In article
>In article
>dmorton@journalist.co.uk (David Morton) wrote:
>>In article
>>schloss@datadepot.com 'The Artist Formerly Known As Gary Schloss' wrote:
>I think I like the above change of my name, though it's unclear
>whether it's a compliment on my artistry, or a jab at my personality.
>Anyway, get out your earplugs: I'm about to burst out in song :-)
>>> Many Vivitar Series 1 lenses were made by Kino Precision
>>> a Japanese firm which is now, sadly, out of business. IMHO,
>>> their collaboration resulted in some of the finest glass ever
>>> made. Some examples: 70-210/f3.5, 28-90/f2.8-3.5, 35-85/f2.8,
>>> and 105/f2.8 macro.
>>[snip]
>>Sorry, I can't let that pass without a comment.
>>
>>I owned a Series 1 28-90/f2.8-3.5, and it was without a shadow of a doubt
>>the worst lens I have ever used. I sent it back to Vivitar UK with a
>>detailed letter of complaint listing its faults. They replaced it with a
>>brand new one which they said they had tested and found to be up to
>>specification. That was equally dreadful. I pursued the matter and was
>>treated in an extremely rude and dismissive manner.
>>
>>I have never bought a Vivitar product since, nor will I.
>I trust you didn't complain about the lens being vario-focal :-)
>
>I guess, you were treated dismissively, because your complaints must
>have been totally to the contrary of the very positive reviews and
>customer feedback. While this does not justify rudeness, surely you
>realize that you were swimming against a huge tide, i.e. the things
>you disliked about this lens were, in all likelihood, the very reasons
>everyone else loved it!
>
>Vivitar UK was probably right to decide that there was no way to
>satisfy you, and should have refunded your purchase, or offered you
>credit towards another product. (I believe that's how the matter
>would have been resolved, were this to happen to you in the US).
>
>Anyway, I still own my Series 1 28-90/f2.8-3.5, use it very often,
>and love it as much as I did when I got it. Different strokes for
>different folks, I guess ...
>
>P.S. I'm not associated with Vivitar.
Hmmm... - while I like your response (;-), I must concur with the
other poster - I thought the 28-90 adequate for snapshots, but
quite low-quality for critical use (SERIOUS illumination problems,
plus, uh, well..., uh..., a certain, umm..., lack of crispness over
too much of the frame over too much of the zoom range for me to
tolerate... I keep hearing of good Series I lenses, but of the
several I have tried, only the 90mm macro was good, and that only
for macro applications (excessive flare prevents it from being
acceptable for distance use, alas - but it is sharp throughout,
though...).
Hope This Helps
(David Ruether - http://www.fcinet.com/ruether )