The Great Vivitar 28mm Bestiary

Miserere · 04-16-2009, 05:29 AM

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Great job, Robin. I think you can take a rest now, before tackling the rest of the Vivitar line-up

It seems like only the 28mm lenses were so varied, as other focal lengths have a few, if any, variants. I wouldn't want you to start buying 100mm-ish macros, though. It might ruin you in in more ways than one

**rparmar** · 04-16-2009, 10:35 AM

Originally posted by Miserere

Great job, Robin. I think you can take a rest now, before tackling the rest of the Vivitar line-up

It seems like only the 28mm lenses were so varied, as other focal lengths have a few, if any, variants. I wouldn't want you to start buying 100mm-ish macros, though. It might ruin you in in more ways than one

I am intrigued...

Actually I have started a 24mm catalogue and there are at least eight different ones. I don't think I'll get formal about it any time soon, though.

amaurosis · 04-24-2009, 03:20 PM

rparmar, is this one in your database yet? It doesn't say "SMS" on the lens and has an "A"-setting, so I was wondering...

**rparmar** · 04-24-2009, 04:42 PM

I'd say that's a new one! So A03 it is. Very close to what was there before. Can you tell me if it says "28mm" or "28MM"? Just a matter of capitalisation, but still.

Also, do you have a shot from the side of the barrel, for the official file?

amaurosis · 04-25-2009, 01:04 AM

Do you mean one like this?

"MM" is capitalised, btw.

**rparmar** · 04-25-2009, 10:05 AM

Thanks! So the one labeled "SMS" is "mm" and the one without is "MM" -- these differences are quite hilarious! Maybe Vivitar employed someone to come up with as many variants as possible? Hope the lens is good for you -- nice to have an "A" copy. I use my 24mm for that reason.

amaurosis · 04-25-2009, 11:05 AM

No problem at all. In fact, I owe you for providing all this information here because it helped me choose the right model a few months ago.

Anyway, I actually just sold the lens via marketplace. I really think it's a great piece of glass but ever since I got my FA31 the Vivitar hasn't been the same for me. Might just as well let someone else have fun with it (also, the value has apparently increased since I got it).

Interesting website you have, btw. Nice selection of music etc.

**rparmar** · 04-25-2009, 11:47 AM

Originally posted by amaurosis

Anyway, I actually just sold the lens via marketplace. I really think it's a great piece of glass but ever since I got my FA31 the Vivitar hasn't been the same for me. Might just as well let someone else have fun with it (also, the value has apparently increased since I got it).

Yes, I imagine the FA31 kinda makes it redundant. The Vivis are good but not that good!

Originally posted by amaurosis

Interesting website you have, btw. Nice selection of music etc.

Thanks. Lots of odd stuff if one looks around all my websites. Am working on a Masters in music technology right now and mostly working on electroacoustic and acousmatic compositions. I should update my freebies sometime.

amaurosis · 04-25-2009, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by rparmar

Am working on a Masters in music technology right now and mostly working on electroacoustic and acousmatic compositions.

I kind of figured

Was referring to your favourite albums in the first place but will definitely check out the audio material out of interest and curiosity.

Also enjoyed the "Two Photographs, Two Letters" article. It reminded me of JP Sartre. Did you actually write that?

**rparmar** · 04-25-2009, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by amaurosis

Also enjoyed the "Two Photographs, Two Letters" article. It reminded me of JP Sartre. Did you actually write that?

Yes. Thank you for the compliment.

mikeSF · 04-25-2009, 06:25 PM

here is one on eBay with a BIN of $189.
Vivitar 28mm F=1;2.5 Auto Wide Angle - eBay (item 7511762627 end time May-06-09 19:41:46 PDT)
most of these Viv 28's seem to sell for under $50, no? what am i missing about this variant?
thx.

**rparmar** · 04-26-2009, 06:07 AM

Maybe they are getting confused with the f/1.9 version? Maybe they're just a chancer.

jsherman999 · 04-26-2009, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by mikeSF

here is one on eBay with a BIN of $189.
Vivitar 28mm F=1;2.5 Auto Wide Angle - eBay (item 7511762627 end time May-06-09 19:41:46 PDT)
most of these Viv 28's seem to sell for under $50, no? what am i missing about this variant?
thx.

They're attempting a little rip-off, there, those go for $20 - $60. I have one, and I assure you I didn't pay $189

.

ovim · 04-26-2009, 11:53 AM

Is this one on your list? I just won it

It's Komine made (serial 28xxxxx), 49mm filter ring, has PK-A/R written on the side so I its KA (I'll have to get rid of the Ricoh pin), it doesn't have "Close focus" written on it but theres "MACRO 1:4x" written on the focus scale and the seller states that focus scale starts from below 1foot.

I already had a Komine made non-close focus 2.8/28mm, but it didn't stand a chance against my K-mount Chinon 2.8/28mm (made by Tokina) so I sold it. Hopefully this is better.

**rparmar** · 04-26-2009, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by ovim

Is this one on your list? I just won it

What's with the barrel? That's wacky crazy looking, like it has two filters surgically attached or something. Looks like a new model to me, likely be A04. Man, they just keep coming out of the woodwork!

Hope this one works for you but 30cm is not particularly close focus for these lenses. I think the closest one is 14cm and some are 20cm.

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04-16-2009, 05:29 AM	#16
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	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. Great job, Robin. I think you can take a rest now, before tackling the rest of the Vivitar line-up It seems like only the 28mm lenses were so varied, as other focal lengths have a few, if any, variants. I wouldn't want you to start buying 100mm-ish macros, though. It might ruin you in in more ways than one

04-16-2009, 10:35 AM	#17
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Originally posted by Miserere Great job, Robin. I think you can take a rest now, before tackling the rest of the Vivitar line-up It seems like only the 28mm lenses were so varied, as other focal lengths have a few, if any, variants. I wouldn't want you to start buying 100mm-ish macros, though. It might ruin you in in more ways than one I am intrigued... Actually I have started a 24mm catalogue and there are at least eight different ones. I don't think I'll get formal about it any time soon, though.

04-24-2009, 03:20 PM	#18
amaurosis Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vienna Posts: 96	rparmar, is this one in your database yet? It doesn't say "SMS" on the lens and has an "A"-setting, so I was wondering...

04-24-2009, 04:42 PM	#19
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	I'd say that's a new one! So A03 it is. Very close to what was there before. Can you tell me if it says "28mm" or "28MM"? Just a matter of capitalisation, but still. Also, do you have a shot from the side of the barrel, for the official file?

04-25-2009, 01:04 AM	#20
amaurosis Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vienna Posts: 96	Do you mean one like this? "MM" is capitalised, btw.

04-25-2009, 10:05 AM	#21
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Thanks! So the one labeled "SMS" is "mm" and the one without is "MM" -- these differences are quite hilarious! Maybe Vivitar employed someone to come up with as many variants as possible? Hope the lens is good for you -- nice to have an "A" copy. I use my 24mm for that reason.

04-25-2009, 11:05 AM	#22
amaurosis Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vienna Posts: 96	No problem at all. In fact, I owe you for providing all this information here because it helped me choose the right model a few months ago. Anyway, I actually just sold the lens via marketplace. I really think it's a great piece of glass but ever since I got my FA31 the Vivitar hasn't been the same for me. Might just as well let someone else have fun with it (also, the value has apparently increased since I got it). Interesting website you have, btw. Nice selection of music etc.

04-25-2009, 11:47 AM	#23
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Originally posted by amaurosis Anyway, I actually just sold the lens via marketplace. I really think it's a great piece of glass but ever since I got my FA31 the Vivitar hasn't been the same for me. Might just as well let someone else have fun with it (also, the value has apparently increased since I got it). Yes, I imagine the FA31 kinda makes it redundant. The Vivis are good but not that good! Originally posted by amaurosis Interesting website you have, btw. Nice selection of music etc. Thanks. Lots of odd stuff if one looks around all my websites. Am working on a Masters in music technology right now and mostly working on electroacoustic and acousmatic compositions. I should update my freebies sometime.

04-25-2009, 12:53 PM	#24
amaurosis Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Vienna Posts: 96	Originally posted by rparmar Am working on a Masters in music technology right now and mostly working on electroacoustic and acousmatic compositions. I kind of figured Was referring to your favourite albums in the first place but will definitely check out the audio material out of interest and curiosity. Also enjoyed the "Two Photographs, Two Letters" article. It reminded me of JP Sartre. Did you actually write that?

04-25-2009, 05:38 PM	#25
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Originally posted by amaurosis Also enjoyed the "Two Photographs, Two Letters" article. It reminded me of JP Sartre. Did you actually write that? Yes. Thank you for the compliment.

04-25-2009, 06:25 PM	#26
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	here is one on eBay with a BIN of $189. Vivitar 28mm F=1;2.5 Auto Wide Angle - eBay (item 7511762627 end time May-06-09 19:41:46 PDT) most of these Viv 28's seem to sell for under $50, no? what am i missing about this variant? thx.

04-26-2009, 06:07 AM	#27
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Maybe they are getting confused with the f/1.9 version? Maybe they're just a chancer.

04-26-2009, 09:14 AM	#28
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by mikeSF here is one on eBay with a BIN of $189. Vivitar 28mm F=1;2.5 Auto Wide Angle - eBay (item 7511762627 end time May-06-09 19:41:46 PDT) most of these Viv 28's seem to sell for under $50, no? what am i missing about this variant? thx. They're attempting a little rip-off, there, those go for $20 - $60. I have one, and I assure you I didn't pay $189 .

04-26-2009, 11:53 AM	#29
ovim Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tre, Finland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	Is this one on your list? I just won it It's Komine made (serial 28xxxxx), 49mm filter ring, has PK-A/R written on the side so I its KA (I'll have to get rid of the Ricoh pin), it doesn't have "Close focus" written on it but theres "MACRO 1:4x" written on the focus scale and the seller states that focus scale starts from below 1foot. I already had a Komine made non-close focus 2.8/28mm, but it didn't stand a chance against my K-mount Chinon 2.8/28mm (made by Tokina) so I sold it. Hopefully this is better.

04-26-2009, 04:49 PM	#30
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819 Original Poster	Originally posted by ovim Is this one on your list? I just won it What's with the barrel? That's wacky crazy looking, like it has two filters surgically attached or something. Looks like a new model to me, likely be A04. Man, they just keep coming out of the woodwork! Hope this one works for you but 30cm is not particularly close focus for these lenses. I think the closest one is 14cm and some are 20cm.