Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 T4 test images
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 11:15 pm    Post subject: Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 T4 test images Reply with quote
About a month ago I got my mittens on a Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 T4 (luckily the included adaptor was for Nikon). I haven't taken photos of the lens yet, but for ID purposes it's the first item that was for sale in 2009 here: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/sold-items/70438-sale-sold-emergency-sale-vivitar-200-3-5-t4-pentax-f-35-70-3-5-4-5-pentax-m-28-3-5-a.html (see first two images).

Serial number begins with 37, so I assume it's a Tokina-made lens. In the last couple weeks I took it for a ride twice. My first impression is that it's a fairly sharp lens wide open, and it gets a tad better as you stop down. The bokeh is nothing to sneeze at.

Here are some images, with crops. No processing whatsoever, except the conversion to jpeg from RAW. All shot with Nikon D700 on a tripod (using the built-in tripod mount).

1. f/3.5


2. f/5.6


3. f/8



The crops:

4. f/3.5


5. f/5.6


5. f/8



The bokeh (the three images were shot at f/3.5):

7.


8.


9.



If there's anything worth mention that you may or may not tolerate, is the vignetting wide open, as can be seen above in images 7 and particularly 9. I don't mind, as I don't think it's too bad (I've seen much worse in more-expensive 200mm lenses).

And finally, the photo I took after the test when I got serious. It's fully processed, of course. This 1956 Buick Special that we found in the bush was incredible. Me and my friends spent about an hour photographing it from every angle.

10.



Price paid: approximately $10 Smile It was part of a $50 package that included a Canon AE-1 camera, a Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C., and a third-party 28mm lens that was banged up, a flash, a bag, and some other minor goodies. Glass is pristine, barrel has a couple little wear marks. Perfect working condition. Can't complain!

Last edited by invisible on Mon Aug 05, 2013 11:53 pm; edited 3 times in total


PostPosted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
That's rather good I would say.
200mm lenses don't seem to be too many folks' favourite focal length for some reason.
You have given them reason to reconsider.
Thanks for sharing
OH


PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 1:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
200mm is probably MY favorite focal length on APS-C
Lots of great lenses to choose from too, and most are quite cheap.
I guess I'm just narrow minded.

This one you have is the first version of this Tokina T4, the larger type with a tripod mount. It is also the most common.

There's nothing greatly wrong with it, except as you see some CA wide open, and also noticeable purple fringing under the right conditions. On the other hand, unlike many other 200mm's, or zooms that cover that FL, this one actually does have a substantial tripod mount. An important point depending on what you are up to. Its also got some decent mass on it for steady hand-holding.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 2:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
200mm is probably MY favorite focal length on APS-C
Lots of great lenses to choose from too, and most are quite cheap.
I guess I'm just narrow minded.

This one you have is the first version of this Tokina T4, the larger type with a tripod mount. It is also the most common.

There's nothing greatly wrong with it, except as you see some CA wide open, and also noticeable purple fringing under the right conditions. On the other hand, unlike many other 200mm's, or zooms that cover that FL, this one actually does have a substantial tripod mount. An important point depending on what you are up to. Its also got some decent mass on it for steady hand-holding.


One of mine too, but I think that we are in the minority.
OH


PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 2:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think I have three versions of this same lens. Soligor T4, Lentar Auto-Mount and Sears-Roebuck fixed mount. The Sears version is the only one that has had any film time. I am quite pleased with it. I consider it to have passed "The Bird" test.



PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
200mm is probably MY favorite focal length on APS-C
Lots of great lenses to choose from too, and most are quite cheap.
I guess I'm just narrow minded.

This one you have is the first version of this Tokina T4, the larger type with a tripod mount. It is also the most common.

There's nothing greatly wrong with it, except as you see some CA wide open, and also noticeable purple fringing under the right conditions. On the other hand, unlike many other 200mm's, or zooms that cover that FL, this one actually does have a substantial tripod mount. An important point depending on what you are up to. Its also got some decent mass on it for steady hand-holding.

Thank you, Luis. Do you happen to know how this Vivitar 200/3.5 compares to this Tamron 200/3.5? http://www.adaptall-2.org/lenses/04B.html

casualcollector, that image looks pretty sharp despite the beautiful grain of that film.

Oldhand, I mostly shoot 70mm or wider. This 200mm is basically in my "specialty lenses" bag. along with the macro and fisheye lenses Smile


PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:
200mm is probably MY favorite focal length on APS-C
Lots of great lenses to choose from too, and most are quite cheap.
I guess I'm just narrow minded.

This one you have is the first version of this Tokina T4, the larger type with a tripod mount. It is also the most common.

There's nothing greatly wrong with it, except as you see some CA wide open, and also noticeable purple fringing under the right conditions. On the other hand, unlike many other 200mm's, or zooms that cover that FL, this one actually does have a substantial tripod mount. An important point depending on what you are up to. Its also got some decent mass on it for steady hand-holding.


Any recommendations? Maybe great, cheap and not too heavy? Smile
I already have a Pentacon 4/200 preset.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have never had that Tamron, so I can't say.

You can't do much better than your Pentacon I think.

But in case you want to look at something else -

the old Tokina-made 200/4.5 preset is great. No CA, sharp wide open. And very, very common and cheap. and it has a tripod mount !

Yashinon DX 200/4 "black beauty" is very small and excellent, and most stylish besides. I have seen these regularly sell for under $30 on US ebay. No tripod mount.

And of course the Super or S-M-C Takumar 200/4, the benchmark for 200mm's. US ebay is regularly under $50. Its bigger and heavier than the two above, but also mechanically better. No tripod mount.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 06, 2013 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
luisalegria wrote:

You can't do much better than your Pentacon I think.

But in case you want to look at something else -

the old Tokina-made 200/4.5 preset is great. No CA, sharp wide open. And very, very common and cheap. and it has a tripod mount !

Yashinon DX 200/4 "black beauty" is very small and excellent, and most stylish besides. I have seen these regularly sell for under $30 on US ebay. No tripod mount.

And of course the Super or S-M-C Takumar 200/4, the benchmark for 200mm's. US ebay is regularly under $50. Its bigger and heavier than the two above, but also mechanically better. No tripod mount.


Thank you. I will stay on the lookout.
Would I find the Tokina relabeled as different third party lenses?


PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 3:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Oldhand wrote:
luisalegria wrote:
200mm is probably MY favorite focal length on APS-C
Lots of great lenses to choose from too, and most are quite cheap.
I guess I'm just narrow minded.

This one you have is the first version of this Tokina T4, the larger type with a tripod mount. It is also the most common.

There's nothing greatly wrong with it, except as you see some CA wide open, and also noticeable purple fringing under the right conditions. On the other hand, unlike many other 200mm's, or zooms that cover that FL, this one actually does have a substantial tripod mount. An important point depending on what you are up to. Its also got some decent mass on it for steady hand-holding.


One of mine too, but I think that we are in the minority.
OH


I'm the same ever since I got my Tamron Macro Zoom 103A.

I pretty much keep it at 210mm and love it. I get the CA problem but I'm also learning how to avoid it. This Vivitar looks like a nice lens. Great samples.


PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
parabellumfoto wrote:
This Vivitar looks like a nice lens. Great samples.

I don't think it'll win any international awards, but that lens is a keeper I would say.

Does anybody know the Vivitar 75-205mm f/3.8 close focusing auto zoom, and how it compares at the longer end with my Vivitar 200/3.5?


PostPosted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm new to the world of manual lenses and this forum as well. This is my first post.

I bought this lens off eBay a few months back for something like $20 after shipping. Had to put another $65 into it though to get it AI'd for my Nikon D7000 and to get the barrel repaired.

I was just testing out this lens yesterday and loved the way it performed. I was shooting in good early evening outdoor light and found the 3.5 aperture more than adequate; it's nice to not have to bump up my ISO. I like to start off matching my shutter speed to the lens focal length and go from there. I was shooting this lens wide open at ISO 100 and 200 shutter. Was giving me slightly soft focus but overall dreamy looking pics with cool bokeh. It was a lot of fun to shoot with this lens!

I'd like to shoot two cameras on the same portrait setup... one cam with my Rokinon 85 1.4 and another with this Vivitar 200 3.5... I think this would give two different and interesting looks to the same portrait setup/pose and thus offer more diversity in the pics to choose from... of course, I'd have to stand much further back from the subject with the 200. I'm looking to buy a Helios 58mm 2.0 for the same reason (shoot it on one cam with my Rokinon 85/1.4 on the other) - give different looks on a two camera approach to portrait shooting.


PostPosted: Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm impressed with my example of this classic old T4 vivitar.



samsung NX20


1:1 pixel peep crop


Pentax K3








PostPosted: Thu Jul 25, 2019 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
marcusBMG wrote:
I'm impressed with my example of this classic old T4 vivitar.



Like 1 Friends

I really enjoyed your photos, marcusBMG!

And I especially appreciate your kind consideration in that you included a photo of the lens itself. That is incredibly helpful and interesting, but sadly so often overlooked.

Great post!!
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
Page 1 of 1