Quanteray and/or Vivitar lenses

[jvarsoke]

Yes, I was refering to the Vivitar lenses on the shelf today, not the series 1 lenses. The S1 lenses do have a solid reputation, though I wouldn't choose them over an OEM lens in most cases.

[Kiron Kid]

The 70-150 seemed to be a love-hate lens. Way back when, Modern Photo gave it a good review and I have a friend who has one and loves it, but he gets great, sharp results. The one sample I tried was terrible and I couldn't get sharp results no matter what I tried.

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The Vivitar 70-150, was made by Kiron (Kino Precision Industries) and is usually very good. Kiron also made the Nikon E series 75-150, for Nikon, and it is highly coveted by Nikonians. I once did a side by side shoot with the Nikon E 75-150 version, and the Kiron 70-150 version, and the results were identical. Plus, the Kiron version doesn't get the horrendous zoom creep that the Nikon is known for.

Kiron Kid

[Lee L]

When my son became interested in photography I purchased a Vivitar 70-150 for $10 from an "as is" box at the camera store after running a short test roll through it. It was in very good condition and the glass was perfect. I recalled its reputation, and having sold a number of them. Contrast isn't terribly high, but overall performance is most certainly serviceable. About 6 months later my son found a 135 f:2.8 MC Rokkor in mint condition for $40 and fell in love with that, so the 70-150 hasn't seen much service lately.

Lee

[Kiron Kid]

When my son became interested in photography I purchased a Vivitar 70-150 for $10 from an "as is" box at the camera store after running a short test roll through it. It was in very good condition and the glass was perfect. I recalled its reputation, and having sold a number of them. Contrast isn't terribly high, but overall performance is most certainly serviceable.
Lee

Lee

If you come across a "Kiron" branded version, grab it. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how good it is. The attached snap was made with my Kiron version of the 70-150, on Neopan 400CN film (chromogenic C-41 process).

[Changeling1]

Thanks everyone for all the information. I agree with Lee on the Rokkor glass. I shot hundreds of actor heashots with a 135mm Rokkor X 2.8. I did the 3/4 shots with a Rokkor X 55mm 1.2, with excellent (sharp) results. I like the all-manual SRT-102 I used these lenses with. Side by side, the OM-2 is about half the size/weight of the SRT-102!

But....The OM-2 was my first SLR (circa 1977) which was stolen in San Diego when it was only about a year old. Now, thanks to the auction site I've purchased not one OM-2, but TWO! One has arrived with the Zuiko 1.8 50mm and a Quantaray 28mm and the other (sent via USPS ) hasn't arrived yet but includes the Vivitar 70-150. That camera also comes with a Zuiko 50mm and 28mm. The OM-2 that has arrived is in EX condition and the built-in meter works likes new. It was that nifty OTF metering, along with compact size, that made me go for the OM-2 in the first place so for old-times-sakes, I wanted to include a working OM-2 (as opposed to the OM-1) to "the collection". Watching the auctions, the Zuiko zooms are going pretty cheap also although I've always preferred using fixed length lenses.

Not having an OM-2 in hand for nearly 28 years, I must say it's even more impressive today for it's compact, almost jewel-like qualities.

So, just for today, I'll be thankful for the "D" revolution for making all the old classic cameras so widely available and affordable.