Old but good 70-210 or 80-200

I think Vivitar lens are underrated, I have been using a 28-210 for years on my old Nikon Fm-10. Deals can still be found on ebay, about 2 years ago I got a Sigma 18-35 Af for Nikon for $36.00. I watch auctions that end between midnight and early morning. It does help that I am retired.

I have the 70-210 Kiron f/4.5 Macro. Not a true Macro as it only goes to 1:4 without
extension. Takes a 55mm filter. Only 1/2 stop slower than my 80-200 f/4 Nikkor.
I have a lot of fun with it on a Pentax Super Program.
Best regards,
/Clay

Another vote for the various versions of the Vivitar Series I lenses (and some others too, from them). Vivitar was responsible for the basic designs, as I understand, but had various Japanese lens makers build them to specification. See more details at http://www.robertstech.com/vivitar.htm .

However, a warning. The presently marketed new Vivitar lenses have no real connection to the old classics, except that someone bought the name to use. They may or may not be serviceable, but they are not the old classics despite the similarity of names of some products.

Vivitar 70-210mm Series I AI f/3.5 manual focus zoom

Pro:
Low price
Fixed maximum aperture
Accurate focal lengths
Metal lens housing
Image color and exposure are consistent with my other lenses

Con:
Not as sharp as I need at f/3.5, f/4, and f/5.6 (my biggest con)
No tripod mount
Manual focus ring rotates in opposite direction as my other lenses
67mm filter size is not compatible with my filters

The Vivitar Series 1 70-210 zooms are very good buys, but probably wouldn't be considered a lens that nobody wants anymore. Like the Kirons, the Vivitar Series 1 lenses have been cult classics for several years and tend to retain their value fairly well.

Look for one of the Tamron Adaptall zooms. I have one around here somewhere, probably in a box buried in the closet. I think it's an 80-200/3.5-4.5 or something like that. Unfortunately it's infested with fungus so it's not useful. But the Tamron Adaptalls can be used on any SLR body for which an adapter is available. I've used various Adaptalls on Canon FD, Olympus OM and Nikon bodies.

The Soligor CD lenses were also pretty good and usually cheaper used than the Vivitar Series 1 and Kiron lenses.

Some house-brand lenses - Quantaray, Ritzcam, etc. - can be acceptable. I see 'em at near giveaway prices in pawn shops.

Some old Tamrons are very good indeed...

http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00YZ5J

I'd second the Vivitar series I 70-210. Even though it's not something nobody wants anymore, it seems to turn up pretty reasonably often enough, especially in the less common mounts. I think I got my Konica version for something like ten bucks. The Minolta one was 30. I saw a Nikon mount one (passed it up) for 50 at a thrift store recently.

The older 85-210mm Tamron lens was a gem of a lens and I believe the later ones had Tamron's BBAR coating. These sell for almost nothing and are real sleepers. I have a Nikon mount 70-210mm f3.5 Vivitar Ser.1 lens made by Tokina (ser. no. 37XXXXXX) and I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China. Well, maybe half the tea in China? It's the most compact of all the Vivitar Ser.1 70-210mm lenses and one of the best/sharpest 70-210mm lenses I have ever used. I use it on my Canon 5D FF and it can handle FF digital with flying colors. I've also owned both the Kiron 28-210mm and the Vivitar Ser.1 version of the same lens also made by Kiron. Both were very, very good for such a wide zoom range, but what surprised me the most was how good the contrast level was with the 28-210mm.

You can actually buy a brand new Tamron 70-210mm f/4-5.6 from Keh for $17.95.

You then need an Adaptall or Adaptall II mount for what ever camera you have. I have one and it is a nice lens.

(link)