Lense Reviews

I bought this camera for a beginners B&W photography class, and although it's basically the bottom of the line, it's a great little camera. All of my pictures came out clear, unless by my beginners error, of course. It's light weight and very easy to use. I'd reccomend this camera to anyone who wants a good SLR, beginner or non.

I was looking for a replacement for my trusted but worn out
manual Pentax K-1000 SLR.
Its spare parts and repair costs became very prohibitive.
I didn't want to buy used and old camera for the reasons given above.
I've tested at least fifteen different modern professional SLR's.
I stopped experimenting only when I came across this Vivitar V3800n camera.
I was amazed by the quality of the pictures and reliability of its mechanics.
This camera has all features needed in professional photography.
Depth of the field preview, wide range of the film speeds B-1/2000,
split image focusing, multiple exposure button, flash socket and direct Xcontact.
I completed two photographic seasons with this camera and purchased the second
one of the same model to keep it as a spare.
All my pictures selected and sold for publishing in the magazines and journals
I'm contracting with, were performed using this professional camera.
I can use all set of lenses left from my old Pentax with Vivitar 3800n camera
'cause they have the same K-type mount.
...
This is a truly professional grade camera ...!

this camera is really under-rated. i bought this camera on a hunch and am so glad i did. when i saw the results of my first roll of film, i was so impressed. i was considering buying the v4000 but i wanted something no one else had. this camera has some features that the v4000 doesn't have. why the v4000 is priced more than the v3800n? i will never know. this camera has a depth of field preview and a self timer. also if the batteries run out the camera still works. (batteries only control light metering) also this camera has multi exp. button which really helps,and a metering button when working with aperture. the only negatives i can find is the lack of info that is provided in the instruction manual. but if you know cameras or have other means to find out how to work this "bad boy" then this is the camera for you! the lens that comes with the camera is fairly decent. good for starting you off. it has a 1:4 macro setting which gets you started working with macro. maximum aperture is 3.4. not very big, but like i said a starter. all around my favorite!

The widespread existence of 40mm Plossl eyepieces with 1.25" barrels in most companies' product lines is a mystery.

Most people get eyepieces in this focal length to get the widest possible field of view with a 1.25" barrel eyepiece - yet a 40mm Plossl witha 43 degree apparent field of view shows no more sky than a 32mm Plossl with a 52 degree apparent field of view! (In my scope, they both show about 1.35 degrees of actual sky). But the 32mm will have a wider apparent field of view and somewhat higher magnification. There's really no reason to buy the 40mm Plossl.

But I did, a while back. Now I've learned. This eyepeice is actually of decent quality, although there is some minor astigmatism of the image towards the edge when I used it with my 6inch f/8 telescope (not seen in the shorter focal length Sirius Plossls). All the Sirius Plossls are good values, but get the 32mm version instead.

The reason to buy a 40 mm is to go to LOWER magnification to have a brighter view of deep sky object. This eyepice will give you (40/32) square (e.g. 1.5 times) brighter images of galaxies.
As galaxies are big enough not to require much magnification (most M list are >20 ' - compare with suns 32' diameter) lower magnification is actually better. Field of view is not that important if you can't see it because it is not bright enough - is it? I mean is better to see smaller galaxy then none.
NB. Depending of the F ratio you may not be able to use a 40mm though - see books - can't remember right now the rule for that.

With the exception of the remote shutter control, this collection of accesories really doesn't add any unique functionality. You can buy the battery almost anywhere, the case is nice but unexceptional, and the tripod won't fit into the camera case -- a logical place to carry it.

Of the three pieces (I won't comment on the battery since it's just a Duracell CR123 that you can buy anywhere), I use the case the most, the remote shutter release occasionally, and I've never used the tripod. I have a feeling your mileage won't vary. :-)

I must say, not exactly the best lens I've seen but the remote control makes a nice accessory if you are tired of taking pictures of family, but not the WHOLE family because you are taking the picture? The tripod is sort of flimsy, but I do like the carrying case indeed!

Other than the remote, the other accesories in this pack are not to die for. The base is dinky, the battery you can get at any drug store and the case, while it is very nice, can not hold the remote or the base (really dumb marketing move).

This lens is really well put together like all genuine brand name Pentax products. The zoom range from 35-80 mm offers great versatility, from wide angel shots to very nice crisp and clear close up shots. 35mm ideal for wide landscape shots and 80mm ideal for close-up portraits of people. This lens has given me lots of enjoyment. It operates exceptionally well, my pictures are crips and clear. It was a pleasure to operate this lens on my Pentax camera. A great deal for a lens of this high standard. Well done Pentax !

This lens came with my Pentax ZX-M camera and has served me well. I use it mostly to document paintings but have also taken some black and white portraits with it. It's reasonably sharp, has enough contrast, and gives good colors. Of course it's not as sharp as a prime lens but it's a good, economical, all around lens.

If it was that wonderful, why did you give it only 1 star? I can only assume you made a mistake

I bought this accesory thinking that it was compatible with the Canon powershot G3 (because it is in the list of accesories for this camera) but it doesnt work with the G3. Buyers beware. If you have a G3 you should buy a LA-DC58B instead.

I have this adapter just in the need that I want to use the special effect filters.. it serves this purpose very well, however, I've also noticed some drawbacks that annoy me quite often.

a) it blocks the build-in flash if you don't zoom in.
b) it blocks the low-light focus-assistant beam!! and for my G2, although it is a Canon Type-A camera, the red-light focus-assitant beam of the external flash Speedlite 420EX won't work. That said, you are taking risks on using autofocus, and if you are using those converters, say bye bye to autofocus.
c) my silver G2 looks bad with this BLACK adaptor...

This lens adapter has some advantages: 1- Wide opening (58mm) so reduce vignetting 2- Same filter size for Canon SLR like ELAN 7E, thus same filter set can be used for both Digital and film. 3- You can always keep it on the camera with an UV adapter, protecting your lens, don't forget the cap. Disadvantages: 1- Blocks viewfinder, you have to use LCD, which I always do because viewfinder never shows %100 coverage of real shot. 2- Blocks a slight portion of low light sensor, but I did some tests, it does not have much blockage and low light sensor works OK in my camera with this converter attached. 3- Blocks microphone, I did not test the effect of converter on microphone. Some notes: If you buy this converter, don't buy a non-coated filter because camera has an excellent coated lens, and you don't want to reduce your image quality with a [price] lens. Go for a [price] B+W or at least double coated hoya filter.

Do not use for in-door, when pop-up flash is activated.
A shadow will appear on the bottom of the picture.

I've been using a the Coolpix 5700 for 8 mos., shooting outdoors. The hood is usefull on sunny days, or days with slight drizzle--basically helps to protect the lens. Otherwise, it's not necessary.

We own this lens for several years using it on Nikon F70. I was very disappointed with the over-all quality (esp. sharpness) of the lens. Tamron 28-200 lens is supposed to be also on the "lower" end of the quality scale - I tried it once and WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE compared to the 28-300. In other word: even the much critized Tamron 28-200 is better. Very likely a 28-300 even with reasonable compromise would unreasonably stretch the budget and perhaps the OEM of Vivitar (Vivitar does not have his lens factory) did the best they could for that money. I am curious, how good or bad is the 28-300 offering from Tamron. The Vivitar Series 1 IMHO does not deserve the "Series 1" name. I am affraid, in order to cover a long range with better quality one would still need 2 or even 3 lens.

It's all you need, great as a secound lens. Excelent for PRO and Amateur. Great value.

I owned this lens for my Ricoh MF camera for about 5 years and it is still going . For some time was the most used lens in my outfit. It has all the focal distances you need for people, children and portrait. The picture quality is ok, nothing outrageous but enough for a beginner , student or like me, family photographer.

This camera is poorly designed.

1. with the view finder and lens on the left side (when viewed from the back) it is nothing uncommon to pick up the camera and place your fingers on the view finder or lens.

2. the software to view the pictures in memory will only show thumbnail images, making it difficult to select the best quality pictires to send to the computer.

3. the Arcsoft software that is used to view the pictures full screen or save to disk as a .JPG or other formats is no better than the software to transfer the pictures to the computer. You can view the picture about 50% normal size, but if you want to view it full screen then save it to disk, you have to expand the picture. click the mouse to go back to the software then click save before you can save the image.

3. This camera only has two modes.

a. 320x200 (if memory serves) ( was able to take 167 photos in this mode before filling up the memory.

b. 640x480 I was able to take 51 photos in this mode before filling up the memory.

3. this camera does not allow you to see the pictures before connecting it to the computer at all.

4. this camera does not offer a zoom feature at all.

5. there is no way to add additional memory.

This camera DOES have some good features.

1. the USB port to transfer the pictures to the computer is quick.

2. this camera has MANY different modes of operation.

a. take photos when it is sunny, overcast, inside a well lighted room, inside a darker room.

b. DOES have a built in strobe, so you can take photos just about any time. The two Pencam digital cameras I looked at did not have a strobe at all, and this camera was less expensive than both of those.

c. Take one photo after another (about every 1/2 a second)

d. Auto timer so you can get in the photo too.

e. This camera uses two AA batteries that can be bought almost anyhere.

If you want a point and shoot camera, or want to use pictures in auctions this camera will serve you well.

If you want the ability to zoom in, take pictures of higher resolution, or see what you are going to get before plugging in the USB port, then view the better quality digital cameras such as the Canon, Minolta, or Olympus offerings (I picked these brands because I have had success with these brands of 35 mm cameras, and I know the optics are good.

E-Mail if you have questions or comments; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (we give thanks Great Spirit)

I bought this for my mother as a birthday gift. Considering the price, I was not expecting much. There were many things I liked about this camera.

1. The pictures are crisp and clear, much higher resolution and clarity than I initially expected.

2. The software is easy and simple to install.

3. It comes with everything you need (carrying case, batteries etc..)

4. It records video!

I have not tried to "video recording" feature yet. But to have all these features in such a low priced camera is amazing. I am going to purchase one for myself.

if ur looking for a cmaera this is the one it is cheap and the pictures are clear has helll i taken over 1 thousand pictures with this camera (not at once) it will take 78 in high res and in low 167! its amazing beuatiful clear pictues i recomend it to ne one!!

I have had this camera for three years and have never had a picture worth printing. The pictures are always blurring, they are ruined by lighting from the outside. The photos are terrible!! Don't buy this camera. I am online now to find a new camera. This one was a waste of my money!!!

We have had this camera for a year and have yet to get it to work...even after calling tech support. Finally, after reading the reviews on this site I see that the problem is probably that we're running Windows XP.

Even if we could work around the software problem, the camera will not turn on any more...even after changing out the batteries.

Complete waste of money!

I've figured out the problem with the camera not turning back on. I had the same problem, took it apart, and it didn't take long to realize what was going on. The battery connectors were VERY dirty and corroded with something. Clean them with a little rubbing alcohol on a q-tip and you're good to go. NOTE: You don't have to take it apart to do this, but I did to discover it.