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Archive 2009Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
p.1 #1Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Hi,
Vivitar Telephoto 135mm f/1.5 Professional - ever heard of it? I'm currently selling it, but nonetheless; here are some samples made with it.
It's an extremely rare lens, which was produced in a very small batch of 30 pieces (some claim 300, but it's actually unknown, how many were made) in 1967, with a preset T-mount. I bought mine in Nikon F mount (yes, it does focus to infinity), but it can also be used with practically all other mounts (Canon EF and EF-S, Sony/Minolta, Pentax, 4/3 and M4/3 ...).
What's also interesting, is that mine carries a serial number of 19671001, which probably means it's the very first of it's kind.
Some info:
Picture angle: 18°
Number of diaphragm blades: 16
Minimum f/stop: 22
Closest focusing distance: 1.65m
Weight: 1.970g (2.170g with lens hood, tripod collar and rear bayonet cap)
Dimensions: 100 X 155mm
Lens hood: metal screw-in type, generic
Tripod collar: yes
Front filter diameter: 95mm
When I bought it, it was in a pretty bad shape; lot's of scratches, fungus and dust inside, so I decided to get it refurbished. Two technicians at Fotomehanika camera services in Slovenia took it apart in March this year, cleaned it, polished a few lens element inside and voila - I was given back a really nicely done piece of glass.
All images I'm about to post, are shot at f/1.5 using my D3; uncropped, just boosted contrast a bit. The D3 doesn't have an f/1.5 option for 135mm lenses in it's "Non-CPU lens data" menu, so as far as my D3 is concerned, these images were shot at f/1.4 ...
And don't we all wish for a 135/1,4 lens ...
Edited on Oct 14, 2009 at 06:20 AM · View previous versions
Vivitar Telephoto 135mm f/1.5 Professional - ever heard of it? I'm currently selling it, but nonetheless; here are some samples made with it.
It's an extremely rare lens, which was produced in a very small batch of 30 pieces (some claim 300, but it's actually unknown, how many were made) in 1967, with a preset T-mount. I bought mine in Nikon F mount (yes, it does focus to infinity), but it can also be used with practically all other mounts (Canon EF and EF-S, Sony/Minolta, Pentax, 4/3 and M4/3 ...).
What's also interesting, is that mine carries a serial number of 19671001, which probably means it's the very first of it's kind.
Some info:
Picture angle: 18°
Number of diaphragm blades: 16
Minimum f/stop: 22
Closest focusing distance: 1.65m
Weight: 1.970g (2.170g with lens hood, tripod collar and rear bayonet cap)
Dimensions: 100 X 155mm
Lens hood: metal screw-in type, generic
Tripod collar: yes
Front filter diameter: 95mm
When I bought it, it was in a pretty bad shape; lot's of scratches, fungus and dust inside, so I decided to get it refurbished. Two technicians at Fotomehanika camera services in Slovenia took it apart in March this year, cleaned it, polished a few lens element inside and voila - I was given back a really nicely done piece of glass.
All images I'm about to post, are shot at f/1.5 using my D3; uncropped, just boosted contrast a bit. The D3 doesn't have an f/1.5 option for 135mm lenses in it's "Non-CPU lens data" menu, so as far as my D3 is concerned, these images were shot at f/1.4 ...
And don't we all wish for a 135/1,4 lens ...Edited on Oct 14, 2009 at 06:20 AM · View previous versions
Oct 14, 2009 at 06:04 AM
p.1 #2Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
OMG, these look great. Man, i have never heard of this thing.
Oct 14, 2009 at 06:07 AM
p.1 #3Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
uhh i really like the oof areas and bokeh seems nice as well.
No money left, otherwise i would have asked for the price
Oct 14, 2009 at 06:45 AM
p.1 #4Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Insane, that portrait is crazy. It makes the 85 1.4 look like a consumer lens. How much?
Oct 14, 2009 at 06:50 AM
p.1 #5Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
FWIW, the number of blades has nothing to do with how the bokeh looks when the lens is wide open
Oct 14, 2009 at 07:01 AM
p.1 #7Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Add me to the list of droolers...looks like a terrific old MF lens!
Oct 14, 2009 at 07:20 AM
p.1 #8Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Eric Schwab wrote:
Insane, that portrait is crazy. It makes the 85 1.4 look like a consumer lens. How much?
I never knew that there is an f/1.5 aperture of this focal length and wow, look at the diaphragm. Really cool. At f/1.8, the Sony/Zeiss lens came close.... BTW, it is listed on the B&S board for $1,500.00. Sorry, the price is Euro 1,500.00 and not US $.
Edited to reflect the wrong currency in the original post
Edited on Oct 14, 2009 at 08:56 AM · View previous versions
Insane, that portrait is crazy. It makes the 85 1.4 look like a consumer lens. How much?
I never knew that there is an f/1.5 aperture of this focal length and wow, look at the diaphragm. Really cool. At f/1.8, the Sony/Zeiss lens came close.... BTW, it is listed on the B&S board for $1,500.00. Sorry, the price is Euro 1,500.00 and not US $.
Edited to reflect the wrong currency in the original post
Edited on Oct 14, 2009 at 08:56 AM · View previous versions
Oct 14, 2009 at 07:28 AM
p.1 #9Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
2Kg. 135mm lens? Mama mia. What a beast.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Oct 14, 2009 at 07:56 AM
p.1 #10Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
More alternate gear but thought I'd post here since we're talking about fast 135mm lenses, I recently got a Soilgor C/D *P 135/2 in Minolta mount. It's on my X-570. This is also a very nice lens, and its sharpness at f2 is more than I ever expected, based on my first roll of Provia.
It can be a challenge to handhold on the small Minolta body, but easier with a motor drive. The Soligor has a more manageable 77mm filter mount. My sample came with both caps in near mint condition for $75
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/3966085263_c4e67b82ce_m.jpg
It can be a challenge to handhold on the small Minolta body, but easier with a motor drive. The Soligor has a more manageable 77mm filter mount. My sample came with both caps in near mint condition for $75
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/3966085263_c4e67b82ce_m.jpg
Oct 14, 2009 at 08:41 AM
p.1 #11Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Yeah, this is very cool. If you have any more sample images I'm sure we'd all be happy to see them!
I can't remember the last time I so readily thought about dropping ~$2k out of no where.
I can't remember the last time I so readily thought about dropping ~$2k out of no where.
Oct 14, 2009 at 12:23 PM
p.1 #12Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
That's a beautiful hunk of glass. I'm sure some collector or museum would love to have it, bonus that the image are very very nice as well
Oct 14, 2009 at 12:45 PM
p.1 #13Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
wow .. hmm i was looking for a 135mm f/2.0 Ai-S, this could be a nice alternative
beautiful piece of glass
beautiful piece of glass
Oct 14, 2009 at 03:17 PM
p.1 #14Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Hello, wants to buy it
is perhaps to sell this lens willing to pile it, my e-mail [email protected]
is perhaps to sell this lens willing to pile it, my e-mail [email protected]
Nov 14, 2009 at 10:40 AM
p.1 #15Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
No nano coating, and it still takes good pics? I don't believe it...
Nov 14, 2009 at 03:44 PM
p.1 #16Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Really nice pics. What a pleasure to read about a rare treasure of a lens like this.
The phrase "Fast glass" comes to mind. I recall reading that phrase and now I see why fast glass is so treasured even with the increased difficulities.
Edited on Jul 10, 2010 at 06:52 AM · View previous versions
The phrase "Fast glass" comes to mind. I recall reading that phrase and now I see why fast glass is so treasured even with the increased difficulities.
Edited on Jul 10, 2010 at 06:52 AM · View previous versions
Nov 14, 2009 at 04:09 PM
p.1 #17Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Thats a huge lens.. would swallow one of the smaller dslr's
Nov 15, 2009 at 04:54 PM
p.1 #18Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
It having 16 aperture blades and all, reminds of this lens: Cosmicar (Pentax) 135 2.8 Television lens supposedly made for movie cameras.
A buddy of mine recently got hold of one of those, and the images looked sharp with really nice bokeh - although at f2.8 obviously a far cry from this one.
These shots really look fantastic.
A buddy of mine recently got hold of one of those, and the images looked sharp with really nice bokeh - although at f2.8 obviously a far cry from this one.
These shots really look fantastic.
Nov 15, 2009 at 10:26 PM
p.1 #19Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Gorgeous photos, that's a real 200mm f/2 for DX cameras! 
Nov 23, 2009 at 09:43 PM
p.1 #20Vivitar 135mm f/1.5 + Nikon D3 samples!
Mark Kenfield wrote:
Gorgeous photos, that's a real 200mm f/2 for DX cameras!
your aware that cropped frame does not affect aperture size correct?
Gorgeous photos, that's a real 200mm f/2 for DX cameras!
your aware that cropped frame does not affect aperture size correct?
Nov 23, 2009 at 10:11 PM