Vivitar Series 1 35 - 85mm F/28 Review
 Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject field: Vivitar Series ane 35-85mm F/2.8 |  |
| | |
| I am slackjawed over bidding here: Click hither to see on Ebay Stipulated: Sure, I'd love to own this lens. There are lots of lenses I'd love to own. In this case the reality of the live bids intrudes on my dream. And, no, I have not bid (why bother!). And so what don't I know hither? Is this particular lens a classic piece desired far and wide? Or is what I'g witnessing here merely a bidding frenzy amidst people with more coin than MF lens knowledge? | |
| Posted: Monday Jul 08, 2013 5:xiv pm Post subject: | |
| | |
| Wow. A couple of years ago I sold i similar that on craigslist for less than a half of that auction'due south current bid. Merely mine was in a much amend shape and had a Nikon mount. No, this lens is not a hidden gem. By today's standards it'due south pretty mediocre at best (believe me, I owned i and tried someone else's sample). However, it carries historical significance as the first zoom lens that was not a zoom lens. At the time, it was positioned as a "vari-focal" design, meaning that, unlike its then current peers, it would not attempt to keep things in focus when the lens was zoomed. Past dropping that requirement, Vivitar was able to design a decently specced lens that was reasonably priced and still delivered reasonable (past 1970'due south standards) performance. That said, the concluding xl years saw tremendous evolution in designing zoom lenses. _________________ Listing of lenses | |
| Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:49 pm Mail subject: | | ||
| | |||
Really, this lens was not the first Varifocal. The first varifocal for 35mm format was the Zoomar 36-82/F2.8 made by Kilfitt in 1959, if memory serves. There were many afterward this, including the Hexanon 35-100/f2.8, which first came out around 1971. | |||
| Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 vii:23 am Postal service subject: | |
| | |
| Correct me if I am incorrect, but I believe that the 35-85mm f/2.8 was Vivitar's kickoff wide-angle to brusque tele Serial ane zoom, also equally their first varifocal pattern. And then information technology has that bit of historical brio going for it. Also, generally information technology has always had an splendid reputation. Honestly, aoleg's evaluation is the kickoff I've always read reporting it as being just mediocre. Simply I believe the real describe for that lens has been the one characteristic that has always made it popular -- and the reason why it'south and so Big for a 35-85 -- that constant f/2.viii maximum aperture. Besides the fact that it was built past Kiron probably has something to practise with its popularity. The lens came new with a big push-on front cap and a hood. Add together $$ to the price if it yet has the cap and hood. And I noticed that this field of study lens is M42, surely a popular mountain for EOS, Pentax, u4/three, and NEX users. I take owned only one -- dorsum in the days when I was a photographic camera dealer. And I don't believe I always did whatsoever more briefly dabble with it for the relatively short time I owned information technology. I just visited Flickr and typed in a search string for this lens: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=vivitar+35-85mm+series+1 Information technology returned a large sampling of photos, many of which I would draw as excellent. Finally, I went on eBay and did a search of electric current listings on this lens and got 10 hits. The subject lens sold for substantially less than about all the BIN listings on eBay. So then I did a search on "sold listings," which painted an entirely different movie. The lens sold for as cheap equally $15 and as high equally $167.50. Most of the sold listings fell between the $xl and $threescore levels, though. Moral of the story? Exist patient, ignore the inflated BIN listings and expect for the auctions. _________________ Michael My Gear List: http://michaelmcbroom.com/photo/gear.html | |
| Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:09 pm Mail service field of study: | | ||
| | |||
Cheers for your really excellent post. Information technology is helpful and I appreciate it. Certainly I concur with you lot on BIN pricing. Most often it is too high. One faces more than challenge, though, accounting for the disparity in actual sales prices y'all noted. Personally I attribute it to a lack of efficiency in the markets for some lenses. Surely, as you point out, this is something which can be exploited! I do think it fair, though, to judge the quality of this lens [and others, likewise] by the higher prices ready, willing, and able bidders have offered to pay at open auction. No vote regarding lens quality registers with more force than a vote with one's dollars. | |||
| Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:30 pm Post subject: | | ||
| | |||
+1 _________________ In Search Of "R" Series Soligors Found: 135/two.8 #R407660, 200/iv #R405526, 300/5.5 #R411127 | |||
| Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 4:51 pm Postal service subject: | | ||
| | |||
It'southward this thing with reputation, y'all know. Aristotle's statement on flies having 4 legs was blindly trusted for a thousand years despite the fact that a little counting would easily testify otherwise. 40 years ago, that 35-85/2.8 zoom couls be a "wow, information technology's a ii.eight zoom and it costs so picayune!" thing. No, information technology wasn't every bit abrupt every bit primes, but zooms were a novelty back then. It'due south merely like VoIP long-distance calls some xx years ago: it was a novelty, it worked, and it cost 10 times less than analog long-distance. Quality? For that price, who cares! Verifying me is easy: but get this lens and test information technology. You might be disappointed if your expectations are gear up as well high. 40 years ago, a constant brilliant zoom had to accept compromises... As I said, I sold my re-create for $l on local craigslist. I think you can find one easily for well-nigh that price - with a little patience of class. _________________ List of lenses | |||
| Posted: Wed Jul x, 2013 5:14 pm Post subject: | |
| | |
| Well, as I mentioned in my previous mail service, the going rate on eBay for this lens -- auctions, not BINs -- is nigh $40-lx The states, which agrees with your estimate. And as I also mentioned, I took the time to do a search at Flickr on this lens. The link I provided above shows many photos whose quality I would describe as splendid. I concord with you about improvements in technology vis-a-vis zooms. But sometimes a maker gets it correct from the beginning. Cf a couple of Vivitar's other Serial 1'due south -- the 70-210/3.5 and the 28-90/ii.viii-three.5. Ane's almost 40 yo and the other's about 35. The 35-85/2.8 is a lens that I'll probably own again some 24-hour interval "just because." And it won't really exist considering I'll be expecting marvelous photos. It'll be more than because of what it is -- a large, heavy, constant fast-aperture one-bear on zoom. _________________ Michael My Gear Listing: http://michaelmcbroom.com/photograph/gear.html | |
| Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:03 pm Mail subject: | | ||
| | |||
Excellent photos can be taken with mediocre/bad lenses. This lens is not excellent. Information technology is nice though and information technology handles nicely too. It tin be great for artistic shots, but not if y'all want very abrupt results, a item that you can miss when looking at small prototype samples. I have this lens and I overpaid for it going by the hype. $60 is possibly a justifiable toll for it, mayhap. PS: I'd be interested in trading my sample for another lens. | |||
| Posted: Midweek Jul 10, 2013 10:37 pm Post discipline: | | ||
| | |||
We'll see. Mine's on its way. | |||
| Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:12 am Postal service bailiwick: | |
| | |
| It's a lens I have and use. I got it at a steal of a price with a bundle of other stuff. I would say it'south quite skillful, merely not one I'd blitz out to replace if it got lost/stolen/damaged. _________________ No longer here | |
| Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 6:47 pm Post subject: | |
| | |
| If anyone is interested in buying one of these, there's one for sale hither in the Netherlands, not mine, but if you lot want i can assist buying/sending it if needed. Hither information technology is: http://link.marktplaats.nl/696952356 _________________ My Flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chantalrene/ Sony A7, Canon 5D mkII, Minolta 7D + RD3000 and some more..... | |
| Posted: Monday Jul 22, 2013 7:58 pm Postal service subject: | | ||
| | |||
Now that I've had a chance to try out my copy I have to concord. Far from first-class, it's downright disappointing. For the tape I paid about 60 USD for it, in the box. Possibly I got a bum copy, don't know. My S1 Komine-made 28-xc 2.8 blows this thing completely away in every respect except build quality where they're about fifty-fifty. | |||
| Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:08 pm Post subject field: | | ||||
| | |||||
Acknowledged I'thou guessing, so, that in your view this auction is WAY outside the lines Click here to see on Ebay that the v offers already made on the lens were misguided, at all-time, and that the five watchers (at this writing) are watching the wrong thing. Seriously, this lens appears to have a split up personality. Why are then many folks on eBay interested in such a piece of junque? | |||||
| Posted: Midweek Jul 24, 2013 6:31 pm Mail service subject: | | ||||||||
| | |||||||||
Not really - that's virtually how much I paid for mine.
Yes, that's nearly right. You tin pay to gain knowledge direct, or y'all can learn from the experience of others. Your money, your choice.
Because it'southward fairly rare, it got mentioned in an article nigh cult lenses where it was commented favorably, and there are few people that had it then that they can share their feel about it. Some people may have been impressed by some other VS1 lens, may not have read annihilation else about it (they didn't visit mflenses or read my review), others may want it so that they can consummate their collection of VS1 lenses, others may not intendance most sharpness and just want the lens for artistic images (flare, internal reflection, softness). Who knows? The lens is not a dud. It can take pictures. It's only not as special as y'all may wait from looking at the price of that auction. Upwardly to $60 is a decent cost for it.
You admittedly need to use a hood with this lens. I remember that the showtime fourth dimension I used it on a sunny day, all my images were coming out washed out. Here are a couple of decent images from this lens: If y'all require this lens, pm me. I tin can be convinced to part with it | |||||||||
| Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 7:06 pm Mail subject: | |
| | |
| I've dubbed it the "flare monster". Mine came with the original hood and I think it's too shallow for the size and depth of the front glass. It handles nicely though. I read somewhere it originally sold for $400-$500 USD back in the solar day. | |
| Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 9:02 pm Post subject: | | ||
| | |||
I just took a few shots with this lens. I was merely playing and the flash battery died. I was almost to delete the shots cause I didn't like them when I noticed the thread. They are not work of fine art, but it is sample of run of manufactory indoor snap shots one tin can take with this lens. #one | |||
| Posted: Wednesday Jul 24, 2013 9:59 pm Mail service subject: | |
| | |
| Hmm, I'll take to requite mine a try nether different lighting situations. Do you keep a hood on yours? | |
| Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:08 pm Post subject: | |
| | |
The baby volition learn to jump very early when the alarm clock goes off !  Prissy pictures, it'south a lens I'd use, just I incertitude that I'd pay big money for one. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE..... I have loads of stuff that I have to get rid of, if you see me commenting most something I take got and you want ane, enquire me. My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/ My ipernity - http://www.ipernity.com/home/294337 | |
| Posted: Dominicus Jul 02, 2017 11:47 am Post subject: | |
| | |
| And I haven't paid "large money" for 1 .....�15 seemed similar a practiced deal for a very nice looking re-create. I shall be testing information technology very presently. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE..... I have loads of stuff that I have to become rid of, if you encounter me commenting virtually something I have got and y'all desire one, enquire me. My Flickr https://world wide web.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/ My ipernity - http://www.ipernity.com/abode/294337 | |
| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 8:28 pm Post subject: | |
| | |
| Well.....hither are a few test shots taken in the Churchyard behind our business firm, and I accept to say that I like this Vivitar, it'due south not super precipitous as has been pointed out in this old topic, but it is abrupt enough and the images will certainly tidy upwards in PP. I used a deep condom lens hood, and it was very bright sunshine out there today, and flare isn't noticeable - even in shots not posted here where I tried to provoke flare. Typically, for Series 1 lenses of this era, information technology's a large heavy affair, but information technology handles nicely, and the Sony A6000 sits nicely on it. I also have the Series 1. 24-48 / 3.8 which I've had a long time and similar a lot, and information technology'll be interesting to compare the 2. . I was very undecided about ownership this Vivitar, merely I think I'm going to like information technology. All shot on the A6000, at f4, ISO250 and no PP at all. I just chop-chop scrubbed these two up in Photoshop, the lens is OK. _________________ LENSES & CAMERAS FOR SALE..... I have loads of stuff that I take to get rid of, if you see me commenting about something I have got and you want one, ask me. My Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudplugga/ My ipernity - http://world wide web.ipernity.com/home/294337 | |
| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:51 pm Post subject: | |
| | |
| I see that this is a four-year-old thread. And I posted back then that I might selection i up some mean solar day "just because." Well, estimate what? I bought one two years ago, and posted some results I got with it hither at mflenses. Here's a link to the thread, which includes a few photos. http://forum.mflenses.com/vivitar-series-i-35-85mm-f-two-8-a-few-test-shots-t71781.html I have some boring shots I took in my back yard a few months dorsum with this lens. The subject matter may be boring, but they give decent examples of sharpness and softness. 35mm focal length @ f/2.8: 35mm focal length @ f/viii: 85mm focal length @ f/2.8: 85mm focal length @ f/8: I establish mine at the Goodwill sale site, which means I picked information technology up for inexpensive, nigh likely. I don't recall what I paid for it. Practice I utilize information technology much? Nope. I bought it merely to take a copy. _________________ Michael My Gear List: http://michaelmcbroom.com/photo/gear.html | |
| Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:25 pm Post subject: 1998 Shutterbug Review of the VS1 35-85/ii.8 VF | |
| | |
| FWIW, for those interested, I am passing on excerpts from a 1998 review of this lens by Frances East. Schultz (co-author, along with Roger Hicks, of "The Lens Volume", as referenced by Robert Monaghan in his "Third Party Lenses Resource Megasite"). The review appeared in the Classic & Collector column of the Baronial, 1998, issue of Shutterbug mag. Fred [brainstorm] Some lenses are legendary: the Voigtlander Apo Lanthar, the Zeiss Biogon, the Leitz Thambar, and so on. Ordinarily, their prices reflect their legendary status. In that location are others which deserve to be legends and are actually appreciated by those who ain them, simply which can still be constitute surprisingly inexpensive. The Vivitar Series ane Machine Variable Focus 35-85mm f/ii.eight is one of them. Even by mod standards information technology is fast; it is notwithstanding remarkably sharp; and it is the classic "standard zoom" range. On the down side, it is admittedly big and heavy, and it is not "parfocal" - in other words, you have to refocus every time y'all modify the focal length, which is why it is called a varifocus or variable focus lens rather than a zoom. These drawbacks are the cost you lot pay (and the price the designers thought worthwhile) for the speed and operation. Role of the price, that is. The rest of the toll came in dollars and cents. In 1976, this lens listed at $499.50, at a fourth dimension when a new Leica CL with 40mm Summicron lens listed at $540. [Caption for an illustration] Although it isn't in cosmetically perfect shape, my example of this legendary lens performs beautifully. I have the unique plumbing fixtures dished lens cap and the original clamp-on hood. It was introduced in the mid-1970s, over twenty years agone; in my 1976 Camera Barn Photographic Buying Guide it was described as "new" and had a total page ad to itself. Very few zooms of that flow were any proficient, but the performance of this one is impressive, even by the standards of the late 1990s. Like all the original Serial 1 lenses, it was built to state of the art standards of optical and mechanical quality, and pretty much regardless of price. Optical blueprint was American and Japanese; mechanical design was Japanese; and the lens was congenital, at least according to the original publicity material, using specially made NC lathes from Germany and Switzerland. [Caption for an illustration] If you lot can only carry one lens when you are traveling, a 35-85 zoom is a proficient choice. It is fast and piece of cake to use and delivers splendid results at all focal lengths. This was taken using the 35mm terminate of the zoom range. Even with the straight line near the border of the film, distortion is minimal. It is a "1 touch" lens, with a single ring that y'all push-pull to zoom and twist to focus. The closest focusing distance varies considerably with focal length, from 10.2 inches (from the film plane - iv.3 inches from the front end element) at 35 mm to effectually 30 inches (from the film plane) at 85 mm. This corresponds to almost one/four life-size at 35mm and ane/8 life-size at 85mm. The filter size is a big 72mm, and the lens weighs 27 ounces; overall length at infinity is 3.6 inches, and maximum barrel bore is 3.2 inches. There are 12 spectacles in ix groups, 3 of them moving independently: the original ad mentions 5 concentric sleeves with nested cams. Despite all the glass, and eighteen air drinking glass surfaces, flare is surprisingly low for such a complex lens of this age. The other detectable shortcoming is distortion, but unless you lot have directly lines almost the edge of the picture show, y'all volition never notice information technology. I have never noticed information technology in "real" pictures, simply in exam chart shots which were designed to point out every defect. Resolution is very high, better than 72 lp/mm centrally on a medium dissimilarity (10:1) target and Ilford Pan F Plus movie. Compared to prime number lenses, and even to mod zooms, the Varifocal is an idiosyncratic lens. Apart from the size, the weight, and the fact that you have to refocus every fourth dimension you change focal length, the thing which takes the most getting used to is the style the front glass rotates as you change focal lengths. Information technology only moves through about thirty degrees as you lot zoom from 35-85mm, but somehow, this is more unexpected than a greater movement. It also moves frontwards from 35-55mm, then backward again from 55-85mm. The total to-and-fro movement is less than 1/iv inch, but the effect is still odd. The lens cap which comes with the lens is unique, and screws into the filter thread, The lens shade is also unique and adequately vestigial, as information technology has to be at the 35mm cease of the range. Information technology is a very shallow flared hood, held on (non always very securely) past a set screw. It rotates forth with the front glass as you zoom the lens. The Vivitar Motorcar Vario Focus 35-85 f/2.8 is definitely my favorite snapshot lens. There are many occasions when I don't desire to carry 2 bodies and three or iv lenses, merely I all the same want the versatility and dependability of my regular cameras, forth with excellent quality. The 35-85 on one of my Nikkormat bodies is my get-go pick. It is too an excellent lens for informal portraiture on location. It is much easier to put yourself and your model at ease if you don't take to keep irresolute lenses. While I would usually utilise a medium or large format photographic camera in the studio, the combination of this lens and a photographic camera torso I know well allows me to shoot quickly with a minimum of endeavor on location. For the same reasons, the 35-85 is my favorite reportage lens. I tin can alter focal lengths very quickly, and because I know the lens then well, having to refocus does non cause me a problem. An interesting question is why no other manufacturer ever went downwards the aforementioned route. If you tin relieve weight and ameliorate operation by dropping a parfocal zoom activeness, and going to variable focus instead, why has no one else ever done it? Information technology would be fascinating to see the same approach, with the same focal lengths and the same constant f/ii.8 aperture tried today. Until someone does endeavor it, I shall go along using my original Vivitar Series ane Auto Variable Focusing 35-85mm 1:2.eight, every bit it proudly describes itself on the lens bezel. [end] _________________ Fred If y'all saw a fellow drowning, and you could either relieve him or photograph the event . . . What lens would you use ? | |
| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 1:32 am Post subject: | |
| | |
| Ah, yes. Frances and Roger. I knew those 2 fashion back when. Nosotros attended a lot of the aforementioned camera shows. As an possessor of both Vivitar S1 35-85 and 28-90 varifocal lenses, all I can say is that I'd rather be carrying the 28-90 any day instead of the 35-85. It's wider and longer, weighs less, and loses only 1/ii stop at the long terminate. And it is much sharper, especially broad open -- I don't care what Frances says. I'll put my Kodachromes up against hers any day. _________________ Michael My Gear List: http://michaelmcbroom.com/photo/gear.html | |
| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 7:37 am Mail subject: | |
| | |
| I think that the reviewer(s) may have confused the Vivitar S1 35-85 with the Vivitar S1 28-ninety when they speak of "legendary lens" Every bit Michael has already pointed out, the 28-90 made by Komine is an excellent lens, and certainly earned a reputation in photograph journalism following its release. The 35-85 was fabricated past Kiron/Kino if I recall correctly. Similar Michael, I have owned both - and the Komine lens is ameliorate in about every respect, both on APSC, and total frame. This is not to say that the Kiron lens is not a practiced lens - just non in the same league equally the other in my experience OH | |
Source: http://forum.mflenses.com/vivitar-series-1-35-85mm-f-28-t59993.html
0 Response to "Vivitar Series 1 35 - 85mm F/28 Review"
Post a Comment