| Author: | | New Member Registered: June, 2014 Location: Moscow Posts: 4
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 9, 2016 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Good bokeh, very well suited for portrait photography. | | Cons: | Along the edges are not sharp with noticeable chromatic aberration. Not for landscapes. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-50
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This lens is not by chance stayed in my collection. Pretty sharp in the center. Not much around the edges. Nevertheless, it allows to obtain a fairly good artistic images blurred background. I must say - this lens is not for everyone ...
In my opinion very well suited for portrait photography.
When you purchase is necessary to pay special attention to the work of the diaphragm. Many instances of this lens that passed through my hands a diaphragm has been glued remnants of old grease.
F8 diaphragm
by Alexandr Noskov, on Flickr
by Alexandr Noskov, on Flickr
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2016 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 9, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | focal range, macro, aperture | | Cons: | chromatic abberations, lens flare | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: k7
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I LOVE this lens. You cannot get any better for the price range, I think. On my camera about 30% of the time. It gets a good amount of lens flare anywhere near direct sunlight be warned. Chromatic aberrations in certain lighting needs to be removed and is most often blue. However the pics are warm and often dreamy. Sharpness is very nice when you catch it right. The focal range, IQ, and macro functionality are what makes this lens truly a go-to-lens. F/2.8 allows for pretty low light/indoor pictures. The way it handles is very comfortable and intuitive. When this lens shines it is a beautiful thing. Get one, you won't be disappointed
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2014 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 890
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 3, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Rugged build. Extremely sharp. True color rendition. Fast. PKA available | | Cons: | A bit heavy. Push-Pull Zoom. Zoom can be a bit stiff | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K500
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Bought this lens a few weeks ago and finally got to go give it a few clicks this past weekend I was fortunate to find a mint PKA version and decided this would be my first Series 1....
Wow. Just Wow. This lens certainly has made the transition from film to the realm of digital photography in a prodigious manner. It is fast at 2.8-3.5 and it is also sharp across virtually all focal lengths, with only a slight softness at 28mm when wide open. A couple of clicks to stop it down a bit and it remains sharp from 28mm all the way to 90. Contrast and colors render a true to life image without exaggerated contrast or saturation. The 28-90mm zoom makes it a truly versatile lens giving you a nice range from wide to telephoto and even gives you macro to 1:3 with close focus ability. This lens is the perfect "walk-around" lens to conquer virtually any scenario if you can tolerate its heft.
If the thought of a fully manual Kiron or Tokina Series 1 lens is just not your cup of tea, and the PKA Gen 4's bad wrap has you staying away -- seek out the Vivitar Series 1 28-90mm Komine. They are still an excellent value and you will not be disappointed!!
 IMGP1056 by Ripper2860, on Flickr
 IMGP1307 by Ripper2860, on Flickr
 IMGP1311 by Ripper2860, on Flickr
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2008 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 119
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 29, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | 2.8 aperture, 42-135 on APS-C sensor | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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I grew up with everything on the camera being manual: focus, f stop, speed. This lens was built to last and the change to digital has not altered the excellent optical qualities that persuaded me to purchase it many years ago. I like the ability to set up my photo manually and envision what the photo will be. Unlike shooting with film, digital cameras give me instant feedback to make adjustments. This lens works fine for me. I will not be selling it.
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 42
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 11, 2012 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great build and image quality. | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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My all-time favorite lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: The Worlds Only Portable City - Complete with Carrying Handle Posts: 2 | | Review Date: July 13, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very high resolution results with m4/3, where everything manual is all about center sharpness | | Cons: | they tend to get haze and oily blades | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 9
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Worth having if you can find a "keeper" and understand the negative issue side of the lens. This lens has "testimony" behind it, read the reviews posted and a theme develops about owning and holding. I've owned and used several lenses, but hold on to very few? That should speak volumes to anyone evaluating a choice for a manual lens, people don't mind telling you they hold on to them is huge. However it's not all that. The cold hard fact was First Generation Series 1 lenses cost too much, too much to design, too much to make, and too much to buy and so Ponder and Best found other ways to make a less costly design by cutting cost steeply for the Gen 2 Series 1 28-90 lens. Komine was a cheaper manufacturing partner, a purposely intended "choice" not to go with the "best" available and save cost instead. Sometimes cheaper did very good, but the reality is always the same, cheaper made is cheaper made. Hype evolved over the years, people lost sight of what P&B was actually doing, trying to save their business and preserve their company but still failed, even by cutting cost - the whole point is the 28-90 was part of a life preserver act to bail out a sinking company.
It means they could have offered much better and chose not to chance it, playing it safe the cheaper way
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 161
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 2, 2018 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness, color | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
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I've had this lens for over 20years, don't use it much any more but it is still a very sharp lens.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2013 Posts: 63
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 12, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness, bokeh, price, colors | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K3
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I don't have much to add to other reviews -- this lens is as sharp as almost any prime lens I've used. I haven't had it too long and haven't used it much, but took some photos today and made a flickr album. Highly recommended for lovers of old manual lenses.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/anna_peterson/albums/72157684908025514 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 497
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 25, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, bright, build quality | | Cons: | Heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 9
Camera Used: K20D, K5IIs
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I have the uncommon "A" version, which has made this lens much more of a joy to use. I've also used the non-"A" version before but decided to sell, because it is difficult to find the green button while keeping this heavy lens steady. "A" version is much better.
Optically, I tested this lens side by side with A35-105/3.5 and this lens wins in sharpness in the two lenses' common 35-90 range. A35-105/3.5, however, is better in color rendition and anti-flare quality.
This lens is heavy, but balances well on a big camera.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 982
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 14, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, great color and contrast, handy one-lens outfit | | Cons: | slight vignetting on the corners at 28mm wide open at f/2.8 | |
I carried one of these lenses back in my salad days of shooting slides back in the 80s and 90s. This lens almost never came off my camera. Usually I would have a camera dedicated just for it so I didn't have to waste time swapping lenses. I used it for all sorts of photography, from scenics to motorsports to fashion. A very flexible lens with outstanding sharpness and contrast. These days I still use it on my film cameras and also with my NEX 7. And I find it as useful now as I did all those years ago. In short, this is the best wide angle to short tele zoom I've ever used.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Posts: 13
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 29, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Well built, Faster than some of the newer consumer level zooms | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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I agree with most of the other reviewers about this lens. It is built by Komine. Apparently it is available with and without the A setting. Mine has the A setting so it was a little more expensive. It is worth it to pay more for the A setting. Unlike the adaptall lenses with the PK A adapter, the A setting always seems to work flawlessly. It pairs very nicely with the Vivitar series one 70-210mm (f2.8-f4.0) which is also available with the A setting. If you like a manual focus zoom then this lens is a good choice. Vivitar also made a 19mm f3.8 and it too has the A setting. So if you put the three together you cover everything from 19mm to 210mm. Actually the 19mm is wider the the supposedly 18mm kit lens. All three of these lenses are better built and will last longer than the modern zooms. Since they are all available with the A setting you retain most of your camera's functions. In performance they are all comparable to the consumer level zooms (like the Pentax 18-135mm) except that they don't connect to the in-camera software to make automatic corrections and of course they don't have automatic focus. I don't find it difficult to focus any of these lenses but if you are in a hurry to get a shot then the automatic focus is very useful.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Posts: 1,536
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 22, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Great IQ for it's vintage, Built like a tank | | Cons: | Heavy CA wide open, Heavy!! | |
I bought this lens new in 1986. I still have it. I also still use it occasionally but with the caveat that the stop down metering isn't that accurate with this lens on my K20D. If it was auto Aperture it would get tons more use
The CA is easily fixable in Lightroom.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,774
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 5, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Contrasty, Built like a Tank | | Cons: | Heavy, CA | |
I bought this Komine made Vivitar Legend, two years back and it came with oily blades which I later understood to be somewhat of a common issue for this lens...and because of its complex design, I didn't want to risk it at the shop....so a year later, I ebayed another one (the older Kiron made non series 1 variant...just in case. XD)
Anyways, the blades still closed ok, just a lil' slower but not enough to hamper operation and quickly became my standard lens until I got my DA16-45.
The IQ is very nice. Sharp and contrasty right from f2.8. The f3.5 at 90mm surprisingly works well for portraits. The lens also has a decent close focus macro capability at the wide setting.
This lens is easily the "main tank" of my collection. Its heavy, feels solid, focus is smooth. It's been smashed into a boulder as I was climbing river reinforcements leaving with only small scratches on the rim. Just yesterday, it rolled off table as I was changing lenses during a shoot and hit the ground with a resounding thud. A quick inspection and again the lens was ok. Its not to say you should toss this lens around but take this as a testament to its build quality.
If you are reading this, you probably have one in your sights. Bear witness to one of the greatest lenses designed and made in Vivitar's history, a lens that has rightfully earned its nickname, 'The Stovepipe.'
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 34
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 13, 2008 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Resolution, build quality | | Cons: | CA at open apertures | |
A classic manual focus lens with a devoted fan-base. Has some flaws on a full-frame body, such as vignetting and poor edge sharpness, but on a cropped sensor it becomes really good. Resolution is great wide open and excellent one stop down. Way better than my sigma 18-50 2.8 macro. Rather heavy CA on open f-stops. Prone to flare. Built like the proverbial tank - mine hasn't got a single mark in spite of years of intensive use.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911 | | Review Date: July 14, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Good optics, sharp, well-built, flare | | Cons: | Very heavy, sticky aperture blades, flare | |
I got this lens very cheap to try out. Alas, it suffers from the very common sticky-aperture problem - the aperture blades close down too slowly to be in the right place when the shutter fires. Due to this I can only use it on my mirrorless cameras, where I focus and frame with the aperture already where it needs to be for the photo. It's no good on an SLR unless I fork out to have the aperture blades fixed, though I may do that at some point, depending on price of course, as it can produce some very nice images.
This lens is sharp even at wide apertures and has a typical "vintage" lower contrast look to photos, which can be good if used correctly. It also suffers really badly from flare (veiling and blob) but it's the sort of good-looking flare that can be put to good use for the sake of creativity. All-in-all it can produce some very attractive images when you play to it's strength.
It is very heavy and quite long so that makes it difficult to handle on the camera. The build quality is reassuringly tank-like, which I like.
Overall I like the lens and would recommend it for having some fun on a mirrorless camera, as long as you can get it cheap, or even more expensively if the aperture works properly. If it turns out to be relatively cheap to fix the aperture then I'll surely try it out on my K-3 and on film.
Here are a few sample images.
DSCF2332a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
DSCF2346a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
DSCF2354a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
DSCF2348a by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
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