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bluespearbone · 12-24-2009, 12:13 AM

Just bagged the Vivitar 70-210mm 1:4.5-5.6 'A' Macro for approx 20USD inc delivery. Obviously not received it yet, but wondered if anyone had any experience of this lens?

Thanks in advance

ovim · 12-24-2009, 12:38 AM

I briefly had a Vivitar 4.5-5.6/70-210mm in M42 and it was abysmal. I took only a few test shots with it but images were very poor (soft, all kinds of distortion etc). Only things good about it were the small size and light weight (plenty of plastic and not much heavy glass).

But see for yourself. My copy might have been defective and/or your lens might be completely different lens altogether. And if it's as bad as mine you didn't pay too much for it.

Vivitar 3.8/75-205mm (Kiron made) is really an excellent performer and can be had for almost the same price.

JohnBee · 12-24-2009, 12:41 AM

I went through two of these, and ended up picking-up a 70-210 Series-1 2.8 instead.
The first two weren't exciting at all.

The Series-1 is pretty impressive.
Though it doesn't light-up until zoomed at 100mm and beyond.

bdery · 12-24-2009, 05:54 AM

I had the series 1 f3.5 and also the KA macro. Contrary to the other posters (we might not be talking about the exact same lenses since there were many versions) I find the KA macro pretty good. Not as sharp as the series 1 but very uniform across apertures and the image frame. It's also small and light and well constructed. I'm not using it because I have an equivalent AF pens but it's not bad really. Of course people are right to say the series 1 are better, they are better than most zooms out there.

JohnBee · 12-24-2009, 06:25 AM

Ah yes bdery is right. I didn't mean to misslead you into thinking they were all junk.

The two copies I had were from different manufacturers. Which I found out about about later on in my research. That being said,. you could just as well get one of the better versions too.

The Series-1 is 70-210's are also subject to version differences and thanks to the help from other members on pentaxforums.com, I was able to purchase one of the better verisiosn this time.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find as much info. on the non Series-1 versions otherwise, I would have posted some links for you.

So here's to hoping you got a good deal.

bluespearbone · 12-25-2009, 01:19 PM

Thanks everyone for the feedback.
Naturally, for the cost have no concerns; just saw an opportunity to get an 'A' lens at little cost - but, you usally get what you pay for - so have to wait and see.
This will be the first 'macro' lens have had [or rather, will get] my hands on.

There is a review here:
PentaxForums.com Third-Party Pentax Lens Review Database - 70-210 f4,5-f5,6 Macro

Can't seem to find any info on the net describing the Macro performance.

Again, thanks to all.

Edit: Sorry bdery, just spotted you were the reviewer!

12-24-2009, 12:13 AM	#1
bluespearbone Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Derbyshire, United Kingdom Posts: 325	Vivitar 70-210mm 1:4.5-5.6 'A' Macro Just bagged the Vivitar 70-210mm 1:4.5-5.6 'A' Macro for approx 20USD inc delivery. Obviously not received it yet, but wondered if anyone had any experience of this lens? Thanks in advance

12-25-2009, 01:19 PM	#6
bluespearbone Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Derbyshire, United Kingdom Posts: 325 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for the feedback. Naturally, for the cost have no concerns; just saw an opportunity to get an 'A' lens at little cost - but, you usally get what you pay for - so have to wait and see. This will be the first 'macro' lens have had [or rather, will get] my hands on. There is a review here: PentaxForums.com Third-Party Pentax Lens Review Database - 70-210 f4,5-f5,6 Macro Can't seem to find any info on the net describing the Macro performance. Again, thanks to all. Edit: Sorry bdery, just spotted you were the reviewer! Last edited by bluespearbone; 12-25-2009 at 02:48 PM.

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12-24-2009, 12:38 AM	#2
ovim Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tre, Finland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	I briefly had a Vivitar 4.5-5.6/70-210mm in M42 and it was abysmal. I took only a few test shots with it but images were very poor (soft, all kinds of distortion etc). Only things good about it were the small size and light weight (plenty of plastic and not much heavy glass). But see for yourself. My copy might have been defective and/or your lens might be completely different lens altogether. And if it's as bad as mine you didn't pay too much for it. Vivitar 3.8/75-205mm (Kiron made) is really an excellent performer and can be had for almost the same price.

12-24-2009, 12:41 AM	#3
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	I went through two of these, and ended up picking-up a 70-210 Series-1 2.8 instead. The first two weren't exciting at all. The Series-1 is pretty impressive. Though it doesn't light-up until zoomed at 100mm and beyond.

12-24-2009, 05:54 AM	#4
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,363	I had the series 1 f3.5 and also the KA macro. Contrary to the other posters (we might not be talking about the exact same lenses since there were many versions) I find the KA macro pretty good. Not as sharp as the series 1 but very uniform across apertures and the image frame. It's also small and light and well constructed. I'm not using it because I have an equivalent AF pens but it's not bad really. Of course people are right to say the series 1 are better, they are better than most zooms out there.

12-24-2009, 06:25 AM	#5
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Ah yes bdery is right. I didn't mean to misslead you into thinking they were all junk. The two copies I had were from different manufacturers. Which I found out about about later on in my research. That being said,. you could just as well get one of the better versions too. The Series-1 is 70-210's are also subject to version differences and thanks to the help from other members on pentaxforums.com, I was able to purchase one of the better verisiosn this time. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find as much info. on the non Series-1 versions otherwise, I would have posted some links for you. So here's to hoping you got a good deal.