Vivitar Lens Club - share the beauty

Jonathan Mac · 09-22-2012, 04:25 AM

Originally posted by amber waters

Took an early fall trip up to MN's North Shore two weekends ago. Was able to get a few decent shots with the Vivitar 28/2.8 CF (K02).

f/2.8, 1600 iso, 30 sec exposure (just starting to see evidence of star trails)

Lake Superior Sunrise

Lastly, a 5 image pano of the same sunrise

Beautiful shots.

**rparmar** · 09-22-2012, 06:50 AM

Lots of lovely shots here with the 28mm Close Focus. But I still get people writing to me asking if they are worth buying.

**paulh** · 10-08-2012, 05:18 PM

This is an older one of my niece & her piano teacher - *istD + Vivitar 135/2.8 wide-open, iso 800: (x-posted from Portraits)

I like this shot better, altho technically not as good - I wasn't able to get them both in focus with the shallow DOF + the slow shutter:

magkelly · 10-14-2012, 10:16 PM

Sometime before bed I pick up a camera and I work on my MF. I pick one or two lenses and for half an hour or so I just try to focus as best I can in the low light of my bedroom usually sans a flash. I always figure if I can get it right under those circumstances than MF under better conditions will be easier.

Anyhow tonight I decided to put my new Viv 100mm (M42/2.8 version) on the K-x....

Raven Mini Blythe up on a shelf a few feet away....

Photocopy Portrait of Lord Byron in Crystal Frame, same unit, one shelf below Blythe....

This is a very good lens either that or my crappy eyes aren't nearly as bad as I thought. :P Very nice considering I it's so dim I usually can't even see my cats unless they move in here. I bought this one with a Mayima 55 for like $42 I think it was, so for roughly $22 I think this lens was worth the buy, no? I did make jpegs for the web, crop a bit, and shrink the size so I could post them online but no sharpening et all was done otherwise. Actually the originals are even sharper. Making them into jpegs blurred them a little I think. I was particularly impressed with how well it got the crystal frame. That frame can be difficult to photograph well which is why I tend to choose it a lot to practice with. Blythe, she's only like 3" tall too and I wasn't exactly at macro length. 3 feet maybe a bit more? The type, that's pretty good too....

I'd be really hard pressed to tell you which is better this or my 105MM Tak. Both of them are excellent lenses and when I'm reviewing pics done with them I can barely tell them apart. The Viv is just a bit less warm maybe and a bit less sharp at the edges, but it's really, really close... I haven't done any portrait work with this one as yet. I'm looking forward to trying it though...

Last edited by magkelly; 10-14-2012 at 10:32 PM.

Jonathan Mac · 10-18-2012, 12:49 AM

These are from the Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 (not the close focus version) in M42 mount.

Ikarus · 10-30-2012, 10:49 PM

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm 1:2.8-4.0, version 3

SyncGuy · 10-31-2012, 01:37 AM

Originally posted by Ikarus

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm 1:2.8-4.0, version 3

I'm seriously planning to sell this lens due to under-utilization but this pic you've posted makes me think twice.. Damn!

Ikarus · 10-31-2012, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by SyncGuy

I'm seriously planning to sell this lens due to under-utilization but this pic you've posted makes me think twice.. Damn!

Thanks! I can relate to what you're saying. Because of its heft, this is not a lens I'm taking with me very often, but I never regret when I do. I don't think I'll ever part with it. It is worth more to me than what I could make selling it.

magkelly · 10-31-2012, 01:59 PM

Mine is not a series 1. Those are too rich for my wallet, but it's a heck of a lens if you don't mind carrying around a lens that's about as heavy as a cannon ball. I have the Vivitar 75-260mm f/4.5 T4 in M42. My favorite Vivitar zoom lens is the much lighter Vivitar 75-300mm f/4.5-5.8 which I mean to pick up again one of these days again in a Pentax mount. I traded mine off for a couple of AF Tamron lenses, which I don't regret because it was a good deal, but sometimes I really miss that lens. I still have it in Yashica but I really want it back again in the Pentax mount so I can use it on my K-x. The Vivitar 75-260mm f/4.5 T4 is great on a tripod but I can't hand hold it like I could the 75-300mm. That huge 75-260mm lens though it was well worth the $12 I probably spent on it. I've gotten some stellar bird shots with that lens. It's a little prone towards flare and fringing, but with a lens hood it's really not so bad and my software can usually take care of it. It's nice and sharp though. Excellent lens for the $$$.

Ikarus · 10-31-2012, 11:50 PM

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm 1:2.8-4.0, version 3

elliott · 12-06-2012, 03:46 PM

Playing with my Komine made Vivitar 200mm F3.5 on the new K-5. I was worried the higher resolution sensor would make this lens less usable, but it seems just as good on 16mp as it did on 6mp. This was around f5.6, using my Vivitar 285HV on auto mode.

Miserere · 12-06-2012, 07:27 PM

Originally posted by elliott

Playing with my Komine made Vivitar 200mm F3.5 on the new K-5. I was worried the higher resolution sensor would make this lens less usable, but it seems just as good on 16mp as it did on 6mp. This was around f5.6, using my Vivitar 285HV on auto mode.

I have this lens in M42 mount; it's very good and highly under appreciated; I paid nothing for it.

Nice bird you have there, great for testing lens sharpness

elliott · 12-06-2012, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by Miserere

I have this lens in M42 mount; it's very good and highly under appreciated; I paid nothing for it.

I think I gave $8 for mine, so virtually nothing. Very good but very heavy, so I don't use it nearly as much as I should. Mine is also M42, I think if it were a K mount with an aperture coupling I would use it a lot more. The M/A switch isn't convenient enough to flip while shooting. The built in hood is a nice touch, but really too short even on a full frame.

Originally posted by Miserere

Nice bird you have there, great for testing lens sharpness

I think he'd be good for showing moire on a K5 IIs too.

Here is a crop from that image, the scaled down Flickr one doesn't really show how sharp this lens is.
imgur: the simple image sharer

I can't wait to get a focusing screen for the K-5, I had a split prism in the K100D, trying to nail focus with shallow DOF on a stock screen is torture. I just haven't decided whether or not I want to try the Canon S type screen or just go for another split.

Miserere · 12-06-2012, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by elliott

Here is a crop from that image, the scaled down Flickr one doesn't really show how sharp this lens is.
imgur: the simple image sharer

Wow, that is sharp indeed

**Pepe Guitarra** · 12-06-2012, 09:17 PM

Originally posted by paulh

This is an older one of my niece & her piano teacher - *istD + Vivitar 135/2.8 wide-open, iso 800: (x-posted from Portraits)

I like this shot better, altho technically not as good - I wasn't able to get them both in focus with the shallow DOF + the slow shutter:

Beautiful photos, looking at them I really would like to go back in time and learn to play piano. Not guitar.

12-06-2012, 07:42 PM	#358
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	Originally posted by Miserere I have this lens in M42 mount; it's very good and highly under appreciated; I paid nothing for it. I think I gave $8 for mine, so virtually nothing. Very good but very heavy, so I don't use it nearly as much as I should. Mine is also M42, I think if it were a K mount with an aperture coupling I would use it a lot more. The M/A switch isn't convenient enough to flip while shooting. The built in hood is a nice touch, but really too short even on a full frame. Originally posted by Miserere Nice bird you have there, great for testing lens sharpness I think he'd be good for showing moire on a K5 IIs too. Here is a crop from that image, the scaled down Flickr one doesn't really show how sharp this lens is. imgur: the simple image sharer I can't wait to get a focusing screen for the K-5, I had a split prism in the K100D, trying to nail focus with shallow DOF on a stock screen is torture. I just haven't decided whether or not I want to try the Canon S type screen or just go for another split. Last edited by elliott; 12-06-2012 at 07:47 PM.

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09-22-2012, 04:25 AM	#346
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,894	Originally posted by amber waters Took an early fall trip up to MN's North Shore two weekends ago. Was able to get a few decent shots with the Vivitar 28/2.8 CF (K02). f/2.8, 1600 iso, 30 sec exposure (just starting to see evidence of star trails) Lake Superior Sunrise Lastly, a 5 image pano of the same sunrise Beautiful shots.

09-22-2012, 06:50 AM	#347
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	Lots of lovely shots here with the 28mm Close Focus. But I still get people writing to me asking if they are worth buying.

10-08-2012, 05:18 PM	#348
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,255	This is an older one of my niece & her piano teacher - *istD + Vivitar 135/2.8 wide-open, iso 800: (x-posted from Portraits) I like this shot better, altho technically not as good - I wasn't able to get them both in focus with the shallow DOF + the slow shutter:

10-14-2012, 10:16 PM	#349
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	Sometime before bed I pick up a camera and I work on my MF. I pick one or two lenses and for half an hour or so I just try to focus as best I can in the low light of my bedroom usually sans a flash. I always figure if I can get it right under those circumstances than MF under better conditions will be easier. Anyhow tonight I decided to put my new Viv 100mm (M42/2.8 version) on the K-x.... Raven Mini Blythe up on a shelf a few feet away.... Photocopy Portrait of Lord Byron in Crystal Frame, same unit, one shelf below Blythe.... This is a very good lens either that or my crappy eyes aren't nearly as bad as I thought. :P Very nice considering I it's so dim I usually can't even see my cats unless they move in here. I bought this one with a Mayima 55 for like $42 I think it was, so for roughly $22 I think this lens was worth the buy, no? I did make jpegs for the web, crop a bit, and shrink the size so I could post them online but no sharpening et all was done otherwise. Actually the originals are even sharper. Making them into jpegs blurred them a little I think. I was particularly impressed with how well it got the crystal frame. That frame can be difficult to photograph well which is why I tend to choose it a lot to practice with. Blythe, she's only like 3" tall too and I wasn't exactly at macro length. 3 feet maybe a bit more? The type, that's pretty good too.... I'd be really hard pressed to tell you which is better this or my 105MM Tak. Both of them are excellent lenses and when I'm reviewing pics done with them I can barely tell them apart. The Viv is just a bit less warm maybe and a bit less sharp at the edges, but it's really, really close... I haven't done any portrait work with this one as yet. I'm looking forward to trying it though... Last edited by magkelly; 10-14-2012 at 10:32 PM.

10-18-2012, 12:49 AM	#350
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,894	These are from the Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 (not the close focus version) in M42 mount.

10-30-2012, 10:49 PM	#351
Ikarus Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: California Photos: Albums Posts: 484	Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm 1:2.8-4.0, version 3

10-31-2012, 01:37 AM	#352
SyncGuy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 821	Originally posted by Ikarus Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm 1:2.8-4.0, version 3 I'm seriously planning to sell this lens due to under-utilization but this pic you've posted makes me think twice.. Damn!

10-31-2012, 01:30 PM	#353
Ikarus Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: California Photos: Albums Posts: 484	Originally posted by SyncGuy I'm seriously planning to sell this lens due to under-utilization but this pic you've posted makes me think twice.. Damn! Thanks! I can relate to what you're saying. Because of its heft, this is not a lens I'm taking with me very often, but I never regret when I do. I don't think I'll ever part with it. It is worth more to me than what I could make selling it.

10-31-2012, 01:59 PM	#354
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	Mine is not a series 1. Those are too rich for my wallet, but it's a heck of a lens if you don't mind carrying around a lens that's about as heavy as a cannon ball. I have the Vivitar 75-260mm f/4.5 T4 in M42. My favorite Vivitar zoom lens is the much lighter Vivitar 75-300mm f/4.5-5.8 which I mean to pick up again one of these days again in a Pentax mount. I traded mine off for a couple of AF Tamron lenses, which I don't regret because it was a good deal, but sometimes I really miss that lens. I still have it in Yashica but I really want it back again in the Pentax mount so I can use it on my K-x. The Vivitar 75-260mm f/4.5 T4 is great on a tripod but I can't hand hold it like I could the 75-300mm. That huge 75-260mm lens though it was well worth the $12 I probably spent on it. I've gotten some stellar bird shots with that lens. It's a little prone towards flare and fringing, but with a lens hood it's really not so bad and my software can usually take care of it. It's nice and sharp though. Excellent lens for the $$$.

10-31-2012, 11:50 PM	#355
Ikarus Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: California Photos: Albums Posts: 484	Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm 1:2.8-4.0, version 3

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12-06-2012, 03:46 PM	#356
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	Playing with my Komine made Vivitar 200mm F3.5 on the new K-5. I was worried the higher resolution sensor would make this lens less usable, but it seems just as good on 16mp as it did on 6mp. This was around f5.6, using my Vivitar 285HV on auto mode.

12-06-2012, 07:27 PM	#357
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	Originally posted by elliott Playing with my Komine made Vivitar 200mm F3.5 on the new K-5. I was worried the higher resolution sensor would make this lens less usable, but it seems just as good on 16mp as it did on 6mp. This was around f5.6, using my Vivitar 285HV on auto mode. I have this lens in M42 mount; it's very good and highly under appreciated; I paid nothing for it. Nice bird you have there, great for testing lens sharpness

12-06-2012, 07:46 PM	#359
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	Originally posted by elliott Here is a crop from that image, the scaled down Flickr one doesn't really show how sharp this lens is. imgur: the simple image sharer Wow, that is sharp indeed

12-06-2012, 09:17 PM	#360
Pepe Guitarra Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,223	Originally posted by paulh This is an older one of my niece & her piano teacher - *istD + Vivitar 135/2.8 wide-open, iso 800: (x-posted from Portraits) I like this shot better, altho technically not as good - I wasn't able to get them both in focus with the shallow DOF + the slow shutter: Beautiful photos, looking at them I really would like to go back in time and learn to play piano. Not guitar.