?? vivitar 70-210 f4.5 constant 'a' setting

**dcmsox2004** · 02-18-2009, 04:05 PM

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has anyone heard of or used this lens....
saw it for sale on ebay.... i googled myself to death lookin'
for any info, found squat.........
Vivitar 70-210mm f4.5 Macro Pentax Lens - eBay (item 380103713987 end time Feb-18-09 17:33:02 PST)
curious, very curious, the seller knows almost nothing about this, and i
assume it's a pentax mount...

duncsuss · 02-18-2009, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

has anyone heard of or used this lens....
saw it for sale on ebay.... i googled myself to death lookin'
for any info, found squat.........
Vivitar 70-210mm f4.5 Macro Pentax Lens - eBay (item 380103713987 end time Feb-18-09 17:33:02 PST)
curious, very curious, the seller knows almost nothing about this, and i
assume it's a pentax mount...

Chances are high that it's an okay lens -- it isn't Series 1, but it looks like it was built before Vivitar went plastic.

My guess is the serial number begins with 77, meaning it was built by Kobori. I have a 35-200mm lens built by them and it's decent quality and built like a tank.

Or if you're really lucky, it could be a Komine build -- serial number starting 28 -- or Kiron #22 (though I don't think they made any Vivitar lenses with the A setting, could be wrong about that).

Bottom line -- if you want a 70-210mm range lens, you could do a lot worse.

And the price is right

**dcmsox2004** · 02-18-2009, 04:24 PM

thanks duncan.... usually there's anectodotal info on just about everything
on the web...... i could'nt come up with anything on this lens...
unusual, because it has an 'a' setting, and looks like it's built like a tank...
like some of the earlier series one lenses..........
i did ask the seller for info.... i'll post if and when it comes in........

duncsuss · 02-18-2009, 04:29 PM

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

i did ask the seller for info.... i'll post if and when it comes in........

heck, just throw in a bid and tell us all about it when you've used it ...

**dcmsox2004** · 02-19-2009, 05:58 AM

the seller said the serial number begins with 77....
i won the lens for all of 23 bucks.... i was told it was clean as well.....
by the way, hi neighbor ! (if you're old enough, it was also a great beer jingle)
dave m

**WJW** · 02-19-2009, 07:18 AM

Well, more years ago than I want to admit, I owned one of those briefly. It was a decently constructed consumer grade zoom that suffered from two problems. It had horrible zoom creep, but mine had definitely seen more use than this copy, and it was soft around the edges below f11. If could be I had a bad copy and, if you are using digital, the softness mine showed would probably not make it into the image anyway. For the price it is worth a try.

Jeff

**dcmsox2004** · 02-19-2009, 07:33 AM

thanks jeff, i'm assuming that you'd used this lens on a film slr??
i'm hoping that this lens needs no surgery to mount on my k200d....
the seller notes this is a pka mount, not the dreaded pkr, ricoh mount...
for 24 bucks, what the heck..........

**WJW** · 02-19-2009, 11:46 AM

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

thanks jeff, i'm assuming that you'd used this lens on a film slr??
i'm hoping that this lens needs no surgery to mount on my k200d....
the seller notes this is a pka mount, not the dreaded pkr, ricoh mount...
for 24 bucks, what the heck..........

It was a film camera so edge softness should be much less of an issue on a digital body. Do watch out for the possibly oversized shield/guard by the aperture lever on the mount. Vivitars of this vintage often have them. There are several threads on the board about grinding down or removing the part.

As for the Ricoh mount problem, it is not always a problem. I have a couple of lenses that had a square-shouldered pin that I had to remove (easily done) but most of the later lenses use a spring-loaded ball (like the "A" contacts) and that causes no problem.

Jeff

duncsuss · 02-19-2009, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by WJW

... Do watch out for the possibly oversized shield/guard by the aperture lever on the mount. Vivitars of this vintage often have them.

Yes, my 77-serial 35-200mm has exactly this "extended shield". I simply removed mine for now -- only a couple of screws holding it in place -- and put the bits in a ziplock bag.

02-18-2009, 04:05 PM	#1
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	?? vivitar 70-210 f4.5 constant 'a' setting Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. has anyone heard of or used this lens.... saw it for sale on ebay.... i googled myself to death lookin' for any info, found squat......... Vivitar 70-210mm f4.5 Macro Pentax Lens - eBay (item 380103713987 end time Feb-18-09 17:33:02 PST) curious, very curious, the seller knows almost nothing about this, and i assume it's a pentax mount...

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02-18-2009, 04:12 PM	#2
duncsuss Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 239	Originally posted by dcmsox2004 has anyone heard of or used this lens.... saw it for sale on ebay.... i googled myself to death lookin' for any info, found squat......... Vivitar 70-210mm f4.5 Macro Pentax Lens - eBay (item 380103713987 end time Feb-18-09 17:33:02 PST) curious, very curious, the seller knows almost nothing about this, and i assume it's a pentax mount... Chances are high that it's an okay lens -- it isn't Series 1, but it looks like it was built before Vivitar went plastic. My guess is the serial number begins with 77, meaning it was built by Kobori. I have a 35-200mm lens built by them and it's decent quality and built like a tank. Or if you're really lucky, it could be a Komine build -- serial number starting 28 -- or Kiron #22 (though I don't think they made any Vivitar lenses with the A setting, could be wrong about that). Bottom line -- if you want a 70-210mm range lens, you could do a lot worse. And the price is right

02-18-2009, 04:24 PM	#3
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522 Original Poster	thanks duncan.... usually there's anectodotal info on just about everything on the web...... i could'nt come up with anything on this lens... unusual, because it has an 'a' setting, and looks like it's built like a tank... like some of the earlier series one lenses.......... i did ask the seller for info.... i'll post if and when it comes in........

02-18-2009, 04:29 PM	#4
duncsuss Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 239	Originally posted by dcmsox2004 i did ask the seller for info.... i'll post if and when it comes in........ heck, just throw in a bid and tell us all about it when you've used it ...

02-19-2009, 05:58 AM	#5
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522 Original Poster	the seller said the serial number begins with 77.... i won the lens for all of 23 bucks.... i was told it was clean as well..... by the way, hi neighbor ! (if you're old enough, it was also a great beer jingle) dave m

02-19-2009, 07:18 AM	#6
WJW Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 383	Well, more years ago than I want to admit, I owned one of those briefly. It was a decently constructed consumer grade zoom that suffered from two problems. It had horrible zoom creep, but mine had definitely seen more use than this copy, and it was soft around the edges below f11. If could be I had a bad copy and, if you are using digital, the softness mine showed would probably not make it into the image anyway. For the price it is worth a try. Jeff

02-19-2009, 07:33 AM	#7
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522 Original Poster	thanks jeff, i'm assuming that you'd used this lens on a film slr?? i'm hoping that this lens needs no surgery to mount on my k200d.... the seller notes this is a pka mount, not the dreaded pkr, ricoh mount... for 24 bucks, what the heck..........

02-19-2009, 11:46 AM	#8
WJW Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 383	Originally posted by dcmsox2004 thanks jeff, i'm assuming that you'd used this lens on a film slr?? i'm hoping that this lens needs no surgery to mount on my k200d.... the seller notes this is a pka mount, not the dreaded pkr, ricoh mount... for 24 bucks, what the heck.......... It was a film camera so edge softness should be much less of an issue on a digital body. Do watch out for the possibly oversized shield/guard by the aperture lever on the mount. Vivitars of this vintage often have them. There are several threads on the board about grinding down or removing the part. As for the Ricoh mount problem, it is not always a problem. I have a couple of lenses that had a square-shouldered pin that I had to remove (easily done) but most of the later lenses use a spring-loaded ball (like the "A" contacts) and that causes no problem. Jeff

02-19-2009, 12:47 PM	#9
duncsuss Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 239	Originally posted by WJW ... Do watch out for the possibly oversized shield/guard by the aperture lever on the mount. Vivitars of this vintage often have them. Yes, my 77-serial 35-200mm has exactly this "extended shield". I simply removed mine for now -- only a couple of screws holding it in place -- and put the bits in a ziplock bag.