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Vivitar History
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fascinating stuff, Steve. I've been a Vivitar fan dating back to about 1983 or so, when I purchased my first Vivitar lens, an S1 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5. Since then, I've owned, and enjoyed, quite a few different Vivitar products, including flashes, cameras, and even a very well made bellows unit with slide duplicator attachment.

I was especially interested in the Wiki page devoted to the "Professional" 135mm f/1.5. I owned one of those monsters for several years -- bought it back in the early 90s and finally sold it on eBay in 2004 to a Japanese collector. I see that you even have some serial numbers recorded. I have pics of mine around here somewhere, as well as a few pics I took with the lens (man, was it soft wide open!). I'll have to look for the pics -- perhaps one of them will show the serial number. I do recall, though that it started with 1968. Anyway, once I find the pics of my 135/1.5, I can provide them to you so that you can add them to your selection of images of the lens, if you wish.


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cooltouch wrote:
I was especially interested in the Wiki page devoted to the "Professional" 135mm f/1.5. I owned one of those monsters for several years -- bought it back in the early 90s and finally sold it on eBay in 2004 to a Japanese collector. I see that you even have some serial numbers recorded. I have pics of mine around here somewhere, as well as a few pics I took with the lens (man, was it soft wide open!). I'll have to look for the pics -- perhaps one of them will show the serial number. I do recall, though that it started with 1968. Anyway, once I find the pics of my 135/1.5, I can provide them to you so that you can add them to your selection of images of the lens, if you wish.


Thanks, that would be great if you could dig up the serial number. There are so few of those around and they change hands via eBay so often, we thought it would be helpful to collectors if we provided some history on each one. The idea is if you spot one on eBay, you can look up the serial number and find out about the condition, previous owners, and see some photos.


PostPosted: Sat May 12, 2012 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've posted the second part of my series on Vivitar history over at the Camera-Wiki blog. This one is about enlargers but does mention enlarging lenses. Anyway, if you're interested feel free to check it out:

Camera-Wiki.org blog - Vivitar Historical Research Part 2: Vivitar Re-invents the Enlarger
http://blog.camera-wiki.org/2012/05/11/vivitar-historical-research-part-2/

And in case you missed the first post, it's here
Camera-Wiki.org blog - Vivitar Historical Research Part 1 : The origin of the Series 1 Lenses and the Macro Zoom
http://blog.camera-wiki.org/2012/03/13/vivitar-historical-research-part-1/


PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 1:15 am    Post subject: Re: Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 35mm f/2.8 (M42, 52mm filter siz Reply with quote

Alter Reserved wrote:
steevithak wrote:

If you want to help me along, one thing I need is photos posted to the camera-wiki flickr group of any Vivitar gear that's not documented yet (which is most of it, really).


I did it with pleasure Smile

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75938119@N04/sets/72157629214773176/with/6980310705/


Looks like a T4 or TX lens to me.


PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 1:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

steevithak wrote:
I've posted the second part of my series on Vivitar history over at the Camera-Wiki blog. This one is about enlargers but does mention enlarging lenses. Anyway, if you're interested feel free to check it out:

Camera-Wiki.org blog - Vivitar Historical Research Part 2: Vivitar Re-invents the Enlarger
http://blog.camera-wiki.org/2012/05/11/vivitar-historical-research-part-2/

And in case you missed the first post, it's here
Camera-Wiki.org blog - Vivitar Historical Research Part 1 : The origin of the Series 1 Lenses and the Macro Zoom
http://blog.camera-wiki.org/2012/03/13/vivitar-historical-research-part-1/


Have you checked out Attila's data base here? I contributed to it when I had my collection going. Haven't been back to it in a while and I've lost the URL for it. Quite comprehensive.

All the measurements and weights were done with precision scales and calipers on the ones I posted.


PostPosted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 1:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is that URL to the data base and the Vivitar lenses posted there............

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmI1YOvKt90RdGdfYmtONlBPVmZOQVJaUWdLbXZnREE&authkey=CIWts9UO&hl=en&authkey=CIWts9UO#gid=63

I noticed in Camera-wiki.org that in the description of the 200mm chrome nose there is no weight posted. In this data base I posted the measured weight of this lens as 885 grams. The barrel length is 173mm When retracted and the barrel diameter is 70.49mm at it's greatest size. It also tells you the material used on the outer surface of the focus grip and whether or not it has a built-in tripod mount or lens shade.