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01-03-2019, 06:15 AM   #1
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I need help picking a Vivitar lens!

Should I buy the Vivitar 24mm f2 kiron made lens for 75$??? Or should I buy the Vivitar series 1 24mm-48mm f3.8 for 75$??? Both are brand new!

01-03-2019, 07:34 AM   #2
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are these the lenses you are referring to ? Part of my confusion is you say " new ". Vivitar is out of business as far as I know, so there are no " new " " Vivitar " lenses


Vivitar Series 1 24-48mm F/3.8 VMC | LENS-DB.COM

The Vivitar Series 1 24-48 mm f/ 3.8 Kino Lens. Specs. MTF Charts. User Reviews.

Vivitar (Kiron - serial 22xxxxx) 24mm F2 Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
01-03-2019, 07:36 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by aslyfox Quote
no " new " " Vivitar " lenses
Probably meant in factory-sealed cartons (or equivalent condition). I bought such a "new" adaptall-2 24/2.5 from keh in ~2010, years after they ceased mfg (1987).
01-03-2019, 07:37 AM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by dsmithhfx Quote
Probably meant in factory-sealed cartons (or equivalent condition).
you are probably correct on that.

however, as anyone will tell you, I am easily confused

01-03-2019, 07:50 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by SunnyG. Quote
Should I buy the Vivitar 24mm f2 kiron made lens for 75$??? Or should I buy the Vivitar series 1 24mm-48mm f3.8 for 75$??? Both are brand new!
Yes, the 24 f2, that’s a steal
01-03-2019, 09:28 AM   #6
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Agreed, get the 24 f/2
01-03-2019, 09:35 AM   #7
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I've used neither. A decent to excellent 24mm prime that can perform okay at f2 is not to be sneezed at. Too many modern zooms out there to get excited about unless you're shooting with an older film body with a mount that matches (I assume this is for k-mount).

01-03-2019, 09:40 AM   #8
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If you don't already have a 35mm FL, you shoot high iso/fast film with enough light to stop down >= 5.6, and you prefer the framing convenience of a zoom, by all means get the zoom. Otherwise, the prime.*



*I haven't tried either lens, nor done any research on their respective quality
01-03-2019, 10:54 AM   #9
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Another vote for the 24mm f/2. Wide-angle zooms are widely available, but wide-aperture primes are rather more difficult to find at an economic price!
01-03-2019, 11:08 AM   #10
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On APS-C, the Kiron-made Vivitar 24/2 is great at f2. It's sharper than my copy of the Sigma Superwide II 24/2.8, which is sharp enough for anyone. I have a Komine-made 24/2 with a KA mount which is not sharp at all at wide apertures.
01-03-2019, 11:52 AM - 1 Like   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by Just1MoreDave Quote
On APS-C, the Kiron-made Vivitar 24/2 is great at f2. It's sharper than my copy of the Sigma Superwide II 24/2.8, which is sharp enough for anyone. I have a Komine-made 24/2 with a KA mount which is not sharp at all at wide apertures.
And yet the Komine-made 28/2 is prefered over the Kiron-made 28/2...I of course have the Kiron...

I don't have either of the 24s, but I do have the Sigma Super-Wide II and the Tamron Adaptall 24/2.5...
01-03-2019, 12:00 PM   #12
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I bought the Vivitar (Kiron) 24mm/f2.0 years ago (1983-5 if memory serves me correctly). It didn't get used at all after about 1988, and so it was packed away until February 2014... 25 years roughly. When I went to use the lens, it turned out the diaphragm was seized; its lubricant was all gummed up. A bit of googling told me this was a common problem with the lens as well as its 28mm sibling. The lens needed a C$60 CLA before I could use it again. Sooo... don't be disappointed if your 35+ year old NOS lens needs a CLA right out of the box as well.

Last edited by erichope; 01-03-2019 at 12:12 PM.
01-03-2019, 12:10 PM - 1 Like   #13
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I would say get both of them. At these prices, why not indulge your LBA? You can thank me later.
01-03-2019, 01:06 PM   #14
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Echo was erichope said -- the 24mm f2 is known to be a optically very fine lens, but is notorious for gumming up, which seems to be a function of "X number of years has passed since manufacture" rather than use or abuse, so I'd be surprised if even a never-used new old stock copy didn't have that problem...
01-03-2019, 01:35 PM   #15
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The 24-48mm SP is a very good lens. And I find the FL range very fine on FF and APSC. I often take it when I want a single lens for travel/street shooting. The only problem is fitting a hood to it--if it comes w/ the rare hood--it would be a real find. BTW with a PKA adapter it operates as any A lens.W/o hood you can use a step down and the Takumar rectangular 28mm f/3.5 hood, and fill in the gaps w/ tape. But not then for FF.
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