Vivitar fd 28-90mm or Tokina 35-70mm at DVinfo.net

Richard Tetik · November 21st, 2012, 05:22 PM

Hey all,

I've actually got an Nex 5n, which I use to take video and thought that this section would be the best place to post this question.

I currently have the kit 18-55mm lens and a few primes, but would like to get a medium zoom lens. I didn't want to spend much say sub $200 and I am considering the two below options. I have read pretty good things about both.

Vivitar fd 28-90mm F2.8
Tokina AT-X 35-70mm F2.8

The only thing putting me off the Vivitar is the size / weight for my nex 5n.

What are your thought? Which one would you choose or am I missing an obvious contender?

Cheers,
Rich

Stephen Brenner · November 23rd, 2012, 04:45 AM

If you are referring to the vivitar 28-90 2.8-3.5, it's extremely varifocal, so not a chance it will keep focus as you zoom in or out, but it has an extremely nice macro ability and is pretty sharp.

Don't know much about the tokina.

Bill Pryor · November 23rd, 2012, 05:59 PM

Very few still camera lenses will keep focus as you zoom. My 24-105 Canon L is close but not right on. If you want to zoom during a shot you need a cine zoom.

Some of those old Vivitar lenses were pretty good. And the Tokina lenses I've been involved with are decent as well. I recently got an old Nikkor 35-70 f2.8 from eBay. It's in perfect condition, looks like new. Got it for under $500. I did a test with the FS100 with my Zess f1.4 50, the Canon 24105 and the Nikkor, all at 50mm and the same f-stop. The Zeiss, naturally, looked the best, and to my eye and a few others who saw the test, the Nikkor looked better than the Canon.

November 21st, 2012, 05:22 PM	#1
Richard Tetik Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 32	Vivitar fd 28-90mm or Tokina 35-70mm Hey all, I've actually got an Nex 5n, which I use to take video and thought that this section would be the best place to post this question. I currently have the kit 18-55mm lens and a few primes, but would like to get a medium zoom lens. I didn't want to spend much say sub $200 and I am considering the two below options. I have read pretty good things about both. Vivitar fd 28-90mm F2.8 Tokina AT-X 35-70mm F2.8 The only thing putting me off the Vivitar is the size / weight for my nex 5n. What are your thought? Which one would you choose or am I missing an obvious contender? Cheers, Rich

November 23rd, 2012, 04:45 AM	#2
Stephen Brenner Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brownsville, OR Posts: 116	Re: Vivitar fd 28-90mm or Tokina 35-70mm If you are referring to the vivitar 28-90 2.8-3.5, it's extremely varifocal, so not a chance it will keep focus as you zoom in or out, but it has an extremely nice macro ability and is pretty sharp. Don't know much about the tokina.

November 23rd, 2012, 05:59 PM	#3
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Re: Vivitar fd 28-90mm or Tokina 35-70mm Very few still camera lenses will keep focus as you zoom. My 24-105 Canon L is close but not right on. If you want to zoom during a shot you need a cine zoom. Some of those old Vivitar lenses were pretty good. And the Tokina lenses I've been involved with are decent as well. I recently got an old Nikkor 35-70 f2.8 from eBay. It's in perfect condition, looks like new. Got it for under $500. I did a test with the FS100 with my Zess f1.4 50, the Canon 24105 and the Nikkor, all at 50mm and the same f-stop. The Zeiss, naturally, looked the best, and to my eye and a few others who saw the test, the Nikkor looked better than the Canon.