Cheap film lens, great AF performance!

I think you're right Mike.  It looks just like it aside from the rubber grips.  I had not seen that review.  Thanks for the link.

The last reviewer seemed to note things I have not seen in this Promaster copy.  Mine meters quite well in Av mode even at f9 and CA is actually not bad when stopped down.  It is rather noticeable at wider apertures.

It is VERY light and as the reviewer noted focuses MUCH faster than the DA 55-300.  The zoom mechanism is also much smoother than the DA.  The DA is certainly better optically but way too slow for quick action.

I actually like the little thing.  Part of it is the satisfaction of getting decent performance out of something that costs very little.

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Any government that has the power to correct any injustice and level any inequality also has the power to do ANYTHING it wants.