[rparmar]

Here are four shots designed to test the close focus ability. These were shot as close as possible, which is noted on the barrel as being a 1:5 magnification at 23cm. Again ISO 200 with standard processing. I won't make too many comments but invite more.

Purple Mistake
f/4 1/800s

This has been cropped about 50%. Hexagonal rings evident. Fine leaves and such always bring out the harshest bokeh.




Pink Rose
f/4 1/250s

The nice thing about 28mm is that even at this fairly wide aperture there is still a good amount of DOF for flowers.




Blue & White
f/8 1/400s




Coiled
f/2 1/100s

This was ISO400, which is immediately recognisable to my eye. Not that I mind the noise profile -- I don't. But it is there. Wide open strange things happen. But I think that makes a good image here.

[rparmar]

Shelter From The Rain 3
f/8 1/250s

For this one I did some extensive curve work and went monochrome.





Double Stairs
f/4 1/40s

The textures seem realistic and everything is suitably sharp despite being only f/4. Basically, it looks like f/4 should. "Softness" towards the bottom is because of being OOF. But it's nicely appealing.





Blinded
f/2 1/640s

Getting close wide open. Things are soft but usably so, especially when coupled to the correct subject.

[rparmar]

Here are some thoughts on the lens designated K1, specified as "Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.0 / MC / Close Focus Wide Angle / No. 28xxxxxx / Ø49MM [Komine]".

First, pictures...

Vivitar 28mm f/2 K1 barrel




Vivitar 28mm f/2 K1 front element



I like the handling of the K1. The focus is nicely damped. The focus ring takes 3/4 of a revolution to go through the range. Two thirds of this is taken up from 23 to 50 cm, which is handy for close-up work.

There are usable distance markings. I was able to set hyperfocal distance easily. However landscape shots showed distinct glare; I'll have to wait for a hood to try these again. You'll notice also a lack of posted people shots, just because that's not so much my thing. So I can't talk about skin tone rendering and so on. I would say that matters less in a 28mm, but it would be nice to see nonetheless.

Lens size is perfect for me. The length extends only slightly during focus. Front element does not rotate.

I sure wish I had a green button, as the AE-L button is in an inconvenient place for frequent use. (I wear glasses.)

Focus trap works fine. Exposure is as inaccurate as any other lens. Actually, I found it was generally decent.

I like this lens, but it does not have any special "magic". That is likely too much to expect for the price. (Three lenses and shipping for €72.) it is uncommon enough that you might have to keep a real look-out for it to show up on the used market. Given the price of Pentax offerings I would say it's well worth €50-75. But that is so subjective.

[timbo13]

Robin,I have been following this topic with some interest as I have owned a Vivitar 28mm f2.8 lens since my early days in photography back in the 80s. I finally got around to checking it out based on your list and I think it's yet another version, this would be K9, I think. It says "made in Taiwan" on the side and based on the serial #, it was made by Bauer.

top:



side:



(this lens spent a lot of time in my backpack while hiking, thus the chipped paint)

This lens takes some nice pictures of close subjects such as these cut flowers:



I am less pleased with landscapes taken with this lens, sometimes I get good results (like this), other times I wonder if something is loose inside it!



I had no idea there were so many variations!

[rparmar]

Wow, Tim, nice find! But unfortunately you cannot have K9 since I already found another at that position -- we now have ten (count' em 10) k-mount lenses. So I've done two things. First, I've renumbered using two digits. Second, I've reordered a few of them to make the sequence a bit more logical. Your lens is K07.

Here's the new list:

K01 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.0 / MC / Close Focus Wide Angle / No. 28xxxxxx / Ø49MM [Komine] *
K02 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / MC / Close Focus Wide Angle / No. 28xxxxxx / Ø49MM [Komine]
K03 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / MC / Wide Angle / No. 28xxxxxx / Ø49MM [Komine] *
K04 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2 / Auto Wide-Angle / No. 22xxxxxx / Ø55MM [Kiron]
K05 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.5 / Auto Wide-Angle / No. 22xxxxxx / Ø67MM [Kiron]
K06 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / Auto / Ø49MM / VMC [?]
K07 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / Wide Angle / MC / No. 42xxxxxx / Ø49MM [Bauer]
K08 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / MC / Wide Angle Japan / Ø49MM / IMAGE by [?]
K09 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / MC / Wide Angle / Ø49MM [Cosina]
K10 : Vivitar / 28mm 1:2.8 / MC / Wide Angle Lens / No. 61xxxxxx / Ø52MM [?]

For those tracking their own lens ID, these changes have just been made:

K6 -> K09
K7 -> K10
K8 -> K06

K07 and K08 are new as of this listing.

K08 to K10 are automatic, so thery are grouped together at the end of the list. Same manufacturers are grouped. Filter sizes are grouped.

Note how weird K08 is. It reads "IMAGE by Vivitar" -- wacky! (I've split this text in the listing for ease of comparison.)

I am sure there will be more finds. This might mean shifting the numbers yet again.

These ID numbers are out of date. For the definitive list please see The Great Vivitar 28mm Bestiary. Thank you!

[rparmar]

FYI...

wavecurrent: yours is the K09

tourdeforce: yours are the K04 and K10

[rparmar]

OK, all four Vivitar lenses are now here. And I have wide angle black metal hoods for them. All I need is a nice day or two and the time to take some shots.

[rparmar]

Vivitar K03 Front




Vivitar K03 Barrel




The Four Sisters

Four of the 20 different Pentax-compatible Vivitar 28mm lenses. From left-to-right: the TX mount T01, the M42 mount M01, the K-mount K01 Close Focus, the K-mount K03.

[rparmar]

I must apologise for the big delay but my camera has been acting up badly. Either all my batteries have stopped working or the camera no longer likes to be powered by them. And I cannot afford to replace it right now, as I have just started a Masters programme.

Anyway, I have a new article on my blog which evaluates the M01 in some detail. I realise it is not "scientific" but should add more data points to the curve nonetheless.

[rparmar]

More shots for you on my blog!

On Test: Vivitar 28mm 1:2.8 Auto Wide-Angle [T01] continues with the second Vivitar lens.

[rparmar]

The third lens test is up on my blog. Yes, somehow I manage to keep testing lenses while studying for a Masters. This will end soon! (The testing, not the Masters.)

I am very pleased with this fast wide angle lens. Read the article for details.

[architorture]

it seems member 'Hapo' has a different version of the M01 for sale in the marketplace. his (soon to be mine maybe ) is a series 1 28mm f1.9 but in k-mount, not m42.

[timbo13]

Robin (and the other followers of this thread )

I recently aquired yet another version of the Vivitar 28mm. It's an f2.5 TX mount, I guess this would be T03 in your system. Here are some pictures of it:





it's not labeled as "close focus", but as you can see the distance scale goes down to 0.8 ft, close in my book.

I haven't had a lot of time to shoot with it yet, but based on my early results this looks like a nice lens.

Here it is at f2.5, focus is on the bee (click for larger image)


and at f5.6 (click for larger image)


maybe sometime I will get around to the kind of testing you show in your blog! interesting stuff!

[Eaglerapids]

I've just read through this entire thread and was getting ready to set up to take a K03 barrel pic when I saw rparmar's pic, I can't do better than that one! When you get around to testing the 03 I think you will be pleasantly surprised, I've gotten some very nice pictures with it. In fact, I once took a couple of pretty similar pics with it and with the 31 ltd and in that one instance you would have a hard time telling which lens took which pic. To boot, the 03 is very smooth focusing and nicely built....I paid something like $22 for it. But in the long run it's no 31ltd killer or at least I'll never admit it!
I also have a Kiron 28/2, P/K mount in excellent condition that I bought in a lot. I don't think the guy I bought it from had any idea of what he had. Beautiful lens and very nice build quality. This may be the K04? Kiron must have made some for Vivitar and also put it out in their own name. I've never taken it out yet and run it through it's paces. If I were to sell it I'd probably put a $125 tag on it because of it's build and fast f/2 but since this is really the first one I've ever seen, I have no interest in selling it. Even though in 28mm I have it and the Vivitar 28/2.8, Pentax M-28/3.5 and the Super-Tak 28/3.5:-). I also had a K-28/3.5 that I gave to one of my kids.
I know this thread is about the Vivitars but if you're interested in pics of the Kiron I'd be happy to post some.

[lbam]

This whole subject is what's great about owning a Pentax...

I love the discussion, aren't lenses such fun?!