Phoenix or Vivitar

[lituramentico]

Hi!

i am considering buying a wide angle lens for Maxxum. I can effort

two options: Vivitar series 1 19-35mm and similar Phoenix. Which one

is better? Shoould I think about Sigma as a better option (about

twice more expensive)?

Thanks!

[scott_lewis3]

The 19-35mm from Vivitar, soligor, voightlander and phoeix are all the same lens made by a firm called cosina

[lituramentico]

Is it true that all Vivitar production is made by Cosina? This is pretty interesting for me. in fact I have several lenses with exotic names such as "Montgomery ward" and more popular "JC penny", but as far as I know they are produced by famouse Japan manufactures, so the quality is not so bad. For me is attractive the price of these lenses.

[yeow_teng_kuah]

Both are equally poor, in my view, even the Sigma 18-35 (f/3.5-4.5) or Sigma 17-35 (f/2.8-4) is not to my expectation.

 

I think Tamron 17-35 (f/2.8 - 4) is pretty good. Tokina 19-35 is of average quality but depending on batch, some batch are pretty poor, no doubt.

[scott_lewis3]

The cosina is good for what it costs. But the tamron (althought it looks the same) has the advantage of internal focusing and is a little less prone to lens flair. The internal focusing is realy great if you use lots of filters

[daniel_vlasveld]

According to most reviews the Tokina 19-35 and the Tamron 19-35 are much bettrer, and they do not cost much more, probably around 250 dollars. I like the Tokina, I have it myself, not perfect maybe, but really quite good for such an affordable ultrawide. Good luck!

Daniel

[yeow_teng_kuah]

I think Daniel has generally sum up the most affordable lenses with acceptable quality.

 

However, to add on, Tokina 19-35 lens can flare quite a lot, Tamron 19-35 do not flare that much, but both are pretty decent lenses for their price.

[bacsa]

hmm, i thought the vivitar Series 1 is a somewhat older series considered veeeery good quality but often heavy and big.

[john_meehan2]

I strongly suggest you check out some of the lens review web sites like photodo.com or photographyreview.com. You'll find that many of these generic third party lenses for Minolta - like the Phoenix and Vivitar - are of poor quality and poorly made. Good used wide angle Minolta lenses can be had on eBay for a fraction of their original price. You get what you pay for.