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Posted by Doug Clifford on January 06, 19100 at 11:29:50:
In Reply to: Albinar K-Mount Macro Zoom posted by Ernie O'Byrne on January 06, 19100 at 00:08:55:
: I am thinking of buying an Albinar 35-70 Macro Zoom 3.5/4.8 with Pentax K-mount. Does anyone know anything about Albinar lenses? Quality of optics, approx. selling price of such a lens, etc.? Thanks
Hi Ernie,
This question just won't go away, even though the company has been gone for more than 5 years. Albinar's reputation lives on looong after they ceased to exist. I've spent some time trying to track down the source of Albinar lenses and flash units.
According to Mr. Isaac Hadid, the general manager of Photo Tech Camera Repair Service in New York City "Photo Tech was the service center for Albinar years ago. We did repairs for the importer based in N.J. They have since failed to supply spare parts on newer lenses and opted to replace warranty equipment instead of paying for repairs. Post warranty equipment should be replaced since the lenses are very inexpensive." http://www.phototech.com
In a followup telephone call with Mr. Hadid, he did some research on the disappearance of Albinar and advised me of the following:
Albinar products were imported into the United States from Korea by a one man company in New Jersey; the owner's name was Jack Gershon. (I may not be spelling his last name correctly.) Mr. Gershon distributed Albinar products through Sears and Roebuck and Best Products Company. (Best filed for bankruptcy in 1996.) Sears and Roebuck required Gershon to supply parts for Albinar equipment under warranty which needed repair. Parts were provided to Photo Tech (the former authorized warranty service center) as needed. Mr. Gershon passed away several years ago, his import company closed its doors, and the parts source dried up.
We may never know which Korean company manufactured the Albinar lenses and flash equipment. I have sent email to one Korean photo equipment source; they responded that they did not know who the maker was. This leads me to believe Albinar is a brand name and not the name of a manufacturer.
The bottom line about Albinar lenses - many users report they provided good value for their low cost, but the lenses may be impossible to repair unless Photo Tech has the parts needed for the specific model you have.
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