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Reviews
1
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4
(4 Reviews Total)
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Review Date
August 17, 2004
Overall Rating
 4 of 5
Value Rating
 4 of 5
Used product for
Less than 1 month
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Reviewed by
infrared
, Casual
Price Paid
$249.00
at ebay
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Fine Art
Summary
I just got the Bronica ETR lens second-hand and it's... SLOW (f5.6 is not what I am used to). Also, the color rendition wasn't what I was hoping for. A tiffen enhancing filter will bring the color balance up to professional levels but it's an extra $140 or so and I will lose another 2/3 stop in speed.
The lens does look impressive and appears extremely sharp. Well made. Bottom line: a great toy but primes are more versatile in terms of handling and speed.
Strengths
Will deliver truly professional results with a Tiffen Enhancing filter and polarizer.
Weaknesses
Limited zoom range. 2X (from 125 to 250)doesn't give you the same capababilities as a typical 35mm zoom.
Similar Products Used
Bronica MC 40, 75 and 150 lenses. 2X converter.
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Review Date
May 24, 2002
Overall Rating
 5 of 5
Value Rating
 5 of 5
Used product for
1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes
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Reviewed by
drleung
, Casual
, from Bethesda,Maryland
Price Paid
$750.00
at EBay
Photography Experience
6-10 years
, Outdoor
Summary
Mine is the same Schneider Variogon zoom (125-250mm/5.6) w/ Bronica-E mount. Having passed several rolls of Fuji Provia 400F through this Deutsche wonder-lens, I have the initial impression that I've finally found THE IDEAL lens to complement my 50mm wide-angle and make my MF combo cook!
For starters, the chromes I got back from shooting with this zoom showed none of those sick signs or symptoms from typical zoom lenses. In fact, the images were 100% indistinguishable from those taken with my friends' best Contax 645 or Zeiss fixed-focal length lenses, even under a 25X microscope! This is indeed no easy feat for a versatile zoom that encompasses 125mm to 250mm (or 140mm to 280mm for the Hassy or Rollei version). This ultra-high performance glass empowers the photographer with that unmistakable "Zeiss or Leitz 3-D look" (sorry for my ranting here!), eye-popping yet natural color rendition, pinpoint resolution at infinity AND in macro mode, very high flare-resistance, Swiss-watch like mechanical precision and reliability, and long/bulky enough to be converted into a make-shift weapon (if you don't mind parting with a rare and costly item). In summary, this lens is superlative in every aspect of MF optics. If you could find one at the price I paid for mine, you should not have a second thought!
Strengths
Superlative, ultra-premium, grand, world-class, second-to-none... (I've run out of adjectives)!
Weaknesses
Too big to be hand-held comfortably and meaningfully. Must be tripod-mounted to fully exploit its vast potential and capability.
Similar Products Used
Bronica PE 100-220mm (made by Tamron), which is a great lens also. I sold it to finance the Schneider Variogon and never looked back.
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Review Date
December 25, 2000
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
4 of 5
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Reviewed by
Syed Noor Hossain
, Expert
, from Bangladesh
Price Paid
$6900.00
at Stockholm
Photography Experience
21+ years
, Outdoor
Summary
If you do not mind about the weight and size of this lens (or the cost), this is an excellent choice for both portrait and landscape photography and a good alternative to carrying three/four lenses in the 120mm, 150mm, 180mm and 250mm range.The Variogon has f/5.6 throughout the zoom range, which is excellent. The close focus is extremely useful. I was impressed by the sharpness and color rendition of my close range shots. While talking about the weight, one has to keep in mind that a zoom lens is always heavier than prime lenses without exception. Currently I own Nikon AIS 50-300mm/4.5 ED lens which is of the same size and weight as the Schneider zoom.
Strengths
The lens is sharp and has a very good zoom range which I found useful for portraits and landscape photography.One of its strengths is close focus, including the one in macro mode. With extension tube you can get great magnification for close up photos from a distance (the macro mode uses around 180mm focal length).Even with 2X tele-converter I got good results with this lens. I used this lens for my photography book on two lakes in Stockholm.The book, A Tale of Two Lakes, was published in August 2000. The Variogon eliminates the need for three separate lenses in that range.I owned this lens twice. Once I sold it and bought it again. Currently I own it.
Weaknesses
The lens is heavy and makes it difficult for hand-held photography.It is expensive too, but is availalble relatively cheap in used market.
Similar Products Used
Hasselblad CF120/f Makro Planar,C150/4 and C250/5.6;Nikon AF80-200/2.8ED and AIS50-300/4.5ED; Pentax autofocus F300mm EDIF/4.5.
Customer Service
Excellent
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Reviewed by
Eric Dean
, Professional
, from Orlando , Florida USA
Photography Experience
11-20 years
, Other
Summary
This lens is a great addition for a busy portrait/ fashion photographer.
Strengths
Sweet lens for Fashion and Portraits. Very sharp! Nice focal length. Great to have three or more lenses in one.
Weaknesses
One major weakness of this lens is the size. At 13" long this lens is a monster. And of course the price,$6,900.
Similar Products Used
150mm, 250mm, 350mm.
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