Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

**rm2** · 10-13-2010, 02:35 PM

I have a Vivitar 50mm f1.7 that is simply amazing. I had been wishing for a prime lens that was as good as my 50, but a bit wider. The Pentax alternatives are running in the $400 to $500 range (or more). So, when I saw this Vivitar 24mm f2.0 in the market place for $119 I could not resist.

Here is a quick HDR test I did during lunch today (sorry I forgot what f stop I used).

But, here are the mandatory brick wall shots at all f stops:

@2.0:

@2.4:

@2.8:

@4.0:

@5.6:

@8.0:

@11:

@16:

Yes, 2.0 is just about unusable, unless one is looking for a soft dreamy look to begin with. But it sharpens up quite a bit stopped down. So, what do you think? I think I paid a fair price.

JohnBee · 10-13-2010, 02:43 PM

Looks great!
I wonder if they ever made a CF version?

**rm2** · 10-13-2010, 03:30 PM

Thanks John. Sorry for my ignorance, but what is CF?

Edit: Oh, wait. Close Focusing, right?

Nick Siebers · 10-14-2010, 07:51 PM

There was a close focusing version, even one with PKA mount. Still, this one focuses pretty closely, maybe 1:5 macro or so. That HDR shot looks good, rm2! Glad to see the lens is in good hands.

For loads of Vvitar 28mm lenses, see Robin Parmar's bestiary:

http://photografica.robinparmar.com/vivitar.html

JeffJS · 10-14-2010, 08:05 PM

Dammit!! Now I have to ad another lens to my want list...

Looks as much fun as my Kiron 28mm f2.0... Looking forward to seeing more..

**rm2** · 10-15-2010, 09:53 PM

Thanks for the comments. I spent the day in NY. So, just a couple more from this lens.

*Note: Colors processed and perspective corrected in digiKam.

RioRico · 10-16-2010, 11:02 PM

I have a Kiron-made version of the Viv 24/2 -- BUT IT'S BROKEN! And the waiting list for repair is months or years long! I am like totally bummed. Phat glass, and I can't use it for anything good. And you have a good one! I hate you. I hate everybody with better lenses than mine. Whine bitch groan...

[/me fondles broken lens, sinks into deeper depression, eats worms, etc.]

OK, so it's a challenge. How to make the best use of its flaws? (Separating rear elements, aperture stuck wide open.) Ah: overexpose with high contrast, or underexpose with low contrast, and PP the hell out of the images. Right. And keep trolling the bay for a replacement.

ducdao · 10-16-2010, 11:11 PM

Originally posted by rm2

I have a Vivitar 50mm f1.7 that is simply amazing. I had been wishing for a prime lens that was as good as my 50, but a bit wider. The Pentax alternatives are running in the $400 to $500 range (or more). So, when I saw this Vivitar 24mm f2.0 in the market place for $119 I could not resist.

Yes, 2.0 is just about unusable, unless one is looking for a soft dreamy look to begin with. But it sharpens up quite a bit stopped down. So, what do you think? I think I paid a fair price.

Nice HDR! I have the same lens and I love it, Got it for about $40 couple months ago from a Nikonian

This lens is well known for its softness and glowing effect wide open. I find it pretty cool wide open but I guess it's a matter of personal preferences.

Enjoy your new toy

ducdao · 10-16-2010, 11:37 PM

Hmmm your post just reminded me to use mine. Just took it out of the dry box and noticed mine is a Kiron made (serial starts with 22XXXXX).

Here are some quick and dirty shots. The first one is shot with a DA35 Limited to give a baseline. All shots taken with K10D at f8 ISO100

**rm2** · 10-17-2010, 05:12 AM

Thanks for the comments. RioRico, so sorry to hear about your broken lens. I hope you find a good replacement.

ducdao, for $40 you committed a robbery! I paid about $120 for mine. But, I think it was a fair price since it is in pristine condition. I don't know what the difference between manufacturers mean.

The photo from your 30 is certainly good and looks more contrasty. Of course the contrast is easily adjusted in pp. Also, those extra 6mm make a big difference in the view. Your 30 is a lot closer to a normal lens.

ducdao · 10-17-2010, 06:16 AM

Originally posted by rm2

Thanks for the comments. RioRico, so sorry to hear about your broken lens. I hope you find a good replacement.

ducdao, for $40 you committed a robbery! I paid about $120 for mine. But, I think it was a fair price since it is in pristine condition. I don't know what the difference between manufacturers mean.

The photo from your 30 is certainly good and looks more contrasty. Of course the contrast is easily adjusted in pp. Also, those extra 6mm make a big difference in the view. Your 30 is a lot closer to a normal lens.

Well what you paid is a decent price for a pristine condition. Mine is good but not pristine, I was lucky to got mine for only $40, the guy who sold me is a Nikonian and probably didn't know what to do with a Pentax lens in the first place.

The first picture was taken with a DA35 which is a 35mm so the difference is 11mm not 6mm

**rparmar** · 10-17-2010, 07:31 AM

Those test shots are typical of these lenses in my experience. They are very usable from f/4 but decent enough at f/2.8 and shoot at f/2 only if you want the dreamy look -- which can be fun!

Have fun with it. I find my Vivitar 24/2 to be the perfect street lens, smaller than the DA12-24, great IQ stopped down and corresponding exactly to the classic 35mm focal length.

Nick Siebers · 10-17-2010, 08:21 PM

Nice looking shots, folks! Robin, I am glad you chimed in. I was looking at the Bestiary and didn't see this lens in it. Or am I wrong here? There is a Komine made 24/2 close focusing, but not the one shown above.

**rparmar** · 10-17-2010, 09:07 PM

I haven't catalogued the 24mm variants, only the 28mm. I think most match up, however.

Nick Siebers · 10-18-2010, 06:47 AM

Right, that's why it is the 28mm bestiary. (Hits forehead with hand)

10-13-2010, 02:35 PM	#1
rm2 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hudson Valley - NY Posts: 778	My new Vivitar 24mm f2.0 I have a Vivitar 50mm f1.7 that is simply amazing. I had been wishing for a prime lens that was as good as my 50, but a bit wider. The Pentax alternatives are running in the $400 to $500 range (or more). So, when I saw this Vivitar 24mm f2.0 in the market place for $119 I could not resist. Here is a quick HDR test I did during lunch today (sorry I forgot what f stop I used). But, here are the mandatory brick wall shots at all f stops: @2.0: @2.4: @2.8: @4.0: @5.6: @8.0: @11: @16: Yes, 2.0 is just about unusable, unless one is looking for a soft dreamy look to begin with. But it sharpens up quite a bit stopped down. So, what do you think? I think I paid a fair price.

10-13-2010, 03:30 PM	#3
rm2 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hudson Valley - NY Posts: 778 Original Poster	Thanks John. Sorry for my ignorance, but what is CF? Edit: Oh, wait. Close Focusing, right? Last edited by rm2; 10-13-2010 at 04:00 PM.

10-15-2010, 09:53 PM	#6
rm2 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hudson Valley - NY Posts: 778 Original Poster	Thanks for the comments. I spent the day in NY. So, just a couple more from this lens. Note: Colors processed and perspective corrected in digiKam. Last edited by rm2; 10-15-2010 at 09:59 PM.*

10-17-2010, 05:12 AM	#10
rm2 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hudson Valley - NY Posts: 778 Original Poster	Thanks for the comments. RioRico, so sorry to hear about your broken lens. I hope you find a good replacement. ducdao, for $40 you committed a robbery! I paid about $120 for mine. But, I think it was a fair price since it is in pristine condition. I don't know what the difference between manufacturers mean. The photo from your 30 is certainly good and looks more contrasty. Of course the contrast is easily adjusted in pp. Also, those extra 6mm make a big difference in the view. Your 30 is a lot closer to a normal lens. Last edited by rm2; 10-17-2010 at 05:20 AM.

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10-13-2010, 02:43 PM	#2
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Looks great! I wonder if they ever made a CF version?

10-14-2010, 07:51 PM	#4
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	There was a close focusing version, even one with PKA mount. Still, this one focuses pretty closely, maybe 1:5 macro or so. That HDR shot looks good, rm2! Glad to see the lens is in good hands. For loads of Vvitar 28mm lenses, see Robin Parmar's bestiary: http://photografica.robinparmar.com/vivitar.html

10-14-2010, 08:05 PM	#5
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Dammit!! Now I have to ad another lens to my want list... Looks as much fun as my Kiron 28mm f2.0... Looking forward to seeing more..

10-16-2010, 11:02 PM	#7
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	I have a Kiron-made version of the Viv 24/2 -- BUT IT'S BROKEN! And the waiting list for repair is months or years long! I am like totally bummed. Phat glass, and I can't use it for anything good. And you have a good one! I hate you. I hate everybody with better lenses than mine. Whine bitch groan... [/me fondles broken lens, sinks into deeper depression, eats worms, etc.] OK, so it's a challenge. How to make the best use of its flaws? (Separating rear elements, aperture stuck wide open.) Ah: overexpose with high contrast, or underexpose with low contrast, and PP the hell out of the images. Right. And keep trolling the bay for a replacement.

10-16-2010, 11:11 PM	#8
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by rm2 I have a Vivitar 50mm f1.7 that is simply amazing. I had been wishing for a prime lens that was as good as my 50, but a bit wider. The Pentax alternatives are running in the $400 to $500 range (or more). So, when I saw this Vivitar 24mm f2.0 in the market place for $119 I could not resist. Yes, 2.0 is just about unusable, unless one is looking for a soft dreamy look to begin with. But it sharpens up quite a bit stopped down. So, what do you think? I think I paid a fair price. Nice HDR! I have the same lens and I love it, Got it for about $40 couple months ago from a Nikonian This lens is well known for its softness and glowing effect wide open. I find it pretty cool wide open but I guess it's a matter of personal preferences. Enjoy your new toy

10-16-2010, 11:37 PM	#9
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Hmmm your post just reminded me to use mine. Just took it out of the dry box and noticed mine is a Kiron made (serial starts with 22XXXXX). Here are some quick and dirty shots. The first one is shot with a DA35 Limited to give a baseline. All shots taken with K10D at f8 ISO100

10-17-2010, 06:16 AM	#11
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by rm2 Thanks for the comments. RioRico, so sorry to hear about your broken lens. I hope you find a good replacement. ducdao, for $40 you committed a robbery! I paid about $120 for mine. But, I think it was a fair price since it is in pristine condition. I don't know what the difference between manufacturers mean. The photo from your 30 is certainly good and looks more contrasty. Of course the contrast is easily adjusted in pp. Also, those extra 6mm make a big difference in the view. Your 30 is a lot closer to a normal lens. Well what you paid is a decent price for a pristine condition. Mine is good but not pristine, I was lucky to got mine for only $40, the guy who sold me is a Nikonian and probably didn't know what to do with a Pentax lens in the first place. The first picture was taken with a DA35 which is a 35mm so the difference is 11mm not 6mm

10-17-2010, 07:31 AM	#12
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	Those test shots are typical of these lenses in my experience. They are very usable from f/4 but decent enough at f/2.8 and shoot at f/2 only if you want the dreamy look -- which can be fun! Have fun with it. I find my Vivitar 24/2 to be the perfect street lens, smaller than the DA12-24, great IQ stopped down and corresponding exactly to the classic 35mm focal length.

10-17-2010, 08:21 PM	#13
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Nice looking shots, folks! Robin, I am glad you chimed in. I was looking at the Bestiary and didn't see this lens in it. Or am I wrong here? There is a Komine made 24/2 close focusing, but not the one shown above.

10-17-2010, 09:07 PM	#14
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	I haven't catalogued the 24mm variants, only the 28mm. I think most match up, however.

10-18-2010, 06:47 AM	#15
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	Right, that's why it is the 28mm bestiary. (Hits forehead with hand)

My new Vivitar 24mm f2.0

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!