buying vivitar series 1 lens for my nikon D60...

[lydmrtnyng]

Hello DPS... im quite new here and i just want to get you advise...

im thinking of buying a Vivitar series 1 28-105mm f/ 2.8-3.8 Manual lens for my Nikon D60... it's so tempting because it just less than $100...

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8880/dsc1832m.jpg
the one on the left side...

i know that i will not AF nor meter on my D60...
im in a tight budget... but is it worth it to try this lens?

thanks!

[bruceliv]

Since you own a D60 and are on extremely tight budget. Tell us what other lenses you own, if any. For one piece of very inexpensive glass that has excellent optics, will meter and auto focus, I'd suggest the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D and let your feet do the zooming.

Nikon Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Autofocus Lens 2137 B&H Photo

[zona5101]

Have you spent much time manually focusing your current lens? Back in the day, there were split screen pentaprisms and other methods to fine tune focus. Now it is more difficult to visualize although most AF cameras have a "green" light to tell you it is in focus. $100 may be cheap but it is expensive if you end up never using it...

[Aegea]

There have been several versions of this lens, some of which are better than others, so you should be sure which version you are buying. It does appear that the best version is a very good lens, if you can live with the manual focus. Here are some reviews:

http://www.photographyreview.com/cat...2_3128crx.aspx

[lydmrtnyng]

@bruceliv
the only lens that i have right now is the kit lens that came with my D60 (Nikor 18-55mmVR)

well actually the vivitar series 1 is bundled with a Nikkor 50mm 1.8E for $100...

i think one of my concern (given that the lenses are in pristine condition) is that if i can bear using my D60 with manual lens...

also the "varifocus" that the focusing changes as you zoom-in and out...

@aegea
yes i've done some reading that the Kiron versions are the best ones... and it serial number starts with 22...

Vivitar Lens Manufactuers

i'm very much willing to learn and adapt even using manual lens... may i'm just anxious using a non nikkor lens...

[danbaileyphoto]

If you're at all serious about photography as a hobby, then I would highly recommend not buying a $100 dollar lens. A bad lens is a waste of money. It might be cheap, but as it was said above, it will be expensive if you don't use it.

Save your money. You can get a much better Nikon lens for not too much more money and it will be worth it in the end. Remember, you get what you pay for.

[firebox40dash5]

Originally Posted by bruceliv

Since you own a D60 and are on extremely tight budget. Tell us what other lenses you own, if any. For one piece of very inexpensive glass that has excellent optics, will meter and auto focus, I'd suggest the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D and let your feet do the zooming.

Nikon Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Autofocus Lens 2137 B&H Photo

Good luck getting that to AF on a D60! At least it'll meter correctly.

I tried the "no metering" thing with my 50mm Series E. IMO, I can live without autofocus, but living with a lens that doesn't meter at all, is just an unnecessary PITA. I stopped using the E after a couple times, and replaced it with the f/1.8D. If I wanted to guess at exposure, it was as simple as unlocking the aperture ring and setting the aperture on the lens.

I can only imagine trying to guess exposure with a variable-aperture zoom lens has to be even more fun than with a prime.

edit: What exactly are you trying to gain with this over your 18-55? The larger aperture, or just a longer tele end? If the larger aperture isn't a big deal to you, I'd look at the 18-70mm AF-S or 18-105mm VR, or even the cheap 28-80mm D or G lens if manual focusing really doesn't bother you. Unfortunately, I can't think of any 'cheap' f/2.8 zooms with CPU contacts.

[lydmrtnyng]

ok.. thanks guys... for your insight...

i guess i won't be pushing through with that purchase and try to save for what i really wanted...

or maybe i should practice shooting on full manual first before buying a manual lens...

the offers just seems to be appealing... and i wanted to explore taking pictures manual too...

[Aegea]

The "no metering" problem can be easily fixed by adding a $35 Dandelion chip, which will give full metering capability. I have a chipped Nikon 100E which I use fairly frequently. So don't reject the Vivitar based on metering issues.

[dbevisjr]

Originally Posted by bruceliv

Since you own a D60 and are on extremely tight budget. Tell us what other lenses you own, if any. For one piece of very inexpensive glass that has excellent optics, will meter and auto focus, I'd suggest the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D and let your feet do the zooming.

Nikon Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Autofocus Lens 2137 B&H Photo

Hey Bruce, Nikon AF lenses don't autofocus on the D40, D40x, D60, D3000 and I think the D5000. For each of those bodies you must use AF-S lenses for autofocus.