Anyone own/use or seen one of these lenses? I put posting on macro form also- no imput. The lens is made by Komine in 1978. I have one inbound from an eBay purchase. Rare, dud, or expensive dud? Any opinions or facts- appreciated.
The Vivitar lenses made by Komine (serial starting with 28) are quite good (definitely not duds). This one won't be of the same level of the 90/2.5 macro but then it should be a lot cheaper also.
I've had the (Komine) Vivitar 28/2.0 Close Focus which was nice. Good build quality and nice bokeh.
I think this is one of the "special" vivitar ones. Google or flickr should return a lof of info/samples on this one. It shows up on Ebay once in a while around $100-150 depending on the mount.
In my opinion it's a lot better than the many different vivitar 135/2.8 non "close focusing" ones. It goes real close, 1:2, and sharp even wide open with really nice bokeh.
I posted a sample in the Vivitar thread HERE
I also have one that I have had very good results with. I converted mine from Canon FD mount. It was part of a lot of 4 lenses that I bought for $25. This one and one other turned out to be real performers and the other two provided some useful parts to rebuild a couple of other lenses so I was very happy with my purchase.
My lens is also Komine built with a slightly earlier serial number ending in 1418.
I converted my 135 CloseFocusing on Saturday - and the first tests are VERY promissing. On my 5D images viewed at 100% looks very good and pin-sharp - even those taken at 2.8.
The bokeh seems not smooth - probably the price for the sharpness.
Donīt know if my lens is a S/N 28 version.
ZoneV wrote:
Donīt know if my lens is a S/N 28 version.
Is the ID ring missing? The serial should just be on the front face of the lens.
Anyway, I think that Komine probably was the only manufacturer that made the 135/2.8 CF for Vivitar. Other manufacturerers (like Kiron) made differently styled barrels and none of them are labeled Close Focus, IIRC.
I have two of them in Nikon AI mount (if anyone wants one of them, shoot me a PM). I mainly use it for macro work with my coral reef tanks and it's been a great performer. I also shot some non-macro subjects last year and they turned out very nice, sharp and high contrast.
Vivitar 135/2.8 Close Focusing in Nikon F mount.
My S/N starts w/ 28, and I am using a Fotodiox Pro adapter for EOS mount.
WOW! Best $125.00 I ever spent on a lens!
These are straight out of the camera, from RAW to Bridge, then to Image Processor to resize and to convert profile to sRGB.
NO PP! Wow, yet another lens that needs none to minimal PP, yey!
5DMkII and Vivitar 135/2.8 Close Focusing, SOOC:
