[Dewman]

When reading the reviews on lenses, it is apparent that all it takes is one person, just one, who isn't familiar with manual focus lenses to throw the entire rating of what may very well be a wonderful lens, completely in the tank! They will gripe and complain about it's lack of sharpness and "flawed optics," and give it a rating of 4 or 5, when every other reviewer will have given it a rating of at least 8 or above.


Where can I find a grain of salt about four inches across? I need it to take when reading these reviews!

[Jonathan Mac]

Vivitar 75-205 f/3.8 at 205mm.


IMGP1677a Viv 75-205_3.8 by Jonathan_in_Madrid, on Flickr

[paulh]

Vivitar 19/3.8 on an *ist D:

[jimr-pdx]

I picked up a 35-105mm f/3.2-4 recently, in part because it wasn't in the Forum database Starts with #77 so Kobori apparently; I liked their 28-105mm but it was a dense and big-filtered beast; this one is quite heavy too but takes 55mm filters. Definitely creeps and flares but otherwise it's a very nice lens. Its fast aperture allows for easy focus feedback even without peaking/zoom though I'm sure for fine tuning that would be best. Needs a hood for best results but a little flare can be fun.

Note the short focus and zoom throws on this thing; it can adjust quickly to anything and works nicely for video. I'm enjoying this $35 investment quite a bit


---------- Post added 03-08-15 at 09:22 ----------

Here's a shot just within 'macro' focus at 105mm -

[Trenton]

Just picked up a Vivitar 28mm F2.8 Close Focus and am already completely impressed. Just playing around with it for a day shows that this glass is awesome.

[k0og]

Trenton, the Vivitars can sometimes be surprisingly good!

Here is one from my one of my Vivitars, not as good as some others, but 19mm is a "fun" focal length.

The trout lilys are coming out all over the place, now that warm springtime weather is here.

K-5, ISO80, Vivitar-A 19mm f3.8 @ f8, minimum focus distance, heavily cropped

-Joe-

[paulh]

Here is one from my one of my Vivitars, not as good as some others, but 19mm is a "fun" focal length.

Nice one Joe. Agree about the Viv 19 - my copy is a bit quirky, but I do enjoy the FL! Taken in the lobby of the American Airlines Museum in Ft Worth (xposted):

[k0og]

This morning this tulip opened, and looked like a good photo opportunity. I was testing the 75-205mm (one-touch version) with both the matched 2X TC, and the general-use Vivitar 2X-22 TC and comparing results. It appears that the matched TC is not as good as the 2X-22, and the 2X-22 is smaller, so a little better handling. This photo is with the 2X-22, and the focal length was at about 300mm from several feet away, stopped down to f5.6 on the lens aperture setting, hence a true f11.

Pentax K-5, ISO1000, 1/1000s, 300mm, f11, handheld

-Joe-

[Dewman]

This morning this tulip opened, and looked like a good photo opportunity. I was testing the 75-205mm (one-touch version) with both the matched 2X TC, and the general-use Vivitar 2X-22 TC and comparing results. It appears that the matched TC is not as good as the 2X-22, and the 2X-22 is smaller, so a little better handling. This photo is with the 2X-22, and the focal length was at about 300mm from several feet away, stopped down to f5.6 on the lens aperture setting, hence a true f11.

Pentax K-5, ISO1000, 1/1000s, 300mm, f11, handheld

-Joe-

Very nice work, Joe.... especially being hand-held! You must have some mighty steady hands. I also have the 75-205mm lens with the matched TC. I bought it as a combo, but quickly learned to NOT like using the TC. I've never been fond of them to begin with, and that experience only served to reinforce my previous opinion of them. I've decided that if I need more "reach," I'll just get a lens with more of it built in rather than some less-than-satisfactory way of achieving the intended results. If I need anything longer than 600mm, I'll just get closer to my subject! Works for me!


I have several Vivitar lenses and I REALLY like the 80-200mm. Holy cow.... that thing is SHARP! I'd rate it as high as both my two Series 1 70-210mm lenses. As someone said in the reviews.... "A hidden gem of a lens."

[zzeitg]

Vivitar 17mm f3.5

[Richard & Sheila]

Green-winged orchid with cowslip at Barrington Hill NNR, Somerset.

[DeepThrob]

Ya' gotta love that 28 close focus. It's ................................inspiring!

[pentaxpete]

I went out to finish up the last few frames on my Pentax LX with the 'Sticky Mirror Syndrome' .loaded with outdated Fuji Velvia 50 that i had been given ( not with boxes so no actual DATE but probably 1999) and I was surprised to see all the Fuji ones were GOOD whereas in Poland the LX spoilt a lot of frames on HP5+ B&W film. I rated the film at 32 ASA.

Horse Chestnut at Full Aperture f2.8 on the 135mm Vivitar

[zzeitg]

Vivitar 17mm f3.5 (3 after sunset shots with cheap JYC CPL filter on)

[Dewman]

Vivitar 17mm f3.5 (3 after sunset shots with cheap JYC CPL filter on)

Stunning colors!. It was that time of day where you wished you could call a temporary halt to the rotation of the earth so you could capture some more if that glorious light. Gorgeous!

---------- Post added 06-02-15 at 12:22 PM ----------

Do any of you own a Vivitar lens with the serial # beginning with 42xxxxx? According to the information I have been able to scrounge up, it was made by Bauer or possibly Robt. Bosch GmbH. Any comments, good or bad? I have several Vivitar lenses but none from this manufacturer and was considering buying one from a local pawn shop but thought I'd gather some info before I put down then cash. Thanks for any comments or opinions.