[casualcollector]

T93, the T4 version of the Vivitar 28/2.8 can be seen here, Photo - a set on Flickr , in two versions and with its cousin from Soligor.

[xixco]

The pic above looks like my copy. It was an accidental eBay purchase last year that only reccently did I discover I could use (not long, just dumb story).

Anyway, with the little I've used it, I haven't liked it. LOL
I was hoping it would be a decent alternative to my recently-sold DA21mm, but using it just gave me a headache! Also, I didn't think the images were that sharp, and the bokeh didn't impress me. Maybe I need to give it more usage in different lighting. *shrug*

[rparmar]

Not necessarily a lone dissent. I didn't find the T-mount lenses were up to the standards of the K-mount. And there is additionally a great deal of difference between different variants. I don't think anyone has enough experience to distinguish them all! It is good to get negative experiences as well as positive.

[casualcollector]

Keep in mind, the T4 lenses were introduced about 1970. They are adaptations of Tokina made lenses that had been around since the 1966 to 1969 period. The designs were probably refined on an abacus. The later, TX lenses were introduced in the 1974-75 period and benefited from computer calculated design. Most TX lenses were updated again in the later 70s.

[xixco]

Oh, I definitely understand it's "an old lens" but I was still hoping for a nice surprise. (I bought a T-mount 135mm/2.8 at the same time, and I think that one is really sharp --- haven't used it enough either, but I've liked what little I have seen!)

A bad sample: K10D, ISO 1600, f/4 (?), +1 EV compensation (not that that's bad), straight JPG with sharpness +1



Of course I realize ISO1600 might be having an affect on the image and, yeah, stopping down further should increase sharpness, but still I'd expect the image to be just a bit sharper looking with the +1 setting than it is. At the same time, though, it just hit me that some "clear" protective Toshiba filter that's probably as old as the lens is on it, so who knows how it affects the IQ (I don't have the lens near me to identify the filter). Hmm... Still wish it'd focus closer!

Another at mostly same settings, just maybe wide open. Wanted to see what bokeh would look like.

[jerrymouse]

I own this version (A23 "Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / MC / WIDE ANGLE JAPAN / Ø49mm / IMAGE by" [make?]) and I must admit that I'm little disappointed. Really no reason why to prefer it over kit lens (18-55 DA L - version 2).

S/N is 98022476.

From the images I made with it (I'll compare to only other prime I have - SMC Pentax A 50/1.7 and to kit lens) - it lacks contrast/colors and sharpness. Center sharpness is OK, but corners don't get much better even at F/8. It's prone to ghosting/flare too and I can see green/cyan CA on on images where kit lens are ok.

Focusing is smooth and I believe these lens are good value (I paid around 25$), but I wouldn't recomment them over kit lens.

Take this with a grain of salt - I'm really new to DSLR photography, but i had to share this with you, because I'm a bit disappointed (I thought the lens will be better - but I think I'm spoiled with A50/1.7).

Some images of the lens:

[jerrymouse]

Some images from A23 follow. Thinking about it - they're not that bad when not shooting newspaper I like the bokeh.

In camera JPG (Pentax K-m), Bright mode, Fine sharpness +2 (default is +1), contrast +1 (default).

f/2.8


f/4


f/6.3


f/8

[rparmar]

I own this version (A23 "Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / MC / WIDE ANGLE JAPAN / Ø49mm / IMAGE by" [make?]) and I must admit that I'm little disappointed. Really no reason why to prefer it over kit lens (18-55 DA L - version 2).

You could very well be right. Not all these lenses were made equally, and I think this one is from late in the production run.

Could I use your images for the Bestiary? (It will eventually be updated to have pix.)

And one more thing. This lens seems to still have the Ricoh pin in place. I would remove it according to my instructions just in case it should get stuck. Not all lenses do get stuck, but you wouldn't want to risk it!

[jerrymouse]

Could I use your images for the Bestiary? (It will eventually be updated to have pix.)

And one more thing. This lens seems to still have the Ricoh pin in place. I would remove it according to my instructions just in case it should get stuck. Not all lenses do get stuck, but you wouldn't want to risk it!

Of course you can, that's why I posted them

And thanks, I'll remove the pin right now, even tho it makes me no problems at all (I guess I'm lucky).

[ludoo]

I just bought a Vivitar 28mm 2.8 I found for 20 euros in a store on my way to the office, and I'm trying to find out what version it is and who made it. It's in PKA mount, on the lens beauty ring it has no serial no. but only the words "Vivitar 28mm 1:2.8 mc wide angle 49mm", while the serial no, is on the side of the aperture ring: PK-A/PK97010198. Some Viv lists say that numbers starting with 9 are Cosina made, others that 9 is a special number, and the small list of 28s on the vivitar Bestiary says that number starting with 9 are Tokina made. Any ideas on what I got?

[rparmar]

I would say that's the A21, since the wording exactly matches.

To clarify: numbers starting with 9 might be Cosina or Tokina or even something else, depending on when the lens was manufactured. Newer lenses (late eighties and nineties) do not properly implement the numeric codes.

[ludoo]

I would say that's the A21, since the wording exactly matches.

Thanks for the reply. It' snothing special then, only the added convenience of the A contacts. But for the price I paid, I guess it's ok.

[rparmar]

Well, try it out! Only you can say if it meets your needs, really. Besides, then we get to see photos of Milan.

[Laurentiu Cristofor]

This is a bit off topic, but I've been looking through these Vivitar 28mm discussions and recently I acquired a lens that resembles some Vivitar models very closely. It's a Gemini 28mm f/2.8 MC AUTO with distance scale going down to 0.25m/10". Is it only me that thinks there is a resemblance or is this a Vivitar model put out under a different brand by the factory that made it (Komine, Kiron, or Tokina?).

Here are some pics:




This cannot be seen in these photos, but on one side of the barrel it says "JAPAN" and on the opposite side from the center of the distance scale there is a screw.

[stevebrot]

This is a bit off topic, but I've been looking through these Vivitar 28mm discussions and recently I acquired a lens that resembles some Vivitar models very closely. It's a Gemini 28mm f/2.8 MC AUTO with distance scale going down to 0.25m/10". Is it only me that thinks there is a resemblance or is this a Vivitar model put out under a different brand by the factory that made it (Komine, Kiron, or Tokina?).

Welcome to the Forum!

As you note, there are a number of lenses that are physically very similar to various Vivitar modes and which very well may have been made by the same manufacturers. At some point you might want to share your pictures and comments about the lens on the "Off Brand Club" thread.

Steve