testing my lenses - part 88 - Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm/3.5

shyl · Joined: 22 Jul 2011 Posts: 27

I like your photographs much.You showed lens character well with very good photographs.Not always "blurry background" images

fermy · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 2877

Well, I now have the Kiron (1st) and Komine(3rd) version. Komine is not constant aperture, it's 2.8-4.0, so I wouldn't call it the fastest. On the other hand, Tokina (#2) is only 1:4 magnification compared to 1:2.2 and 1:2.5 for Kiron and Komine, which IMHO makes it the least useful of good S1 zooms. As long teles they are good as far as zooms go, but would lose to primes, so it's the versatility that is the main attraction point.

kryss · Expire: 2017-09-18

Nice photo's Boomer,I have the kiron version in MD mount which I would like to sell CHEEP CHEEP! as I much prefer my Tamron 19ah of which I have 2 as I would not like to be without one.

Boomer Depp · Expire: 2011-12-04

Thank you!

List it here on buy and sell or other photography forums buy & sell,or ebay or classified adds locally in your area.

Boomer Depp · Expire: 2011-12-04

With the Series 1 and having considerable experience with the first three versions of the lens,the Tokina was the easiest and quickest to use....especially for quick action photography it was the quickest and easiest to acquire focus,where a split second is required to achieve focus and take the shot(tested this more then a few times up close with hummingbirds...which to me is the ultimate acid test for super quick action photography....the Kiron and Komine couldn't hold a candle to the Tokina in this type of photography).If max. magnification is required then the Kiron would be the choice...if it were low light it's a tossup between between the Tokina and Komine....for best resolution and contrast the nod goes to the Komine.

fermy · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 2877

What makes the Tokina the fastest to acquire focus? Is it just weight difference? I've tried shooting football with Komine on NEX-5, it was indeed difficult handheld.

Boomer Depp · Expire: 2011-12-04

Shooting hummers closeup with manual focus lenses reminded me of my early days boxing when I was young, before I had the knowledge,skills and speed to win against lesser opponents....believe me,getting my ass kicked by a tiny little hummer was a humbling experience....it took some trial and error with different tools,till I started using the right tools for the task at hand.

Not the weight...it was the required zoom and focus,with the Kiron and Komine lagging a split second behind on the zoom(Kiron was slowest on the zoom) and not acquiring focus as easily or quick(the Kiron being the slowest and most difficult to closeup acquire focus on a fast moving object) ...try it sometime closeup with a very fast moving object,you'll see what I mean....shooting football would be relatively easy comparatively ...it was very frustrating with the Kiron and not quite as frustrating with the Komine...I did this more then a few times in order from hardest to easiest,Kiron,Komine and finally Tokina...after using the first two,the Tokina was a breeze....I've never used the Kiron or the Komine since for closeup high speed subjects.

Tried a couple other zooms and also threw my sharpest zoom at the time,the Nikkor 80-200/4.5(final version) in the mix, and it was about the same speed wise as the Komine....though it has sharper resolution,if it can't acquire focus and get the shot,then it wasn't up to the task for this type of manual focus photography....these days,when I feel up to the task of taking on hummers, I use Canon L lenses for such photography........but, if I want to harken back to the old days,using a MF zoom lens for this type of close up split second quick photography,I know exactly which lens I"ll be mounting.

BTW....Shooting at further distances on a fast moving object....the lenses were more equatable.

chicks · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 17

I found the first version in immaculate condition at a thrift last week. Seems a bit heavy to hang off my Oly PEN, but testing in macro mode on a tripod. Wish it had some way to use a collar, but sliding focus/zoom precludes that.

Problem I'm having is that the sliding and turning motions interact, so nailing the focus of even stationary subjects is a bit of a pain. The great sample pictures in this thread are incentive enough to learn better technique with this lens, though. Were the shots taken handheld? Can't imagine they were...

WolverineX · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:42 am Post subject:

chicks · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 17

WolverineX · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2012 3:08 pm Post subject:

Ghost2501 · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 102 Location: Belgium

chicks · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 17

OK, thanks for the tips! Gave it a go, indoors in low light, ISO 400-800, about 1/30th sec. Will try some better lit shots when I get a chance. Certainly didn't achieve your level, but will keep trying. Now, where do I find a beautiful, well-lit and very patient model like the one in your initial post? Very Happy

WolverineX · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:06 pm Post subject:

Ghost2501 · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 102 Location: Belgium

My step father is croatian (from Crikvenica). He arrived here in Belgium when he was 8 (he is now 57). Funny thing is that he had never lost his accent.
I married his daughter 11 years ago and I never been there while he and my step mother go every year.
But in may 2013, that will change Wink

WolverineX · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:24 pm Post subject:

Ghost2501 · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 102 Location: Belgium

Some sample of that 21st of july fireworks (all @f8, ISO 200, shutter between 1 and 2 seconds) :

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Other stuff shooted from the rooftop with slower shutter speeds (6 to 10 sec) :

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

chicks · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 17

SonicScot · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:13 pm Post subject:

Very nice fireworks Ghost. Very Happy

Ghost2501 · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 102 Location: Belgium

Thanx Gary Smile

That was my first but when I look closer, I know what went wrong. Do yo see the light on the left building (#1 and #2) ? According to it, it seems that camera moved when I pressed the shutter speed (I have a low quality tripod).
Other pictures are better because I used the 10sec delay on the NEX3 which is impossible to use when shooting fireworks.

SonicScot · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:32 pm Post subject:

Now you mention it, yeah, I see what you mean.

Can you use a remote control with a NEX? That and a sturdy tripod would be perfect for fireworks and 1 second exposures. Very Happy

Ghost2501 · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 102 Location: Belgium

I don't think that NEX3 can be remote controlable Sad

Larnus · Joined: 19 Jul 2012 Posts: 20