How do I zoom a Vivitar 75-205mm f/3.8-4.8 lens for Minolta MD?
Asked 6/9/2015
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I bought a Vivitar 75-205mm lens for Minolta MD as a gift, but when I mounted it on the camera I couldn't zoom it by turning the ring. The lens barrel is marked 75-205mm and 1:3.8-4.8, so I expected it to work like a modern zoom lens with a rotating zoom ring. How is this lens supposed to zoom, and what do the f/3.8-4.8 markings mean?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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It reminds me of one of my FD mount lenses where you pull\push to adjust focal length, rotate to adjust focus, and then there is the aperture ring for...well adjusting the aperture.
I don't quite understand what you mean when you say 'swipe' through the aperture settings. It is a variable aperture so, when it is at 205mm it has an aperture of 4.8 as opposed 75mm having 3.8
Originally by user38156. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user38156
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This lens is still a zoom lens. Many older zooms do not use a separate rotating zoom ring like modern lenses.
On lenses like this, the zoom is often controlled by a push-pull action: you slide part of the lens barrel forward and backward to change focal length, while rotating it (or another ring) for focus. So if turning the ring does not change 75-205mm, try gently pushing/pulling the zoom section instead.
The 75-205mm marking is the focal-length range:
- 75mm = wider view
- 205mm = more telephoto
The 1:3.8-4.8 marking means the maximum aperture changes as you zoom:
- f/3.8 at the short end (around 75mm)
- f/4.8 at the long end (around 205mm)
That is normal for a variable-aperture zoom. It does not mean the aperture is adjusted by “swiping”; it just means the widest available aperture becomes smaller as you zoom in.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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