Vivitar 75-205mm (Kiron)

Mr G · Joined: 27 Jan 2014 Posts: 187 Location: London & Essex

Hi guys, picked up a few bits last weekend, including 75-205mm Vivitar, Kiron/ Kino in OM Mount. After googling the lens it turns out there are 2 versions, one with push/pull zooming and focusing, one with 2 rings, this one's the former. Mixed reviews online, some say totally rank, others say on car with Series 1 quality.
It's been quite well used, but optically doesn't look too bad, aperture seems good, focus is pretty smooth but zoom seems to have drag and flat spots.
Now I do have a couple of old bodies I could stick it on but it doesn't really float my boat.
If any member fancies a dabble with this lens, I'm quite happy to let it go for postage costs only, PM me if your interested.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

I remember when this lens was available new. I saw ads from Vivitar about it where they were touting it quite highly. It might not have been a Series 1 lens, but Vivitar still felt it was a very capable lens.

The 75-205mm was sold new with a dedicated 2x teleconverter. Vivitar made a big deal out of it being a matched set. You'll probably want to add one to your 75-205. Here's an eBay listing for one in Oly mount:

Click here to see on Ebay

As you can see, its dedicated status is indicated on the TC's barrel. Given that your lens is in OM Mount, if I were in your shoes, I would buy it. The TC is located in the UK, which makes it a local buy for you.

Heh, I can't help but wonder if these two pieces were at one time a matched set that somehow got separated. And now they have the opportunity to be reunited. So, don't let it get away from you.

Mr G · Joined: 27 Jan 2014 Posts: 187 Location: London & Essex

Damn you cooltouch, I just bought it as you aroused my natural curiosity, apologies to other member's, lens no longer available on a free transfer!, I'm assuming this makes it around 410mm f6.7?

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2491

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

That seems quite odd, especially since they're a matched set. Geez, just a regular 2x should give better performance than that.

Mr. G, let us know how your set works out for you, OK? Hopefully you'll have good results.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Are you talking about the 3.8/75-205 made by Tokina (22 serial)?

I have one somewhere, as well as a Tokina made Series 1 3.5/70-210, I could dig them out and compare, if people want to know.

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2491

22 serials are made by Kiron, as OP mentions. Tokina Vivitars have a 37xxxx serial.

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9097 Location: Houston, Texas

Over at the Pentax forums there are reviews of this lens. Unfortunately, the reviews are of both the two-ring and the push-pull version. It is the push-pull version that has the matched 2x teleconverter.

But both are highly regarded over there. Some of the reviews include images, and some of these are images made with the push-pull version. The images that I saw were really outstanding. With your push-pull version, I expect it to produce excellent results.

Here's a link to the reviews at the Pentax Forum:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/vivitar-75-205mm-f3-8-macro-focusing.html#top

Incidentally, for those of you who are unaware, the Pentax forums have generally comprehensive reviews on a wide variety of aftermarket lenses. So if you're wondering about a lens, you might cruise on over there and see if it's been reviewed.

Mr G · Joined: 27 Jan 2014 Posts: 187 Location: London & Essex

OM adapter should be here tomorrow and hopefully I can get some shots posted by weekend, matched converter for some reason now showing delivery in Feb, only going from Dagenham to Chelmsford!