Cosina 100 - 400

[speckled wood]

Passing a camera shop in Chester today I found a eos fit Cosina 100 to 400 "pump" type zoom lens on sale for just over £100, the shop allowed to try it out on my 300D and I found that seemed better than I expected and so I took the risk and bought it. Whilst not expecting miracles I have found some reasonable looking pics on the web using this lens and canon digital slrs, just wondering if anyone has experience of this lens. As said I am not expecting miracles.

[speckled wood]

This shot was one of my first and was taken handheld this afternoon at 1/125 second at the 400 mil setting, not a bad result for a cheap lens.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...2/9/Grey78.jpg

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by speckled wood

Passing a camera shop in Chester today I found a eos fit Cosina 100 to 400 "pump" type zoom lens on sale for just over £100, the shop allowed to try it out on my 300D and I found that seemed better than I expected and so I took the risk and bought it. Whilst not expecting miracles I have found some reasonable looking pics on the web using this lens and canon digital slrs, just wondering if anyone has experience of this lens. As said I am not expecting miracles.

I've not used this specific lense , but my general experience of cosina (lenses badged as vivitar or phoenix are made in the same factory btw) is that the optical quality is okay but not outstanding but the build quality is pants and they dont stand up to hard wear terribly well - that said for the price you paid and for what you want it for if it lasts a couple of years you will have got value for money and all else willbe a bonus

they also make a 1:1 macro lens that sells for £99 new - i wouldnt pay that much as you would be better off saving for a tamron 90mm at circa £250 but it is worth looking out for in the second hand sections - I got one off ebay for £35 last year as a present for someone just starting out.

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by eeyore

tamron 90mm at circa £250 but it is worth looking out for in the second hand sections - I got one off ebay for £35 last year as a present for someone just starting out.

The "proper" macro lens is still on the agenda as the macro is my main area of interest and my priority, interestingly the Tamron 90mm now seems to be more expensive than the Sigma 105mm, I have also been looking at the Sigma 150mm.

As to the Cosina it will fill the gap until I can afford a Bigma or something similar but that is something for the longer term.

[carlj]

The vivitar 100mm macro is sharp as hell, but with the 1:1 matched adaptor on, the close focus is just too close for anything that is likely to move. But for a bargain buy, well, a bargain!

[eeyore]

talking of ebay you might be interested in this eBay.co.uk: Sigma 90mm f2.8 Macro lens to fit Canon EOS (item 330049913781 end time 20-Nov-06 21:00:00 GMT) its an eos fit sigma 90mm 1:1 macro currently going for 25 notes.

a word of caution however not all old sigma lenses work with canon digital bodies - and although they can be rechipped this is prohibitively expensive if you didnt buy the lens new. the seller says that this is digital compatible being purchased new in 01 but caveat emptor etc

Also this a (suposedly) new canon fit sigma 105 macro eBay.co.uk: SIGMA 105MM F2.8 EX MACRO LENS AF CANON FIT EX COND. (item 140052243878 end time 26-Nov-06 20:00:00 GMT) currently standing at 99p

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Also this a (suposedly) new canon fit sigma 105 macro eBay.co.uk: SIGMA 105MM F2.8 EX MACRO LENS AF CANON FIT EX COND. (item 140052243878 end time 26-Nov-06 20:00:00 GMT) currently standing at 99p

The Sigma 105 does not appear to be the digital "DG" one

[nightshade]

I have a mate(just the one)who loves to find lense bargins he hunts through the AP classifieds and has picked some wonderful lenses (those that do not meet his expectations
just get sold on).He has the biggest collection of adaptors I have ever seen and has adaptors made by SRB, Photographic Filters, Adaptors, Accessories if necessary
His love is the way different lenses handle images, automation is not an issue,
I have made him pin-hole adaptors which give excellent results

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by speckled wood

The Sigma 105 does not appear to be the digital "DG" one

i'm not sure that matters - in theory DG lenses have a special coating to stop reflections from the antiailasing filter spoiling your shots, however none of my lense except for my 28-135 are digital specific and I have never had that problem.

[speckled wood]

Not of bigma standards and needs a competant photographer but here is a hand held shot of a Buzzard at 400 mill with the Cosina
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ga...d09_324357.jpg