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Archive 2009 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron

  
 
Depp
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


I probably got a lightly used copy,since my Kiron copy of the lens is 2283xxxx and is still quite smooth and the dampener for the zoom is still doing it's job...much better then my last version of the Nikkor 80-200,which slides on it's own when pointed up or down.


Jan 06, 2010 at 09:55 AM
debuggerus
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Depp,
Nice vivitar set. I also like the 24 f2, 28 f2, 35 f1.9, 90 f2.5 and 2.8 macro, 135 f2.3, 200 f3, 90-180 flat field macro.

Krosavcheg,
I got a few cheap adapters as well... no problem so far. Just make sure that it locks before using .



Jan 06, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Depp
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Thanks....

I didn't originally intend to purchase so many Vivitars,but I got a wee bit enthusiastic in my pursuit of acquiring a few of Vivitars lenses.

I still have intentions of picking up more versions of the Series 1 primes...I had some of these lens,but my daughters have permanently borrowed them .....did pick up a few 90-180mm Flat Field Zooms though....



Edited on Jun 26, 2010 at 11:35 AM · View previous versions



Jan 06, 2010 at 10:39 AM
pascal03
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Depp.... indeed quite a vivitar collection you have there.

I have a Tamron 24-48mm f3.5-f3.8 lens which I find absolutely spectacular on my D700. The Tamron is tiny (maybe a bit smaller than the Viv 24-48) and one of my favorite lenses.
How do you find the Vivitar 24-48mm. Have you used the Tamron - how does it compare to the Vivitar 24-48mm ?



Jan 06, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Depp
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


The Series 1 Vivitar 24-48 isn't to bad,actually all the Series 1 Vivitar zooms from the late 70's to early 80's shoot fairly well...the 35-85 is a wee bit sharper then the 24-48.Both these lens are susceptible to flare due to the large front element,so a lens hood is always required.

I don't have the Tamron 24-48,but I do have the Tamron built C/D 24-45 macro which is considerably smaller then the Vivitar 24-48,my copy is almost as contrasty as the Vivitar Series 1 24-48 and just as sharp in the center,but the corners are soft.Looking at the Tamron Adaptall site the 24-48 is almost identical to the C/D 24-45 with the exception of the filter ring being continuous on the C/D version for accepting lens filters or hoods.
http://www.adaptall-2.com/lenses/13A.html

The C/D series were Soligors response to Vivitars Series 1,I have collected just a few of the C/D versions the 24-45 macro,28-80 macro and the 130-630mm.There are a few more C/D versions I intend to collect that are reportedly fairly sharp lenses,the 35-105 macro and the 85-300 macro.





Edited on Jun 27, 2010 at 10:12 PM · View previous versions



Jan 06, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Kiron Kid
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron



Left to right:
Kiron model, f/3.5
Tokina model, f/3.5
Komine model, f/2.8-4
Kiron 70-210. f/4 with Zoom-lock

Regarding Viv S-1 glass. There are numerous (8) Series 1, 70-210 lenses. However, for the sake of discussion, we will deal with the first three. The following editions are nothing to seriously consider, so we will concentrate on the first three editions, which are the good one's. The 4th & 5th editions are also 2.8-4 variable aperture model's, but lacking in construction quality (Cosina built). Due to the fact that the third one is a variable aperture lens, (2.8-4) it will be somewhat sharper than a fixed aperture lenses. It is much easier to design and build a quality variable aperture lens.

The first edition was designed by Vivitar (Ellis Betensky of NASA Optics fame), had a hand in it, and it was built by Kiron. (67mm filter) It is a professional caliber lens, with a 1:2 macro feature built into it. It was the first zoom, designed with the aid of computers, that truly rivaled the OEM lenses of the time. That was in "76."

The second edition (my personal favorite) was built by Tokina, per, Vivitars specs. It too, is a fixed 3.5 aperture, but smaller, lighter and sharper. (62mm filter size). I really like it because of the fixed 3.5 aperture which is nice for focusing in dim light and long range flash work. However, not a true macro, 1:4 life size.

The third edition was made by Komine, and like the first two, is very well built. It is a 2.8-4 variable aperture lens, and the sharpest of the bunch. It has 1:2.5 life size macro from 100-210mm's, with a working distance of about two feet. Which can be quite useful. Can you see a discernible difference in slides taken with either one of them? No! Don't get caught up in bench tests. Any of the first three editions will give you professional-publishable images. I really like this lens, and over time, has become my favorite of the line.

Personally, I recommend the second or third edition of the line. I have and use all three of the first editions, and can highly recommend any one of them. Superb optics and construction.

Also, the Kiron 70-210 f/4, is a splendid performer.

QLP (Kiron Kid & MrVivSeries1)



Jan 06, 2010 at 03:19 PM
Krosavcheg
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Everyone, thank you for the incredible amount of information and taking your time to post all this! I will be keeping busy now for some time ahead..

I found few Version 3 lenses, but missed all auctions, so I am still on lookout.
It's more difficult to find 28-90mm however.

Adapter works great right now - I try to hold both lens and camera steadily and not put too much pressure on the adapter. It also locks nicely - safe so far.



Jan 18, 2010 at 05:59 PM
pengland
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


I have two of the same series (Kiron/Kino) as yours. One was originally Minolta MD mount and the other was Canon FD mount. Conversion of the Minolta mount was a breeze but the one with Canon FD mount required more machining and was a little more time consuming in order to obtain accurate aperture control.

One lens cost me less than $10 (Canon FD mount) and the other (Minolta MD mount) was around $20. The cost of conversion was only the cost of two M42-EOS adapters....less than $20. So for less than $50 I have a couple of nice lenses.....how could I lose at this price?

I have not tested either lens much as yet but the initial test look good.



Jan 18, 2010 at 06:45 PM
Krosavcheg
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Pengland: Did you do the conversion yourself? I still haven't really gotten anything affordable enough to convert, and don't really want to spend £££ or $$$ on a first conversion attempt, being a bit iffy and that..
but it seems to be relatively easy to find Vivtars in OM or AI-S mounts...



Jan 19, 2010 at 08:43 AM
pengland
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Yes, I converted them myself. I have converted several other WA Vivitar Series 1 lenses as well as Minolta Rokkor and select Soligor lenses and dozens of Canon FD (new and old style) lenses. Having access to a lathe and a well equipped machine shop makes converting old MF lenses a fun pastime.


Jan 19, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Krosavcheg
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


..something I look forward to, actually..
Just to deviate for a moment from the original topic of this thread, are Konika's hexanon series convertable by any chance?



Jan 21, 2010 at 10:07 PM
taif.rahman
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p.2 #12 · p.2 #12 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


@ Depp

Have you ever come across a Vivitar 105mm f/2.8 TX mount lens with 49mm filter size? Would you know who was manufacturer and how it would perform compared to the other vivitar/kiron 105 f/2.5?



Feb 26, 2010 at 06:03 PM
Kiron Kid
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p.2 #13 · p.2 #13 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Krosavcheg wrote:
Everyone, thank you for the incredible amount of information and taking your time to post all this! I will be keeping busy now for some time ahead..

I found few Version 3 lenses, but missed all auctions, so I am still on lookout.
It's more difficult to find 28-90mm however.

Adapter works great right now - I try to hold both lens and camera steadily and not put too much pressure on the adapter. It also locks nicely - safe so far.



The Vivitar Series 1, 28-90 is usually quite easily found on the used market. It's a very good lens. My favorite.

Kiron Kid



Feb 26, 2010 at 06:42 PM
EB-1
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p.2 #14 · p.2 #14 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Depp wrote:
Left to right the prefered versions of the Vivitar Series 1 zooms...24-48,35-85,28-90, and the first three 70-210's,Tokina 2nd version,Komine 3rd version,Kiron 1st version
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w110/boomer1954/102.jpg


I got the Vivitar 70-210/3.5 on the far right around 1977 (pre-AI). I also had the 90-180/4.5 macro which was AI. Flare and ghosting were severe in some conditions. Vivitar coatings were not so good back then.

EBH



Feb 26, 2010 at 10:03 PM
Kiron Kid
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p.2 #15 · p.2 #15 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


EB-1 wrote:
I got the Vivitar 70-210/3.5 on the far right around 1977 (pre-AI). I also had the 90-180/4.5 macro which was AI. Flare and ghosting were severe in some conditions. Vivitar coatings were not so good back then.

EBH



I have and use those lenses. Yes, they are very good.

Kiron Kid



Feb 27, 2010 at 01:57 AM
pdmphoto
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p.2 #16 · p.2 #16 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


I couldn't resist a Vivitar Series1 I saw locally for cheap, so I bought it (seeing the 37xxxx and knowing it was the Tokina version). I have been very surprised by the performance of this lens. Here's one at 70mm on the 5DII:

http://www.imaginenature.com/_MG_5173.jpg



Feb 27, 2010 at 07:21 AM
debuggerus
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p.2 #17 · p.2 #17 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


pdmphoto,
Nice shot! You shouldn't be surprise . This one's achieved cult status among vivitar series 1 lovers, myself included.



Feb 27, 2010 at 12:09 PM
Kiron Kid
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p.2 #18 · p.2 #18 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


pdmphoto wrote:
I couldn't resist a Vivitar Series1 I saw locally for cheap, so I bought it (seeing the 37xxxx and knowing it was the Tokina version). I have been very surprised by the performance of this lens. Here's one at 70mm on the 5DII:

http://www.imaginenature.com/_MG_5173.jpg



One of my favorite lenses too. The Komine (third edition) is even better. Crown Point above the Gorge? Nice shot. Maybe I'll cruise out there today.

Kiron Kid



Feb 27, 2010 at 01:22 PM
pdmphoto
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p.2 #19 · p.2 #19 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


Thanks. Yes it is Crown point from last October. I hope you got a chance to make it out there today as the weather was decent.

Besides the relatively small size and light weight I also really like the full frame sharpness and pop of the lens.




Feb 27, 2010 at 08:42 PM
Kiron Kid
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p.2 #20 · p.2 #20 · Vivitar Series 1, 70-210mm/3.5 Kiron


PDMPHOTO

Didn't make it out today. Will check it out on Sunday. Are the Cherry Blossoms blooming yet? Since you like that lens, you'd love the thrid edition (Komine), it's very sharp and goes 1;2.5 in macro mode. The Viv S-1 200mm f/3.5 AF is VERYgood too.



Kiron Kid



Feb 28, 2010 at 12:33 AM
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