[hinman]

1. Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine (v3) ($175.0 + shipping) [Withdrawn]

• in mint condition, like new
• no scratch, fungus and haze
• komine version 3, the best one, with 'A' setting
• close up 1:2.5 ratio
• filter size is 62mm
• comes with original vivitar case
• includes original Vivitar Series 1 front cap and generic rear caps
• reason: trimming on overall gear, need funding on LBA
• My reports:
  • Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine (v3) -- Hin's Tech Corner
  • Lens Forum Disccusion
  • Test Pictures

Shipping & Handling

• actual shipping charge using USPS priority, will request for insured shipping to be safe at buyer's cost.
• US estimated at $10 with tracking, add $3.50 for insurance
• prefer paypal and US buyers but I can accommodate for international buyers with extra on shipping and paypal fee
• please check on my feedbacks and buy with confidence

I will post pictures in next post. Please post a comment here and PM me for interest and questions so that I can honor the order of interested parties.

---

Last edited by hinman; 11-17-2008 at 04:42 PM.

[hinman]

1. Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine (v3)

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine (v3)

Lens Forum Disccusion













Test Pictures

NOTE: Original Vivitar leather case and Vivitar Series 1 front cap are not shown in the pictures but they will be included in the sale.

[hinman]

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine (v3)

#1



#2



#3



#4


More Test Pictures

[hinman]

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine (v3)







The lens is as good as it looks, and it comes with original lens case and front cap.

Thanks,
Hin

---

Last edited by hinman; 10-24-2008 at 05:06 PM.

[hinman]

All test shots are done quickly at 7:00pm Friday after sunset. All are using Av mode in f/2.8 to have it wide open for all shots. No tripod, I like to push my my hand-holding limits whenever I get a chance. The lens does quite well wide open in f/2.8, iso 400 with mostly -1/3 Ev adjustment, and no flash.

A very tall statue and I am at least 50 to 150 feet away

#1
1/25 sec




#2
1/8 sec




#3
1/8 sec




#4
1/3 sec
blur from skaky hand



#5
perspective of the tall statue and a nearby building
A lady at prayer in bottom of the photo

[hinman]

I am likely to withdraw the sale if I don't hear from anyone. The lens when used with Pentax F-1.7x AF does quite well in the zoo. Pictures are quite sharp for a zoom and the partial AF works wonderfully turning this Komine Vivitar MF zoom into a powerhouse with AF around 119mm to 357mm.

Hin

[Groucho]

It looks like this lens is a hard sell lately! I didn't get much response on mine either. Mine will be off to eBay as soon as I get individual photos of each lens (I just have the group photo at the moment.)

[bdery]

I own version 1 and love it, but I can understand why some people might be scared by the price (though it's worth it with the A setting). No current lens compares with it at that price, you would have to get a 70-200 f2,8 to get better optics on this range. But it's still more expensive than a 50mm f2

[hinman]

All taken with magical Pentax F-1.7x AF TC that turns the Komine zoom into 119mm-357mm rig. I find it quite useful in the zoo. Though sharpness is not as best as a better zoom with 300mm, but this combo is worthy of attention especially the TC turns it into partial AF and I find it very helpful in panning shots with animals like the Tiger and Cotton Top Tamarin

Komine Series 1 zoom
Pentax F-1.7x AF TC

#1




#2


#3
Cotton Top Tamarin




#4



#5



#6

I may be withdrawing this lens from sale and try to push my Tokina version into Marketplace for a lower price, please PM if you have question about this Komine version or that with Tokina.

Thanks,
Hin

[hinman]

I bump this again so that I can invite other members for trading ideas. I am open to trading lens as I have suggested to various forum members who are shy of my aggressive LBA behavior. In this kind of market, it is more fluid to trade gear for fun instead of getting beaten down from our expected price.

[hinman]

Price is lowered from $175.0 to $159.00, price firm.

The komine version is truly the best of the three versions. I have both the Tokina and the Komine copies for sale. Both are for sale but I only need one. The 'A' setting alone is worth that much in cost difference. Yes, that is right. When you are shooting in the race or that in the zoo, the extra step to hit the stop-down with green button make it critical that the Komine is better than the other two. The IQ are very similar among the three. Bokeh is excellent in the Komine copy. Sharpness is a bit better in the Tokina. Color and Contrast is outstanding in both this Komine and Kiron copy. Also worth to mention is that the 1:2.5 close up in Komine v3 copy is as good as you can get.

I give this assessment among the first three Vivitar Series 1 zoom:

If you are looking for an inexpensive investment in filling in the gap for 70-210mm with reasonable speed in f/3.5 and better in f/2.8, I think I can recommend either of the three versions with noted caveats below.

Here are my subjective opinions on the three versions:

v1 from Kiron:

• Viviitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5, from Kiron (v1)
• serial number starts with 22
• best in color and contrast
• heaviest unfortunately, it is actually not much heavier than Komine copy, but it is bulkier especially on the lens barrel
• best build quality in construction
• very inexpensive to get, I see as low as $50ish
• sharpness squares evenly with the Komine copy. But I do prefer the Tokina on sharpness when stopped down
• good in bokeh, this can be subjective and I found the Komine copy best in bokeh but the Kiron copy is very close. Kiron is better than Tokina in terms of bokeh
• hardest to use due to big lens barrel
• close up is at 1:2.2 and I think the weight and the bigger size in barrel may hinder the usefulness in close up. I can't say for sure if close up is good. Given the reputation on Kiron 105mm f/2.8, I would imagine the close up quality to be as good as the Komine copy and the ratio is 1:2.2 instead of Komine copy with 1:2.5.

v2 from Tokina:

• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5, from Tokina (v2)
• serial number starts with 37
• best in sharpness when stopped down to f/5.6
• lightest of the three and much usable in walk around
• does quite poorly in close up with magnification at 1:4, I see ghosting in close up
• color and contrast are reasonable, but I like the Kiron and Komine copies better
• best in focusing ring, maybe my copy with Tokina is newer than the other, the focusing ring in my tokina copy is the best among the three versions that I have tried.
• very inexpensive to get, maybe a bit more than the Kiron version
• the easiest to handle as a walk around due to its lighter weight and better focusing ring

v3 from Komine:

• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0, from Komine (v3)
• serial number starts with 28
• the only version among the three that has 'A' settings
• weight is middle tier in 860g in between 710g Tokina and the 879g Kiron
• perhaps the barrel is not as big, I feel similar handling to the Tokina
• the komine copy is easy to handle like the Tokina though a bit heavier
• close up is found pretty decent at 1:2.5
• I still prefer the color and contrast from Kiron but I will give the Komine slightly better than Tokina
• best in bokeh along with Kiron copy after the komine, definitely better than the Tokina and close to Kiron
• sharpness is very close to the other two versions but I prefer Tokina as the sharper one
• best overall due to the 'A' setting, faster speed in f/2.8 in the shorter end.
• some moderate PF is noted
• cost more than twice of v1 and v2, recent sale goes about $160 to $180 in both ebay and Marketplace.

The reason why I pick this Vivitar Series 1 zoom is to use it as an inexpensive interim to fill the gap after Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 zoom. Ideally, I can go for the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 but I don't have the money. And another choice is the DA* 50-135 and it is just as expensive. Hence the Vivitar Series 1 zoom can easily fill in the role without breaking my budget. If you like MF and the challenge, the vivitar zoom is a nice addition.

[hinman]

Thank you to a great buyer of my other Tokina v2 of the Vivitar Series 1 zoom, I am withdrawing this Komine Series 1 selfishly for myself. I thought I can get better luck in selling this popular v3 and I am happy to have it to fill my gap from 70-210mm. I highly recommend any of the first 3 versions of Vivitar Series 1 zoom, they are all good in various areas and they will help you improve in MF. It is a win win proposition if you are very much into saving money and you don't mind MF.

Regards,
Hin

[Ratmagiclady]

It's worth keeping if you have one that's a known quantity.

Those lenses are getting a bit heavy for me to want to take anywhere, but I still love em. (I'm adding Pentax digital to my old-school Canon stuff, so I may just be in the market somewhere down the line if you end up changing your mind in a few months. I've got other priorities just now, but you never know.)

[hinman]

I have withdrawn the lens for sale and I change the price back to $175.00 for possible trading with emilf with his Adaptall gear. I will add in a 62mm metal lens hood and a new 67mm lens cap that can serve as a cap to the lens hood opening. Both 62mm metal lens hood and 67mm lens cap are new.

I hope emilf can trade me his Adaptall pk/A and 1.4x TC.

Thanks,
Hin

[hinman]

Emilf can't trade the adapter for lens at the current moment. I am closing this thread next.