Hi, I own a Pentax MZ-5N and am considering a wide-angle zoom,I am considering the Cosina 19-35mm any comments on this lens and do you have any recommendations.

Thanks in advance

Lawrence

-- Lawrence Sabai (tszlaw@yahoo.com), April 06, 2002

Answers

Lawrence:

I had teh Cosina 19-35, but it was sold as a vivitar. The glass was good but the rear lens retaining rings kept loosening, so it was back under warrantee 3 times.

Cosina make very good lenses for the price, so you may want to check it out mechanically first. I used mine with a Nikon.

Cheers

-- richard ilomaki (richard.ilomaki@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.

Lawrence:

I had the Cosina 19-35, but it was sold as a vivitar. The glass was good but the rear lens retaining rings kept loosening, so it was back under warrantee 3 times.

Cosina make very good lenses for the price, so you may want to check it out mechanically first. I used mine with a Nikon.

Cheers

-- richard ilomaki (richard.ilomaki@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.

I have a Tokina AF19-35mm and it is quite good, love the contrast. In terms of sharpness, prime lens still reigns. But you can't tell the difference at 4R or 5R. Recently, when I "blew" up a picture to 8R and compared it with a prime lens, the difference is obvious.

The lens is quite expensive here in Singapore about S$450-500 (Cathay) I think. I found out that it is a lot cheaper in the US. Only US$169-179. So I asked a friend from the US to ship it to Singapore. Can read the good review about this lens at www.photographyreview.com. Ship from US using US postal service (US$12-15) and not DHL or UPS (US$50 plus).

-- Kong Jin (jinboy@singnet.com.sg), April 10, 2002.

Hi!

I have the Cosina 19-35mm for my minolta, and itīs maybe not the highest quality lens, but for the price, itīs well worth the cost, I bought mine for 195USD new, in sweden... and sweden isnīt the cheapest place to find camera equipment...

A fair lens for a very nice price!!

-- Mattias Rondolph (ss@ss.com), April 15, 2002.