[Boris_Akunin]

Hi,

I recently picked up a Vivitar Series 1 200mm f/3.0 and I wanted to see how it performs compared to my Pentax-M 200/4.
I'm not sure which one to keep and which one to sell, I could use your trained eyes. (Perhaps you even find these interesting on their own.)
The Vivitar is a lot thicker and heavier but it's 5/6 Stops faster and focuses down to 1.2m (Pentax: 2m).

I have also posted two other comparisons recently:
Soligor C/D 135mm f/2 -vs- Vivitar Series 1 135mm f/2.3
Kiron 24mm f/2.0 -vs- Vivitar Series 1 28mm f/1.9


Update:
I have uploaded new test shots, the old ones were somewhat flawed.
You can find the old ones at the end of this post.


All images are converted from RAW using the same white balance settings and without sharpening or other PP.
I used my K-5 with the IR-remote and 3 sec. delay on a weighted down Tripod (Induro A114, Sirui K-20X & ~10kg extra weight).
The long distance images are shot unde overcast sky, the close-ups are shot with bounced flash.


The full images are on Flickr:
Long Distance
Close-Up

The crops are on Picsurge:
Long Distance
Close-Up


Long Distance:


(shot with the Pentax at f/8)


Vivitar 200mm f/3 (left) -vs- Pentax-M 200mm (right):
100% crops, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~100m

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


f/3:



f/4:



f/4.8:



f/5.6:



f/6.7



f/8:



f/9.5:



f/11:



f/13:



f/16



f/22:



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


f/3:



f/4:



f/4.8:



f/5.6:



f/6.7



f/8:



f/9.5:



f/11:



f/13:



f/16



f/22:



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


f/3:



f/4:



f/4.8:



f/5.6:



f/6.7



f/8:



f/9.5:



f/11:



f/13:



f/16



f/22:



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



Close-Up:


(shot with the Vivitar at f/8)


Vivitar 200mm f/3 (left) -vs- Pentax-M 200mm (right):
100% crops, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~2.7m

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


f/3:



f/4:



f/4.8:



f/5.6:



f/6.7:



f/8:



f/9.5:



f/11:



f/13:



f/16:



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


f/3:



f/4:



f/4.8:



f/5.6:



f/6.7:



f/8:



f/9.5:



f/11:



f/13:



f/16:



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -





Here are the old test shots:


I've shot through the aperture range of both lenses from exactly the same spot, once focused at ~2.2 and once at ~100m.
The 100% center- and corner-crops are from this scene:



(both shot at f/8 with the Pentax)



(shot with the Vivitar at f/3.0)



(shot with the Pentax at f/4.0)


The focus is always either on the "X" in "APX" on the left side of the filmpack or on the fence post in the center, at least it was supposed to be.
All images were converted with the same white balance values.


All images and crops are on Flickr:
Full images
Center crops
Corner crops
Better close-up center crops

And on Picsurge (more streamlined interface, easier image-download):
Full images
Center crops
Corner crops
Better close-up center crops


They're all licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA, use or repost them if you want.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Vivitar 200/3.0 -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0
100% center crop, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~2.2m


f/3.0:


f/4.0:


f/4.8:


f/5.6:


f/6.7:


f/8.0:


f/9.5:


f/11:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Better center crops:
Vivitar 200/3.0 (top) -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0 (bottom)
100% center crop, no sharpening, exposure corrected
Focus distance: ~2.2m


f/3.0:


f/4.0:



f/4.8:


f/5.6:



f/6.7:



f/8.0:



f/9.5:



f/11:



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Vivitar 200/3.0 -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0
100% center crop, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~100m

f/3.0:


f/4.0:


f/4.8:


f/5.6:


f/6.7:


f/8.0:


f/9.5:


f/11:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Vivitar 200/3.0 -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0
100% corner crop, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~2.2m

f/3.0:


f/4.0:


f/4.8:


f/5.6:


f/6.7:


f/8.0:


f/9.5:


f/11:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Vivitar 200/3.0 -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0
100% corner crop, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~100m

f/3.0:


f/4.0:


f/4.8:


f/5.6:


f/6.7:


f/8.0:


f/9.5:


f/11:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -





So what do you think, which one should I keep?


regards
Jan

---

Last edited by Boris_Akunin; 10-07-2013 at 05:35 AM. Reason: New test shots added

[seppstefano]

Hi,

I recently picked up a Vivitar Series 1 200mm f/3.0 and I wanted to see how it performs compared to my Pentax-M 200/4.

The Vivitar is a lot thicker and heavier but it's 5/6 Stops faster and focuses down to 1.2m (Pentax: 2m).


I've shot through the aperture range of both lenses from exactly the same spot, once focused at ~2.2 and once at ~100m.
The 100% center- and corner-crops are from this scene:



(both shot at f/8 with the Pentax)



(shot with the Vivitar at f/3.0)



(shot with the Pentax at f/4.0)


The focus is always either on the "X" in "APX" on the left side of the filmpack or on the fence post in the center, at least it was supposed to be.


All images and crops are on Flickr:
Full images
Center crops
Corner crops
Better close-up center crops

And on Picsurge (more streamlined interface, easier image-download):
Full images
Center crops
Corner crops
Better close-up center crops


They're all licensed as Creative Commons BY-NC-SA, use or repost them if you want.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Vivitar 200/3.0 -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0
100% center crop, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~2.2m


f/3.0:


f/4.0:


f/4.8:


f/5.6:


f/6.7:


f/8.0:


f/9.5:


f/11:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Better center crops:
Vivitar 200/3.0 (top) -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0 (bottom)
100% center crop, no sharpening, exposure corrected
Focus distance: ~2.2m


f/3.0:


f/4.0:



f/4.8:


f/5.6:



f/6.7:



f/8.0:



f/9.5:



f/11:



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Vivitar 200/3.0 -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0
100% center crop, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~100m

f/3.0:


f/4.0:


f/4.8:


f/5.6:


f/6.7:


f/8.0:


f/9.5:


f/11:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Vivitar 200/3.0 -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0
100% corner crop, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~2.2m

f/3.0:


f/4.0:


f/4.8:


f/5.6:


f/6.7:


f/8.0:


f/9.5:


f/11:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Vivitar 200/3.0 -vs- Pentax-M 200/4.0
100% corner crop, no sharpening or other PP
Focus distance: ~100m

f/3.0:


f/4.0:


f/4.8:


f/5.6:


f/6.7:


f/8.0:


f/9.5:


f/11:


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -




So what do you think, which one should I keep?


regards
Jan

hmm,
it seems to me the Vivitar has a clear advantage in close focus range, while the M performs better on long range.

Thank you for the great work,

Stefano

[Boris_Akunin]

hmm,
it seems to me the Vivitar has a clear advantage in close focus range, while the M performs better on long range.

Thank you for the great work,

Stefano

Yes, that seems to be a common trait of the early Series 1 lenses with floating elements (28/1.9, 135/2.3, 200/3, ?)
I think the focus is a little off in the long range photos, I'll give them another try tomorrow.

regards
Jan

[seppstefano]

ok Jan, we'll stay tuned

BTW, it would be quite interesting for me to see a shootout with the K200/4. I have it and it surprises me every time I see the world through it.

Stefano

[JimmyDranox]

There is a certain movement on some of the shots. Try to make the shots with a IR remote and with time delay.

[Boris_Akunin]

There is a certain movement on some of the shots. Try to make the shots with a IR remote and with time delay.

It was quite windy when I made the testshots, it's the foliage that's moving.
I used 2sec MLU and a weighted down Tripod (Sirui K-20X, Induro A114 & ~10kg extra weight) sheltered from the wind.

I'm fairly sure that the fence and the buildings weren't moving in the wind but I'll try to catch a windless moment for the new long distance shots.

regards
Jan

[JimmyDranox]

The movement can be seen on the left side of the AGFA box, and also on the left coin. It's probably the wind, but this is still a reason to make the shoot again. I know is booring, I'm trying to choose between two tele, 70-200mm, and still not decided, after some 6 or 7 sessions of testing.

[Boris_Akunin]

The movement can be seen on the left side of the AGFA box, and also on the left coin.

If you mean what I think you mean, it's not movement but longitudinal chromatic aberrations (aka "bokeh fringing").

The shutter speeds are:
Vivitar: 1/500, 1/350, 1/250, 1/180, 1/125, 1/90, 1/60, 1/45
Pentax: ........, 1/200, ........., 1/125, 1/90, 1/60, 1/45, 1/30

[JimmyDranox]

So big? On a second thought, they are old lenses, before modern ED and flourite lenses. You are most probably right.

But is funny, that you are in the same situation like me, with my Tamron and Sigma. One lens is a little better in terms of resolution, Vivitar, in my opinion, but Pentax has better color. Vivitar's colors are a little greenish to my taste. Even more, the chromatic aberration looks to be bigger on Pentax, but Vivitar has coma. Look to the coin at F4, those specs of light on ''Cent''.

[Boris_Akunin]

So big? On a second thought, they are old lenses, before modern ED and flourite lenses. You are most probably right.

But is funny, that you are in the same situation like me, with my Tamron and Sigma. One lens is a little better in terms of resolution, Vivitar, in my opinion, but Pentax has better color. Vivitar's colors are a little greenish to my taste. Even more, the chromatic aberration looks to be bigger on Pentax, but Vivitar has coma. Look to the coin at F4, those specs of light on ''Cent''.

I had a streak of luck and found a number of deals that were too good to pass up but I don't actually have much use for most of them.
I got the three Vivitars and the Tokina, Kiron and Tomioka for 10-25% of their normal used prices.

I'll probably keep the Tokina 17/3.5, M50/1.7 & M200/4 and sell the rest to buy AF-lenses. (the Sigma 17-50, Sigma 8-16 and DFA 100/2.8WR are next on my wishlist so I'm going to need some money...)

On the other hand, I wouldn't mind a shoot-out between the Vivitar 135/2.3 and a K135/2.5.


regards
Jan

[JimmyDranox]

I also think that keeping the M200/4 is better.

I have the DFA 100/2,8, non WR. Very good lens.

Good luck to acquisition.

[carrrlangas]

and a weighted down Tripod (Sirui K-20X, Induro A114

Hey, I am deciding between this two brands (similar models) for a new tripod. Which one would recommend?

[Boris_Akunin]

Hey, I am deciding between this two brands (similar models) for a new tripod. Which one would recommend?

I can't give you general advice about the brands, I only know a few of their models but among those I'd go for Sirui.
I only bought the Induro because I got it very cheap (40€). At normal retail prices (and the Ebay prices for the Siruis), I'd get a Sirui T-2004X or N-2004X. The reversible legs make the Siruis more compact, the combination of short folded length and relatively large leg diametres makes the Siruis more attractive.

Some Ebay-sellers accept offers well below the asking price. I got my K-20X for 85€, the quoted price was 120€.
You could also look at Benro Tripods, it's the same company as Induro but a somewhat different product strategy.
The Benro 2681TB1 and A2580 look quite interesting.

regards
Jan

[southlander]

I'd ask what focus distance would you expect to be using most. As noted above, the Vivitar seems better at close range and the M slightly better at longer distances (but I note there may be some focus differences between the two lenses on the fence test - the M consistently has more DOF behind the fence). The M also appears to be noticably better holdng detail out to the edges in both sets of tests. Both are CA monsters until F5.6 so I don't think I'd be chasing the F3 vs F4 aperture differences as the basis of a decision, as I'd probably be avoiding using either wide open. So your intended focussing distance usage patterns might answer the question for you. Generally tele = longer distances to the target, that's why you have a tele lens on the camera, so that would lean me towards the M. But, out of all my M's, the M200 is probably the least sharp and appears to have suffered a fair bit under the push to shrink the M lens line vs what went before. I find it really needs to be at F8 to get a decent result and to bring all those aberations under some semblance of control. I don't find myself wanting to take it out too often. On the other hand, the more I use my M135/3.5, the more my respect for this little gem grows.

[seppstefano]

Would love to see a comparison with a K200/4. I do really like the shots it can provide, and - within Pentax lenses - some guy considers it only inferior to 200 A* ED Macro.