Vivitar 105mm f2.8 T mount m42 a short review

[MalcolmL]

Pros: sharp, nice focal length for portraits, great colours, small, quite fast
Cons: flare
Sharpness:8 Aberrations: 10 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 10 Value: 10
This lens was bought recently in NZ as a second portrait lens. It was a risk because I could find no formal reviews on the net, but at 50 NZD the lens has earnt a place in my collection within 24 hours of use.

The lens is well made, compact, lightweight. Its an all metal M42 version of the Vivitar T4 series, and although not a series 1, it is a quality offering.
Wide open it is soft but soon sharpens up. By f5.6 it is sharp - corner to corner. There is no percptible CA and the colours are lovely. They are Takumar SMC like but somewhat warmer.
The lens has 8 blades giving a pleasing bokeh but not up to the creamy smoothness of say a 16 blade iris.
The lens has a small built in lens hood which is not enough to prevent quite invasive flare which does not require much provocation. That is the main weakness.
I will be using this lens for portrait work.




Great colours


Portrait slightly stopped down


Soft Wide Open


Crop of above



Sharp at f8


Crop of above


Nice bokeh


Flare

[martinsmith99]

It looks ok, but I'm not sure of the 10 for sharpness. The crop at F8 is acceptable, but I wouldn't say sharp. You say it flares; do you have an example of the flare?

I assume by the serial number that it's a Tokina made lens

[MalcolmL]

Guess should give it a 9 no probably just 8 for sharpness . Its not at all bad at 3.5. Thanks

[Oldhand]

A lovely little lens which produces good results.
This lens would appear to be somewhat uncommon, but it is well worth hunting down if you are after a short telephoto
Here are some recent images from it
T



#1


#2


#3


Crop from above
#4

[kds315*]

[luisalegria]

I find it at least as good as the S-M-C Takumar 105, which is not the sharpest Takumar.
I need to dig mine out for another run.

[coase]

How would you say it would compare to a Tamron Adaptall SP 90/2.5 macro?

[Oldhand]

[guardian]

With respect:

"Vivitar 105mm f2.8 T mount m42 a short review"

My view is that your lens is NOT a T mount lens. I think your lens is either a T4 lens, or possibly a TX lens, made by Tokina. The Tokina-made Vivitar T4 and (later) TX lenses are not T mount lenses.

Vivitar did offer a series of even earlier preset lenses, in T mount. I have never seen a 105mm lens of that type in that series, though certainly one might exist.

Regardless, I believe your lens is an automatic lens within the T4 or a TX system, not T mount.

ETA

After further review I find your statement acknowledging your lens is a T4 lens. So perhaps your title is no more than a typo? I dunno. But you did catch my attention.

[kryss]

coase...It doesn't