>> The other is the Vivitar S1 70-210/2.8-4.0. Unfortunately, it's >> not the constant 3.5 version, which I beleive is one of the best >> - ever.
> Several sources, including the now-defunct Third party Lens > Resource web page, rated the f2.8-4.0 version as the best of the > Vivitar 70-210 Series 1 zooms. Doesn't have the advantages of > constant aperture, though. Well, I've now had a chance to try all five of the manual focus Vivitar Series 1 70-210 zooms (the first two being the constant f/3.5 models, which I personally prefer, and the latter three being the f/2.8-4 models, which I tend not to care for as much). Although I strongly prefer constant-aperture zooms, I have to admit that the three f/2.8-4 models (and optically they're really only two models, since the QDOS model is really the same lens as one of the other f/2.8-4's) are quite good, too. I've think I've read a couple of negative comments before about the mechanical qualities of the last two models, but I haven't seen any evidence of problems yet myself. I'm going to have to take some comparison shots with the five lenses (and some "portraits" of the lenses, showing their physical features and physical differences) sometime soon... Fred
