how good is Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm Macro F3.5 (Kiron)

heartcat · Joined: 31 Dec 2009 Posts: 371

I had one of these and was very pleased with the quality of the photos it produced.

I ended up selling it though because of its weight. It wasn't that it was too heavy for 'me', but I always felt that I had to hold the lens, rather than the camera, when I had it on. I was worried that the weight of it, left hanging, might damage the mounting area of my camera. Maybe that's not a realistic concern, but I couldn't shake the worry.

RAART · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 5:14 am Post subject:

I took close look at lens I have and it is coated but I guess it is single coating and not VMC... anyway I really like macro performance so far also the regular performance is good.

Minolfan · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3437 Location: Netherlands

RAART · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:52 am Post subject:

The serial is 22409741 as seen in picture 3 at the beginning...

Nikonshooter · Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:17 pm Post subject:

I have three lens with the S/N 22151317, 22923036, and 22103223. All say VMC.

"Version 1 (1974-1978, sn 224xxxxx - 227xxxxx) - This was the initial production version of the lens. It was soon discovered that there were reliability issues which Vivitar attempted to address through a series of minor changes. These changes were undocumented even in Vivitar service publications, with one exception - an "improved helicoid assembly" was introduced starting with sn 22528001 according to the service manual. However, all changes were designed to be backwardly compatible with the version 1 design. All version 1 lenses should be more or less interchangeable from a service perspective.[6]

Version 2 (1978-1981, sn 228xxxx - 221xxxxx) - In late 1978 Vivitar attempted to solve the reliability problems by introducing a major internal redesign of the lens known as the Z71 modification. Pre 1978 and post 1978 models are no longer completely interchangeable. The Version 2 redesign also introduced several additional mounts. Because of the redesign, Vivitar's internal stock numbers for lens changed"

-camera wiki

Minolfan · Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3437 Location: Netherlands

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

My serial number is 22133770 with the VMC on the front

Nikonshooter · Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:55 am Post subject:

Sometime I wish old companies would start making lens again. If Vivitar got their head out of their rear ends and started to make these lens again, but lighter with a tripod collar I'm sure they would do better than they do now.

elliott · Joined: 16 May 2011 Posts: 180

guardian · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1749

Nikonshooter · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:24 pm Post subject:

Ok guys I went out an asked a expert on Kiron lens and vivitar lens that goes by the name "boggy" about the multicoating issue of these lens.

"VMC is Vivitar Multi Coating" -boggy

The serial numbers go backwards meaning that a 224xxxxx(1974) is older than a 221xxxxx(1981) lens. With this being said he done some research and found that a "picture of a 224xxxxx (1974) lens does NOT have VMC on the front bezel. There is no mention of coatings in the 1974 Modern Photography tests." -boggy

So some time in 1974 after the first batch they started to apply the multicoating.

So if you have a lens with 224xxxxx then your lens might not have the multicoating. But this ISN'T 100% confirmed!

"I should say here that just because the lens was not marked VMC does not mean the lens does not have Multi Coating, nor does it mean the lens must have Single Coating. I'm not an optical expert but I seem to recall coating compositions may have changed over time. I do know that examples of Kiron, Vivitar and Soligor branded examples of the 105/100mm macro lens do show up as different colours." -Boggy

Nikonshooter · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:27 pm Post subject:

guardian · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1749

All this extended discussion motivated me to go dig out my own poor copy of this lens. My lens is a fungus factory which I've been unable to clean because I cannot, as yet, disassemble it.

Anyway, my lens S/N is 22403529. Following close re-inspection of my lens, I'm more willing to accept the assertion of a fellow poster here who earlier wrote that all of these lenses are coated. It is possible my lens is coated, but if so the coating is very difficult to detect, nearly imperceptible. The presence of so much fungus does not make detection easier. I'm virtually certain my lens is not multi-coated, and of course it is not marked "VMC".

Should I ever buy another copy of this lens, rest assured it will have the "VMC" plainly marked.

Nikonshooter · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2012 2:15 pm Post subject:

guardian · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1749

DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3462 Location: Northern Ireland

RAART · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:41 pm Post subject:

I never saw this lens with hood like this... and it is original one too!
I need to look for adapter like you have while it is heavy one... I want this hood too!

Now I need to search for Nikon to m4/3 adapter with built-in tripod mount... Rolling Eyes

Nikonshooter · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:51 pm Post subject:

Those hoods are all over ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VIVITAR-SERIES-1-COLLAPSIBLE-LENS-HOOD-FOR-70-210MM-F3-5-MACRO-ZOOM-LENS-/330713062634?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0008dcea

Is this the mount your looking for?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-F-AI-to-Micro-4-3-M4-3-M43-Mount-Adapter-w-Tripod-Mount-GF3-GX1-EP3-OM-D-/271107662095?pt=US_Lens_Adapters_Mounts_Tubes&hash=item3f1f46a10f

RAART · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 1:58 pm Post subject:

Russ · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 432

Vivitar S-1 70-210 trio & superb Kiron 70-210 with zoom-lock

Left to right:
Vivitar Series 1 (Kiron model), f/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 (Tokina model), f/3.5
Vivitar Series 1 (Komine model), f/2.8-4
Kiron 70-210. f/4 with Zoom-lock

Regarding Viv S-1 glass. There are numerous ( Cool

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 (perhaps my new personal favorite) 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)

Russ · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 432

Shot on crappy Agfachrome with the first edition, Vivitar S-1 70-210 in macro mode. No post processing.

Russ · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 432

Made with the third edition (Komine model) on Kodak Portra 400 film. No post processing other than slight cropping.

DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3462 Location: Northern Ireland

mfkita · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 222

New to me, the lens and this thread...

these next 3 are 100% crops