[octavmandru]

I purchased these lenses yesterday evening, but I had a hard time finding reference about Vivitar and Pentax one.
One thing I'm curious about is your experience with these and not at last the market value.
Lenses are in great shape...

[monochrome]

From an old List_Serve database post by PDML Members on the Best 28MM Stan's Pentax Photography

My personal ranking for Pentax 28m lenses are follows;
K28/3.5, K28/2 >= M28/3.5 >= FA28/2.8AL >>> M28/2.8 (old) >M28/2.8 (later), A28/2.8, F28/2.8 Yoshihiko Takinami - I have something to add.
Try Hama rectangular hood (52mm) for this lens. It seems the best hood for K28/3.5 I have ever seen. It also works well with K24/2.8, K28/2, K30/2.8, K35/2, and K35/3.5 in my experiences.

I don't know that particular Vivitar lens, but of that era they are generally thought to be very good. The SMC Takumar 135 is a nice, sharp medium telephoto. The K28/2 is a special lens - don't sell it. I'd make an offer but I am well covered with the K28/3.5.

[octavmandru]

]

I don't know that particular Vivitar lens, but of that era they are generally thought to be very good. The SMC Takumar 135 is a nice, sharp medium telephoto. The K28/2 is a special lens - don't sell it. I'd make an offer but I am well covered with the K28/3.5.

Sell it? Since I tested in the shop, I took it off just to take a picture of it!
After, it was back..
Even during testing it was glued to my camera.

Thank you for the info, monochrome.

[Just1MoreDave]

Sell it? Since I tested in the shop, I took it off just to take a picture of it!
After, it was back..
Even during testing it was glued to my camera.

Thank you for the info, monochrome.

Well, what is one lens too good to take off the camera really worth?

My wild guess is about $250-300. I think the A version is $400. It can be a very useful length and I really like having a sharp f2 lens at 28mm.

I've seen the Vivitar in different mounts but it's not common. Vivitars are often priced well below actual peformance - my 28mm f2 was $57, for example. So I'm guessing $60. Also very useful to have a fast 35mm.

The Super-Takumar price varies a lot, maybe $40 but more with original caps, hood and case. The multi-coated version is common and holds the price down a bit.

[fwcetus]

Well, what is one lens too good to take off the camera really worth? My wild guess is about $250-300. I think the A version is $400. It can be a very useful length and I really like having a sharp f2 lens at 28mm.

The K 28/2 is a rather special lens (as is the K28/3.5). The A 28/2 is a different lens altogether - although I do like mine (and the A functionality is convenient), it is not as good as my other 28's (the two K's I mentioned).

[CSoars]

The SMC 28 1:2 (Not M or A version) is a massive 9-8 element design that is nearly double the weight of the M or A series. I think it shared a formula with zeiss or some such thing.

Only saw one on ebay in the last few years, Buy it Now waas 800 EUROs. It's pretty rare.

[octavmandru]

Well, what is one lens too good to take off the camera really worth?

My wild guess is about $250-300. I think the A version is $400. It can be a very useful length and I really like having a sharp f2 lens at 28mm.

I've seen the Vivitar in different mounts but it's not common. Vivitars are often priced well below actual peformance - my 28mm f2 was $57, for example. So I'm guessing $60. Also very useful to have a fast 35mm.

The Super-Takumar price varies a lot, maybe $40 but more with original caps, hood and case. The multi-coated version is common and holds the price down a bit.

Yes, you're about right.
I spent 2400 SEK (abt. 300 USD) for the whole package, and more than 3 hours to find these ... how to call it? small treasures?
All were supplied with high quality UV MC-s, and the bargaining process was fair imo.
-The 20 1:2 is SMC version. I don't know the reference weight, but at about 300 g, is quite heavy for a 28 mm (heavier than my 135 Takumar, anyway). I was impressed with the overall length from the start. The seller is the original owner.
-Vivitar, hmmm. I have a good feeling with this one. Is M42, like the Tak, with Auto-Manual switch; the aperture ring and the focusing ring feels sooo silky.
-Tak, is not so unknown, in fact it's fame precedes it. I found one on Ebay with the final bid..... 119 USD. Another one reached 235 USD

Are we facing the end of the world, as we know it? Or is it common to hit such prices?

---

Last edited by octavmandru; 03-26-2009 at 06:30 AM.

[Mechan1k]

I can attest the Super Takumar 135mm f/3.5 is a very nice lens indeed.
I need to get out with mine more and shoot with it.

[Jimfear]

Now where did you get your hands on a K28/2 when I have been looking all over for it. Hopefully as far away from Sthlm/Uppsala as it gets so I don't have to feel like I have missed out.

Good catch anyway, the lenses look very nice.

[octavmandru]

Now where did you get your hands on a K28/2 when I have been looking all over for it. Hopefully as far away from Sthlm/Uppsala as it gets so I don't have to feel like I have missed out.

Good catch anyway, the lenses look very nice.

Malmo. sorry...
Noob luck I guess. Plus one ton of shameless insistence.
Did I mention I waited more then 10 min in the street for the guy to open the store for me? pretended not to understand the shop was closed on Tuesdays, this was my one way ticket to the lens paradise ...

[octavmandru]

I took some tests today on Pentax 28/2.
Darn, this is one sharp lens! I will not be able to return to my other lenses now...
The following pics are not PP. straight from the camera on Picasa.
Purpose was to check sharpness, CA and color rendering.




Finally, a center crop 100%. No sharpening there.

[rparmar]

The Vivitar 35/1.9 is an M42 mount lens manufactured by Komine, available from 1975-79. Here is a hilariously inappropriate ad from a 1974 issue of Peterson's. It sold for $165 back in the day.

Here is a lens shot and examples of photos taken with it. We can see it has a 55mm filter size. Apparently the close focus distance is 40cm, but perhaps you can confirm that?

I am sure it is an excellent lens. Looking forward to more shots.

[octavmandru]

darn, nr 5 in the advertisment, really pops!
have more?

Close focus distance is just a bit under 0,3 m. I find this good enough.

I still need to test it more thoroughly, I still don't have the adapter ring...
you see, with the old lenses you can't go wrong. can't say the same about the new ones.

[rparmar]

Close focus distance is just a bit under 0,3 m. I find this good enough.

Just to be sure, are you measuring this from the sensor plane, or from the front of the lens?

[octavmandru]

Noo. This is the indication on the focusing ring.