Lately, there are several folks who seem to have decided that claiming the lens they have for sale was made by Kino Precision will magically add $$$ to the final price. Not a problem, Kino made some of the finest manual lenses available in the days before autofocus cameras. Lenses like many of the Series 1 Vivitars, the Panagors, the Lester Dine macros, etc. Plus all of the Kiron lenses. With excellent build quality and often over-the-top optical designs, these were top notch lenses. The problem is that now we're seeing lenses offered for sale as being made by Kino that Kino never made. Brands like Toyo, Five Star, Star-D, Kimumor, Sun; sold by Montgomery Wards or Sears or JC Penney's or Woolworth's. 

There's one seller in Florida who says virtually every lens they sell as somehow being made by Kino. It came from Japan, it's a 400mm or 500mm lens, surely Kino made it! Another seller from Australia seems to have the same idea - call it a Kino and people will bid outrageous amounts for it. Great concept for sellers, terrible for buyers. So just a caution to be carefull what you bid on, and if you're not sure, do some research. Ask other photographers, join the Vivitar or Kiron groups on Yahoo, look in Google. Just don't assume everything you read in an auction is true, there are a few used car salesmen out there who will try anything to get you to buy their lenses. Don't be a sucker!