Just got the Vivitar 28mm close focus

Igilligan · 02-10-2009, 05:47 PM

Jay's copy... and let me just say... I ain't got the 'jshermagic'. either that or the light in california just ain't got the 'quality'!

Something is Squirrely in Squarefield.

Just kiddin', it has been cloudy/rainy since I got it so no magic light... but it looks like it will be a fun little lens. Of course I can't get "Jay" kind of
results... but I will keep trying.

SHARP.... Yep

think I am kidding? here is the crop - to me the lashes look like they are coming at you
Not bad for a non-macro lens

And yes... I am a stud!

real pics to follow when the sun comes out...

thanks jay

jsherman999 · 02-10-2009, 06:35 PM

.

OK, now this is twice you've done this to me - take a lens I wasn't using much and
create some images that make me wish I'd never sold it.

Holy crap, I'm not kidding, just these few shots are as good or better than
anything I did with it the whole time I owned it. Congrats, and truth be told, I
suspected this might happen when that baby got into your hands.

That eye crop is just so bleeding sharp. Hopefully this lens doesn't stay in
obscurity - like I told Robin (rparmar,) I think this Komine lens is the best of
the Vivitar 28s.

I'll be watching this thread.

.

**xs400** · 02-10-2009, 08:47 PM

Excellent series. I love #2 - THAT IS SHARP!! Nice work.

Nesster · 02-11-2009, 04:58 AM

Hot Diggity!

Excellent sharpness & contrast - and close focus is so damn USEFUL it's a shame Pentax only offers it in their consumer zooms...

Igilligan · 02-11-2009, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

.

OK, now this is twice you've done this to me - take a lens I wasn't using much and
create some images that make me wish I'd never sold it.

Holy crap, I'm not kidding, just these few shots are as good or better than
anything I did with it the whole time I owned it. Congrats, and truth be told, I
suspected this might happen when that baby got into your hands.

That eye crop is just so bleeding sharp. Hopefully this lens doesn't stay in
obscurity - like I told Robin (rparmar,) I think this Komine lens is the best of
the Vivitar 28s.

I'll be watching this thread.

.

Oh Jay... you are blowing a bit o' smoke here. I saw your shots with this lens and they have that mind altering bokeh that you
are famous for... I will get it eventually!
But thanks for the lens. It is one I have wanted for a while and I knew yours was a great copy of it.

that eye crop is almost frightening... I am not sure my Vivi series 1 105 is any sharper!

Originally posted by xs400

Excellent series. I love #2 - THAT IS SHARP!! Nice work.

thanks for commenting... #2 is scary sharp. I could not believe it when I started cropping in...

Originally posted by Nesster

Hot Diggity!

Excellent sharpness & contrast - and close focus is so damn USEFUL it's a shame Pentax only offers it in their consumer zooms...

I am not sure what has to happen in a lens design to make it able to focus closer but it really is a nice option to have.
But there must be some trade of for the closer focusing distance....

winglik · 02-11-2009, 12:58 PM

what kind of Vivitar 28mm is that, because i got one, and it didnt have anything close. any info and picture of that lens?

jsherman999 · 02-11-2009, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by winglik

what kind of Vivitar 28mm is that, because i got one, and it didnt have anything close. any info and picture of that lens?

Here are my best bokeh shots, probably:

Not exceptionally smooth, just like almost all wide-angles, but nice, interesting.

.

farfisa · 02-11-2009, 01:59 PM

I think you've both just driven up the market value of this lens!

...not to mention desirability.

Damn you!!!

**rparmar** · 02-11-2009, 03:07 PM

There are 32 different (!) Vivitar 28mm manual focus lenses. This is the K02 according to the "established" nomenclature. The Komine and Kiron builds are excellent optically, although the latter tend to have sticky blades all these years later. Tokina and Cosina are some of the other manufacturers Vivitar used.

I have the very similar K03 f/2.8 and the K01 f/2. In all cases I recommend stopping down at least one, but then you can get some very lovely images.

If I'm correct the K02 has minimum focus of 14cm, though some of the other models are a more modest 25cm.

There are also KA variants. And a similar line of 24mm lenses which have noticeable distortion not present in the 28mm line.

**rparmar** · 02-11-2009, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by farfisa

I think you've both just driven up the market value of this lens!

...not to mention desirability.

Damn you!!!

The price has gone up a fair amount since Jay and others first started parading their excellent images on this forum. A close-focus f/2 can now easily fetch over $100.

Why did you sell this one, Jay? Have another?

jsherman999 · 02-11-2009, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by rparmar

The price has gone up a fair amount since Jay and others first started parading their excellent images on this forum. A close-focus f/2 can now easily fetch over $100.

Why did you sell this one, Jay? Have another?

No, in fact I don't think I've ever run across that lens again after buying that copy on a lark in december '07. That's the very one pictured In the review database - famous copy!

Just wasn't using it enough, and trying to practice responsible LBA.

winglik · 02-12-2009, 09:08 PM

How's this compare to the Sigma mini-wide 28mm, both has close focus.

Arjay Bee · 02-13-2009, 04:43 AM

Just to show that there are other copies in existence:

Igilligan · 02-13-2009, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by winglik

How's this compare to the Sigma mini-wide 28mm, both has close focus.

I would love to see some shots from the sigma mini wide... hopefully someone will see this and post some pic and thought on that lens.

I see that one on ebay more often than I see this vivi close focus.

winglik · 02-13-2009, 12:35 PM

This is a picture from a user on flickr for the Sigma mini wide 28mm, it has pretty good macro as well, but from the pictures posted here, the Vivitar looks much sharper and has better macro.

02-10-2009, 05:47 PM	#1
Igilligan Guest	Just got the Vivitar 28mm close focus Jay's copy... and let me just say... I ain't got the 'jshermagic'. either that or the light in california just ain't got the 'quality'! Something is Squirrely in Squarefield. Just kiddin', it has been cloudy/rainy since I got it so no magic light... but it looks like it will be a fun little lens. Of course I can't get "Jay" kind of results... but I will keep trying. SHARP.... Yep think I am kidding? here is the crop - to me the lashes look like they are coming at you Not bad for a non-macro lens And yes... I am a stud! real pics to follow when the sun comes out... thanks jay

02-11-2009, 12:21 PM	#5
Igilligan Guest	Thanks you all Originally posted by jsherman999 . OK, now this is twice you've done this to me - take a lens I wasn't using much and create some images that make me wish I'd never sold it. Holy crap, I'm not kidding, just these few shots are as good or better than anything I did with it the whole time I owned it. Congrats, and truth be told, I suspected this might happen when that baby got into your hands. That eye crop is just so bleeding sharp. Hopefully this lens doesn't stay in obscurity - like I told Robin (rparmar,) I think this Komine lens is the best of the Vivitar 28s. I'll be watching this thread. . Oh Jay... you are blowing a bit o' smoke here. I saw your shots with this lens and they have that mind altering bokeh that you are famous for... I will get it eventually! But thanks for the lens. It is one I have wanted for a while and I knew yours was a great copy of it. that eye crop is almost frightening... I am not sure my Vivi series 1 105 is any sharper! Originally posted by xs400 Excellent series. I love #2 - THAT IS SHARP!! Nice work. thanks for commenting... #2 is scary sharp. I could not believe it when I started cropping in... Originally posted by Nesster Hot Diggity! Excellent sharpness & contrast - and close focus is so damn USEFUL it's a shame Pentax only offers it in their consumer zooms... I am not sure what has to happen in a lens design to make it able to focus closer but it really is a nice option to have. But there must be some trade of for the closer focusing distance....

02-13-2009, 09:59 AM	#14
Igilligan Guest	I would be nice to see some comparison shots Originally posted by winglik How's this compare to the Sigma mini-wide 28mm, both has close focus. I would love to see some shots from the sigma mini wide... hopefully someone will see this and post some pic and thought on that lens. I see that one on ebay more often than I see this vivi close focus.

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02-10-2009, 06:35 PM	#2
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	. OK, now this is twice you've done this to me - take a lens I wasn't using much and create some images that make me wish I'd never sold it. Holy crap, I'm not kidding, just these few shots are as good or better than anything I did with it the whole time I owned it. Congrats, and truth be told, I suspected this might happen when that baby got into your hands. That eye crop is just so bleeding sharp. Hopefully this lens doesn't stay in obscurity - like I told Robin (rparmar,) I think this Komine lens is the best of the Vivitar 28s. I'll be watching this thread. .

02-10-2009, 08:47 PM	#3
xs400 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,929	Excellent series. I love #2 - THAT IS SHARP!! Nice work.

02-11-2009, 04:58 AM	#4
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Hot Diggity! Excellent sharpness & contrast - and close focus is so damn USEFUL it's a shame Pentax only offers it in their consumer zooms...

02-11-2009, 12:58 PM	#6
winglik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 258	what kind of Vivitar 28mm is that, because i got one, and it didnt have anything close. any info and picture of that lens?

02-11-2009, 01:04 PM	#7
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by winglik what kind of Vivitar 28mm is that, because i got one, and it didnt have anything close. any info and picture of that lens? Here are my best bokeh shots, probably: Not exceptionally smooth, just like almost all wide-angles, but nice, interesting. .

02-11-2009, 01:59 PM	#8
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	I think you've both just driven up the market value of this lens! ...not to mention desirability. Damn you!!!

02-11-2009, 03:07 PM	#9
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	There are 32 different (!) Vivitar 28mm manual focus lenses. This is the K02 according to the "established" nomenclature. The Komine and Kiron builds are excellent optically, although the latter tend to have sticky blades all these years later. Tokina and Cosina are some of the other manufacturers Vivitar used. I have the very similar K03 f/2.8 and the K01 f/2. In all cases I recommend stopping down at least one, but then you can get some very lovely images. If I'm correct the K02 has minimum focus of 14cm, though some of the other models are a more modest 25cm. There are also KA variants. And a similar line of 24mm lenses which have noticeable distortion not present in the 28mm line.

02-11-2009, 03:09 PM	#10
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	Originally posted by farfisa I think you've both just driven up the market value of this lens! ...not to mention desirability. Damn you!!! The price has gone up a fair amount since Jay and others first started parading their excellent images on this forum. A close-focus f/2 can now easily fetch over $100. Why did you sell this one, Jay? Have another?

02-11-2009, 04:09 PM	#11
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by rparmar The price has gone up a fair amount since Jay and others first started parading their excellent images on this forum. A close-focus f/2 can now easily fetch over $100. Why did you sell this one, Jay? Have another? No, in fact I don't think I've ever run across that lens again after buying that copy on a lark in december '07. That's the very one pictured In the review database - famous copy! Just wasn't using it enough, and trying to practice responsible LBA.

02-12-2009, 09:08 PM	#12
winglik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 258	How's this compare to the Sigma mini-wide 28mm, both has close focus.

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02-13-2009, 04:43 AM	#13
Arjay Bee Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Horn Island, Torres Straits, Q Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,715	Just to show that there are other copies in existence:

02-13-2009, 12:35 PM	#15
winglik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 258	This is a picture from a user on flickr for the Sigma mini wide 28mm, it has pretty good macro as well, but from the pictures posted here, the Vivitar looks much sharper and has better macro.