| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2017 Location: Vallès Occidental Posts: 139 | | | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: October, 2016 Location: Euless Texas Posts: 268 | | Review Date: July 26, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $68.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Super Sharp, Bokeh, Focus Throw, Colors | | Cons: | Not an A lens | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-S2
| |
I found this lens on eBay and was all excited that I had a macro lens with such a great reputation coming to my door. To my horror I opened the box and was looking at a Konica lens. After settling with the seller, I decided to try the lens with a FotoDiox adapter. I know I was going to lose a stop or two of light but I figured I would manage.
Picture Quality - this lens is super sharp and I am very pleased with the image quality.
Bokeh - A very dreamy Bokeh is very much a part of this Len's capabilities
Handling - Could be the worlds longest focus throw. For someone with glasses who has sometimes struggled with manual focus this lens is a dream.
Macro - The macro ratio is adjustable from 1:7 down to 1:1. The 1:1 performance is astounding.
Light - This lens is very fickle about light. Give it too much light or stage a back lit photo and you get flare or a blown out shot.
I have not seen any PF or aberrations in the short time I have been shooting this lens.
The adapter sometimes makes for a dim view finder so sometimes I have to open the aperture, focus, and close down before shooting, Despite the inconvenience of the adapter I really like this lens a great deal. I would love to one day have one in a K mount.
This lens is a solid 9
Samples photos
 | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 13 | | Review Date: October 11, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $109.50
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | build quality,sharp, long focus throw | | Cons: | No A setting | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K5
| |
I just got this lens. It compares well to other 1:1 manual focus macro lenses. I prefer the adaptall 72b which can give you the A setting with a PK A adapter over this lens. However this is still a very nice lens. It is very hard to find one with a PK mount although you see quite a few with other mounts that are outdated such as Konica. It has a longer focus throw than the adaptall 72b which gives you better control over the focus. It took me over a year to find this lens on ebay so finding one is the biggest limitation. The adaptall 72b is easier to find as they come up more often. This lens is all metal and seems very durable. I think it will hold up for many more years of use. If you are lucky enough to find one in a PK mount I would grab it. They also come in the M42 mount but they seem to be just as scarce in that mount and the M42 mount is harder to use.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: November, 2011 Location: SG Posts: 29 | | Review Date: December 8, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | solid metal feel, never break as it is manual focus | | Cons: | 540g is on the heavy side, just lighter than telephoto zooms, have to use Canon 100mm macro IS tripod collar with paper stack inside | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
| |
very good lens for one that never breaks, and feel solid in hand. does the job as 1:1
When using with a Flash, you don't need to worry about tripod collar or tripod.
you can use the Canon 100mm f2.8 macro IS version tripod collar from ebay, with paper stack inside for stable desktop shots
also good as for nature shots at distant.
google short url for this page:
http://goo.gl/iePWP | | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 6,620 | | Review Date: December 6, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $165.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | excellent IQ and great 1:1 macro for less $$ | | Cons: | no A setting, dated coatings. | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 10
| |
This Komine made Vivitar macro is rarely mentioned, and no doubt hides in the shadow of its better known cousin, the Series 1 105mm. Well, after reading the Series1 reviews, I was pretty convinced the 105 was the lens I needed, so I borrowed one while shopping for my own. That one is a good lens, but for whatever reason the prices are rising out of control, some selling for over $400...forget it!
Well, I found this 90mm/2.8 version for just over $150 and figured I could use it until an affordable S1 105 dropped into my lap. Well, let's just say, I am no longer shopping for the other lens, as this one performs beautifully.
The IQ at 1:1 full magnification is great, especially when stopped way down (this lens goes to f/22 for max depth of field at high magnification). You can even clip a Raynox close up lens on the front if you like, and it works beautifully. I have never tried the lens as a regular 90mm "portrait" lens, but i assume you'd want to use a proper hood to control flaring if you do. Images are very sharp and if you have a light source from the front, you may encounter flaring or ghosting; just be careful in your placement.
The only limitation I find is that mine is an M42 mount and i cannot quickly flick open the aperture to focus, so if i am chasing a moving bug, i have to open the aperture to focus and then click it back down again - not too big a deal, as most of my macros involve some set up (including a tripod) and are rarely spontaneous captures. On that note, the focus mechanism turns a long way in order to facilitate precise adjustment; thus, you may find yourself turning and turning when first setting up a shot. My ring is nice and silky smooth, but if you get a gummy one, all that turning would not be very fun.
Of the various makes of Vivitar lenses I own, I tend to prefer the quality of the Komine-made lenses (ser# starting with "28"). They tend to age well as opposed to the Kiron lenses which in my experience are less reliable.
If you find one of these, it is a good bet, and will save you some money vs the 105mm. I am amazed at this find!
with the raynox 150 out front:
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,292
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 1, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: N/A |
|
See multipul reviews under Third Party Lenses, Panagor 90 mm Macro f2.5. This Komine built lens was available under an number of brands and mounts including M42 FYI.
Note on the above review: The primary lens is set quite deep (approx. 1") into the housing and has a built-in hood in a sense. It is prone to some flare due to dated multi coatings but works very well in a macro mode.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,774 | | Review Date: January 6, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Solid, well built, long focus throw | | Cons: | long focus throw | |
Given all the hype for the kiron made 105/100mm macros, others have been overlooked like the series of 55/90/135 close focusing macro designs by Komine, another reputable manufacturer of Vivitar lenses.
Very well built like the others of their era. The lens extends quite dramatically going from infiinity to 1:1 but takes a long focus throw of over two full revolutions of the focus ring to do so. This makes for good accuracy manual focusing but a tripod is recommended.
Its performance is very good, sharp! A lens hood as recommended as the front element is quite shallow.
Like of alot of reputable Vivitars these too are becoming rather hard to find but you don't have to pay nearly as much as you would the Kirons nor have to sacrifice quality either!
| | |
;)
;)
;)
