Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5

Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5 · 07:49 PM

OK I know that posting this here may help push the bids up. But I thought others may be interested in watching this like I am.

shopgoodwill.com - #27791948 - Vivitar Professional 135mm Lens - 2/22/2016 7:21:00 PM

This is beyond the scope of my LBA

MegaPower · 02-18-2016, 11:05 PM

One of the rare lens that you wouldn't even know it exists.
I would take this over the A135/1.8

Jonathan Mac · 02-18-2016, 11:08 PM

Wow. But is it sharp wide open?

**dcmsox2004** · 02-19-2016, 06:09 AM

interesting lens.... Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5 - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

**KC0PET** · 02-19-2016, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

Wow. But is it sharp wide open?

You could buy it and review it for us...

a5m · 02-19-2016, 05:29 PM

Nice find! Never heard of this lens. It has 16 aperture blades and weighs 4 pounds! Wow!

**pres589** · 02-19-2016, 05:38 PM

Not to derail this thread, but, how do you find anything on that site? Can you search for lenses by mount?

**KC0PET** · 02-19-2016, 05:58 PM

Originally posted by pres589

Not to derail this thread, but, how do you find anything on that site? Can you search for lenses by mount?

Finding things on shopgoodwill is a bit of a chore. I don't believe most of the Goodwill people that post things have any clue about camera equipment so rarely do they list the type of mount and often the descriptions are not good. I have a handful of searches that I have saved under "Personal Shopper". You have to keep the searches pretty broad and just filter through the listings. I try to identify things from the photos and the limited information they offer. If it is something I am interested in I might send them a question and they seem to be good about trying to answer. I have gotten some good deals, but it takes a lot of patience.

---------- Post added 02-19-16 at 07:17 PM ----------

Here is a classic example. This is a 135mm lens, the 58mm that is listed is the filter size. Fortunately they have posted enough photos to identify that it is a Canon FD mount. It is also either a TX or T4 type interchangeable mount. It is helpful to get to know what the lenses you are interested in look like. There is a ton of information in the lens reviews in this forum and other places on the internet.

shopgoodwill.com - #27763695 - Vivitar 58mm Auto Telephoto Lens in Pouch - 2/23/2016 6:41:00 PM

**KC0PET** · 02-20-2016, 08:22 AM

It hit $510 this morning.

hsteeves · 02-21-2016, 07:26 PM

bought my FA 85 off them ...

**boriscleto** · 02-21-2016, 08:12 PM

I took a gamble on a Phoenix 100/3.5 macro this week. But it was an $80 gamble. No way I would spend as much as this lens will get based on those 3 crappy photos...

hsteeves · 02-21-2016, 08:27 PM

Originally posted by pres589

Not to derail this thread, but, how do you find anything on that site? Can you search for lenses by mount?

you don't search by anything other than your own eyes in the listings. Many times mistakes are made in the descriptions - you can often tell by the bids. 3-4 years ago, you could get some real steals, then people found it and prices have been going up since - sometimes to the point of stupid land.

**KC0PET** · 02-23-2016, 03:21 PM

The 135 f/1.5 ended at $778.

Originally posted by dcshooter

About 50% of what you buy through Goodwill will have serious problems (broken, major scratching, fungus, etc). The people working there tend to know little to nothing about vintage gear, their low-res images are borderline useless, and they generally offer no returns, so it's always a crapshoot. On a rarity like this, a risk like htis makes more sense, since it will have value even if there are problems, but for most items, you have to accept that there is a good chance you will be purchasing garbage.

For this reason I tend to not go very high on my bids. I have been lucky though and gotten something useful out of the purchases so far.

Nick Siebers · 02-23-2016, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by hsteeves

you don't search by anything other than your own eyes in the listings. Many times mistakes are made in the descriptions - you can often tell by the bids. 3-4 years ago, you could get some real steals, then people found it and prices have been going up since - sometimes to the point of stupid land.

I like that, for as long as I have been reading this forum, Goodwill prices were great "2-3 years ago before everyone found out about them". I've been a member for 8 years, and lurked even before that.

**boriscleto** · 02-23-2016, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by Nick Siebers

I like that, for as long as I have been reading this forum, Goodwill prices were great "2-3 years ago before everyone found out about them". I've been a member for 8 years, and lurked even before that.

I registered there in January 2010 but didn't start bidding until April.

First purchase was a Canon T70 w/ FD 50/1.8 for $28. My next purchase wasn't until August, a Sears 50/1.7 for $5.00 + $5.50 shipping. One of the best purchases I've ever made...after that I was addicted. I don't even want to figure out how much I've spent there in the last 5 years

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02-18-2016, 11:05 PM	#2
MegaPower Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 636	One of the rare lens that you wouldn't even know it exists. I would take this over the A135/1.8

02-18-2016, 11:08 PM	#3
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	Wow. But is it sharp wide open?

02-19-2016, 06:09 AM	#4
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	interesting lens.... Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5 - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia

02-19-2016, 08:33 AM	#5
KC0PET Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Central Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,273 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac Wow. But is it sharp wide open? You could buy it and review it for us...

02-19-2016, 05:29 PM	#6
a5m Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 576	Nice find! Never heard of this lens. It has 16 aperture blades and weighs 4 pounds! Wow!

02-19-2016, 05:38 PM	#7
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Not to derail this thread, but, how do you find anything on that site? Can you search for lenses by mount?

02-19-2016, 05:58 PM	#8
KC0PET Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Central Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,273 Original Poster	Originally posted by pres589 Not to derail this thread, but, how do you find anything on that site? Can you search for lenses by mount? Finding things on shopgoodwill is a bit of a chore. I don't believe most of the Goodwill people that post things have any clue about camera equipment so rarely do they list the type of mount and often the descriptions are not good. I have a handful of searches that I have saved under "Personal Shopper". You have to keep the searches pretty broad and just filter through the listings. I try to identify things from the photos and the limited information they offer. If it is something I am interested in I might send them a question and they seem to be good about trying to answer. I have gotten some good deals, but it takes a lot of patience. ---------- Post added 02-19-16 at 07:17 PM ---------- Here is a classic example. This is a 135mm lens, the 58mm that is listed is the filter size. Fortunately they have posted enough photos to identify that it is a Canon FD mount. It is also either a TX or T4 type interchangeable mount. It is helpful to get to know what the lenses you are interested in look like. There is a ton of information in the lens reviews in this forum and other places on the internet. shopgoodwill.com - #27763695 - Vivitar 58mm Auto Telephoto Lens in Pouch - 2/23/2016 6:41:00 PM

02-20-2016, 08:22 AM	#9
KC0PET Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Central Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,273 Original Poster	It hit $510 this morning.

02-21-2016, 07:26 PM	#10
hsteeves Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 256	bought my FA 85 off them ...

02-21-2016, 08:12 PM	#11
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	I took a gamble on a Phoenix 100/3.5 macro this week. But it was an $80 gamble. No way I would spend as much as this lens will get based on those 3 crappy photos...

02-21-2016, 08:27 PM	#12
hsteeves Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 256	Originally posted by pres589 Not to derail this thread, but, how do you find anything on that site? Can you search for lenses by mount? you don't search by anything other than your own eyes in the listings. Many times mistakes are made in the descriptions - you can often tell by the bids. 3-4 years ago, you could get some real steals, then people found it and prices have been going up since - sometimes to the point of stupid land.

02-23-2016, 03:21 PM	#13
KC0PET Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Central Missouri Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,273 Original Poster	The 135 f/1.5 ended at $778. Originally posted by dcshooter About 50% of what you buy through Goodwill will have serious problems (broken, major scratching, fungus, etc). The people working there tend to know little to nothing about vintage gear, their low-res images are borderline useless, and they generally offer no returns, so it's always a crapshoot. On a rarity like this, a risk like htis makes more sense, since it will have value even if there are problems, but for most items, you have to accept that there is a good chance you will be purchasing garbage. For this reason I tend to not go very high on my bids. I have been lucky though and gotten something useful out of the purchases so far.

02-23-2016, 03:43 PM	#14
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Originally posted by hsteeves you don't search by anything other than your own eyes in the listings. Many times mistakes are made in the descriptions - you can often tell by the bids. 3-4 years ago, you could get some real steals, then people found it and prices have been going up since - sometimes to the point of stupid land. I like that, for as long as I have been reading this forum, Goodwill prices were great "2-3 years ago before everyone found out about them". I've been a member for 8 years, and lurked even before that.

02-23-2016, 04:07 PM	#15
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by Nick Siebers I like that, for as long as I have been reading this forum, Goodwill prices were great "2-3 years ago before everyone found out about them". I've been a member for 8 years, and lurked even before that. I registered there in January 2010 but didn't start bidding until April. First purchase was a Canon T70 w/ FD 50/1.8 for $28. My next purchase wasn't until August, a Sears 50/1.7 for $5.00 + $5.50 shipping. One of the best purchases I've ever made...after that I was addicted. I don't even want to figure out how much I've spent there in the last 5 years