pretty decent on the use with flowers in the 70mm end
- Sharpness is very good, very similar to the other version of Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 with one touch zoom ring by Kiron
- Build is solid with metal barrel, a bit heavy as compared but thin in lens barrel and easy to handle
- The focus throw is about half turn and it has the loose focusing ring that I like for quickness in focusing when needed for street shooting scenes
- Constant aperture in f/3.8 is a blessing on this zoom lens
- A well pleased solid performer from Kiron that others may have ignored.
Related:
- Pentax K-x and Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8
- Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
- Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine
- Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm series
- Pentax K 45-125mm f/4.0
- Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron with one touch zoom ring
- Hin's Camera Gear
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