Vivitar Series 1 35-85/2.8 ( 72mm ) question

dantuyhoa · 09-25-2007, 11:24 PM

Does anybody have this lens ?? Is it an "A" setting lens ? Thanks in advance .

FotoPete · 09-26-2007, 10:53 AM

This lens was an old one and probably didn't make it to the Pentax KA Mount era. I'm not certain though.

Anyhow, it seems like a great but chunky. If you can get one for a decent price, why not? Vivitar Series 1 was when Vivitar tried everything in their power to beat out the big OEM guys and suceeded in many occasions. Even today, there is a strong cult following of Vivitar's pre Cosina era Series 1 lenses.

Cosina makes ok stuff but not up to par with the vivitar specs that Kiron, tokina, and Komine had to meet.

dantuyhoa · 09-28-2007, 10:55 PM

Thanks Pete . I think I will put it on the back burner for a while

. You're right : it is quite old but was the "star" of its time.

thazooo · 09-29-2007, 05:25 AM

I've got one in M42 mount, it's a chunk of glass. Extremely well made. It's Vari-Focus, if you zoom you have to refocus on the subject. Close focus to 9". Images are toned 'cool', soft at 2.8. Will CA on you in contrasty scenes.

dantuyhoa · 10-07-2007, 09:06 PM

Thanks thazoo .

Now I know what "Vari-focus" means

. It's still there at the store ! It seems that I am the only one who buys Pentax there ! LOL !

+ Note : Now that we mention this lens on the net : it will be flying off the shelf !!! +

pleo · 10-07-2007, 11:39 PM

It's been tested by one of the german photomags of those days.
I remeber quite well because my brother has this lens (with his old Minolta).

Wide opened not that sharp/contrasty but in the center it is.
Vario-focus like the next-generations' 2.8-3.8/28-105 which isn't as well-built like the 35-85.

It's been a special thing with those Vivitar-lenses
- close-focus ability
- build-quality
- therefore quite heavy...

:-) Paul

fwcetus · 10-09-2007, 08:18 PM

Originally posted by FotoPete

This lens was an old one and probably didn't make it to the Pentax KA Mount era. I'm not certain though.

I have never seen one of these in Ka-mount trim. I suspect that none of these were made after the late 1970's, and were a few years too old for the Ka-era.

It's an unusual lens of quite high quality, which got a fairly recent (decades after it was produced) very positive review in Shutterbug magazine.

martinsmith99 · 01-06-2009, 04:26 AM

Digging up an old thread here, but I got one of these with a with a bunch of other kit on the bay. I've only tested it on my Canon 40D at present but will be my walkaround for my Spotmatic as well as seeing some time on my 40D for portrature.

It's soft at 2.8, but sharpens up nicely when stopped down. The Vario Focus has never been a problem and it isn't really heavy compared to modern AF zooms. The hood that comes with it is useless and adding a larger one has helped considerably. I haven't noticed any CA problems in real usage, even in harsh lighting.

fwcetus · 02-14-2009, 07:08 AM

Originally posted by martinsmith99

Digging up an old thread here, but I got one of these with a with a bunch of other kit on the bay. I've only tested it on my Canon 40D at present but will be my walkaround for my Spotmatic as well as seeing some time on my 40D for portrature.

It's soft at 2.8, but sharpens up nicely when stopped down. The Vario Focus has never been a problem and it isn't really heavy compared to modern AF zooms. The hood that comes with it is useless and adding a larger one has helped considerably. I haven't noticed any CA problems in real usage, even in harsh lighting.

If/when you want to try it on a newer Pentax AF or DSLR body, you might first check for (and remove, if necessary) the excessive baffle or shield that some of these old VS1 gems have/had.

See Re: My Old Lenses: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

winglik · 02-14-2009, 10:41 PM

I got a Vivitar Series 1 28-90mm K mount, No A. Still works great.

09-25-2007, 11:24 PM	#1
dantuyhoa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,245	Vivitar Series 1 35-85/2.8 ( 72mm ) question Does anybody have this lens ?? Is it an "A" setting lens ? Thanks in advance .

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09-26-2007, 10:53 AM	#2
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	This lens was an old one and probably didn't make it to the Pentax KA Mount era. I'm not certain though. Anyhow, it seems like a great but chunky. If you can get one for a decent price, why not? Vivitar Series 1 was when Vivitar tried everything in their power to beat out the big OEM guys and suceeded in many occasions. Even today, there is a strong cult following of Vivitar's pre Cosina era Series 1 lenses. Cosina makes ok stuff but not up to par with the vivitar specs that Kiron, tokina, and Komine had to meet.

09-28-2007, 10:55 PM	#3
dantuyhoa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,245 Original Poster	Thanks Pete . I think I will put it on the back burner for a while . You're right : it is quite old but was the "star" of its time.

09-29-2007, 05:25 AM	#4
thazooo Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 854	I've got one in M42 mount, it's a chunk of glass. Extremely well made. It's Vari-Focus, if you zoom you have to refocus on the subject. Close focus to 9". Images are toned 'cool', soft at 2.8. Will CA on you in contrasty scenes.

10-07-2007, 09:06 PM	#5
dantuyhoa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,245 Original Poster	Thanks thazoo . Now I know what "Vari-focus" means . It's still there at the store ! It seems that I am the only one who buys Pentax there ! LOL ! + Note : Now that we mention this lens on the net : it will be flying off the shelf !!! +

10-07-2007, 11:39 PM	#6
pleo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamburg Posts: 116	It's been tested by one of the german photomags of those days. I remeber quite well because my brother has this lens (with his old Minolta). Wide opened not that sharp/contrasty but in the center it is. Vario-focus like the next-generations' 2.8-3.8/28-105 which isn't as well-built like the 35-85. It's been a special thing with those Vivitar-lenses - close-focus ability - build-quality - therefore quite heavy... :-) Paul

10-09-2007, 08:18 PM	#7
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	Originally posted by FotoPete This lens was an old one and probably didn't make it to the Pentax KA Mount era. I'm not certain though. I have never seen one of these in Ka-mount trim. I suspect that none of these were made after the late 1970's, and were a few years too old for the Ka-era. It's an unusual lens of quite high quality, which got a fairly recent (decades after it was produced) very positive review in Shutterbug magazine.

01-06-2009, 04:26 AM	#8
martinsmith99 Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: S Glos, UK Posts: 2	Digging up an old thread here, but I got one of these with a with a bunch of other kit on the bay. I've only tested it on my Canon 40D at present but will be my walkaround for my Spotmatic as well as seeing some time on my 40D for portrature. It's soft at 2.8, but sharpens up nicely when stopped down. The Vario Focus has never been a problem and it isn't really heavy compared to modern AF zooms. The hood that comes with it is useless and adding a larger one has helped considerably. I haven't noticed any CA problems in real usage, even in harsh lighting.

02-14-2009, 07:08 AM	#9
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	Originally posted by martinsmith99 Digging up an old thread here, but I got one of these with a with a bunch of other kit on the bay. I've only tested it on my Canon 40D at present but will be my walkaround for my Spotmatic as well as seeing some time on my 40D for portrature. It's soft at 2.8, but sharpens up nicely when stopped down. The Vario Focus has never been a problem and it isn't really heavy compared to modern AF zooms. The hood that comes with it is useless and adding a larger one has helped considerably. I haven't noticed any CA problems in real usage, even in harsh lighting. If/when you want to try it on a newer Pentax AF or DSLR body, you might first check for (and remove, if necessary) the excessive baffle or shield that some of these old VS1 gems have/had. See Re: My Old Lenses: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

02-14-2009, 10:41 PM	#10
winglik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 258	I got a Vivitar Series 1 28-90mm K mount, No A. Still works great.

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