Vivitar 55mm 1.4 ∅55 vs Vivitar 50mm 1.4 ∅49

fireforsave · 07-05-2020, 03:50 PM

I replied this on the vivitar lens club but I thought I'd give it it's own post. I was wondering if anyone has owned and compared these two normal 1.4 Vivitars. The 55mm has a 55mm filter thread and is only found in M42. The 50mm has a 49mm filter thread and is only found in Pentax K. I'm building a set of Vivitar lenses and need a ~50mm. The 55mm is a rumoured Tomioka design but researching that leaves a dead end. Overall I just want to know if there is a significant optical difference between the two. Thanks for any help!

D1N0 · 07-06-2020, 06:54 AM

The 50/1.4 is a newer design. I think also made by Cosina. You can find them as Chinon and Revuenon as well. The lens is an adaptation of the 55mm 1.4 Tomioka design I think. It was made more compact and a bit shorter. I have the Chinon version and I like it very much.
Auto-Chinon 50mm 1:1.4 MULTI-COATED | Flickr
I also have a Cosina made 55mm 1.4 I like it a lot too.
Porst Color Reflex 55mm F1:1.4 | Flickr

fireforsave · 07-06-2020, 07:15 AM

Originally posted by D1N0

The 50/1.4 is a newer design. I think also made by Cosina. You can find them as Chinon and Revuenon as well. The lens is an adaptation of the 55mm 1.4 Tomioka design I think. It was made more compact and a bit shorter. I have the Chinon version and I like it very much.
Auto-Chinon 50mm 1:1.4 MULTI-COATED | Flickr
I also have a Cosina made 55mm 1.4 I like it a lot too.
Porst Color Reflex 55mm F1:1.4 | Flickr

Thanks for the reply! It's funny I have both the Revuenon and the Chinon in my collection right now. Once I fix the apertures I'm going to sell them. Thanks for your insight, also your photo of the padlock is really nice.

stevebrot · 07-06-2020, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by fireforsave

The 55mm is a rumoured Tomioka design but researching that leaves a dead end.

There is a VMC (incorrectly listed as Series 1) at auction on eBay at present (claiming Tomioka heritage) if you are interested. The 50mm and 55mm Vivitars are were originally offered as kit lenses on Vivitar-branded cameras from the mid-1970s on with both the cameras and lenses being Cosina product. It is possible that the designs were acquired from Tomioka at some point, but it is hard to say beyond assuming that any 55/1.4 with a broad, mildly convex rear element is Tomioka. FWIW, the user manuals for some of the M42 Vivitar bodies list a 50/1.4 for that mount as well.

Steve

**Apet-Sure** · 07-06-2020, 10:35 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

The 50mm and 55mm Vivitars are were originally offered as kit lenses on Vivitar-branded cameras from the mid-1970s on

This one came on a Vivitar 250/SL camera I bought new. A real workhorse camera that gave me years of flawless service.
Vivitar 55mm f2.8 Auto Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

07-05-2020, 03:50 PM	#1
fireforsave Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Houston, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 31	Vivitar 55mm 1.4 ∅55 vs Vivitar 50mm 1.4 ∅49 I replied this on the vivitar lens club but I thought I'd give it it's own post. I was wondering if anyone has owned and compared these two normal 1.4 Vivitars. The 55mm has a 55mm filter thread and is only found in M42. The 50mm has a 49mm filter thread and is only found in Pentax K. I'm building a set of Vivitar lenses and need a ~50mm. The 55mm is a rumoured Tomioka design but researching that leaves a dead end. Overall I just want to know if there is a significant optical difference between the two. Thanks for any help!

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07-06-2020, 06:54 AM	#2
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	The 50/1.4 is a newer design. I think also made by Cosina. You can find them as Chinon and Revuenon as well. The lens is an adaptation of the 55mm 1.4 Tomioka design I think. It was made more compact and a bit shorter. I have the Chinon version and I like it very much. Auto-Chinon 50mm 1:1.4 MULTI-COATED \| Flickr I also have a Cosina made 55mm 1.4 I like it a lot too. Porst Color Reflex 55mm F1:1.4 \| Flickr

07-06-2020, 07:15 AM	#3
fireforsave Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Houston, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 31 Original Poster	Originally posted by D1N0 The 50/1.4 is a newer design. I think also made by Cosina. You can find them as Chinon and Revuenon as well. The lens is an adaptation of the 55mm 1.4 Tomioka design I think. It was made more compact and a bit shorter. I have the Chinon version and I like it very much. Auto-Chinon 50mm 1:1.4 MULTI-COATED \| Flickr I also have a Cosina made 55mm 1.4 I like it a lot too. Porst Color Reflex 55mm F1:1.4 \| Flickr Thanks for the reply! It's funny I have both the Revuenon and the Chinon in my collection right now. Once I fix the apertures I'm going to sell them. Thanks for your insight, also your photo of the padlock is really nice.

07-06-2020, 09:21 AM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by fireforsave The 55mm is a rumoured Tomioka design but researching that leaves a dead end. There is a VMC (incorrectly listed as Series 1) at auction on eBay at present (claiming Tomioka heritage) if you are interested. The 50mm and 55mm Vivitars are were originally offered as kit lenses on Vivitar-branded cameras from the mid-1970s on with both the cameras and lenses being Cosina product. It is possible that the designs were acquired from Tomioka at some point, but it is hard to say beyond assuming that any 55/1.4 with a broad, mildly convex rear element is Tomioka. FWIW, the user manuals for some of the M42 Vivitar bodies list a 50/1.4 for that mount as well. Steve

07-06-2020, 10:35 AM	#5
Apet-Sure Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Goldsboro North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,861	Originally posted by stevebrot The 50mm and 55mm Vivitars are were originally offered as kit lenses on Vivitar-branded cameras from the mid-1970s on This one came on a Vivitar 250/SL camera I bought new. A real workhorse camera that gave me years of flawless service. Vivitar 55mm f2.8 Auto Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database