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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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Vivitar 85/1.8 T-Mount samples
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 6:54 pm
Post subject: Vivitar 85/1.8 T-Mount samples
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 6:54 pm
Post subject: Vivitar 85/1.8 T-Mount samples
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I received this hidden gem as part of an OM1 package just recently (anyone want an OM1 by the way? Laughing ).

The lens had a little fungus, but was really easy to take apart and clean. The result? A nice clean, fast 85mm prime Smile

I took the 85 for a quick run out last weekend, some samples below, all at f1.8 or f2.8.

Front:



Side:



Other side:



Back:



On the camera:



OK, the test shots!!











My verdict? Nice heavy lens which is sharp when stepped down and lovely bokeh when not stepped down Smile

Last edited by ManualFocus-G on Fri May 01, 2009 7:51 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:02 pm
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:02 pm
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I like the results, it seems like a fine 85... but what I really dig is the expanse of see through glass on that lens... cool


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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:16 pm
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:16 pm
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Lovely lens, very desirable for collectors too.

There aren't too many of these about. It seems to have been the top of the line for Vivitar. This was one of the first lenses sold under that brand.


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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:41 pm
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:41 pm
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Maybe we can work out a swap for the OM-1!


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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:52 pm
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 7:52 pm
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Thanks guys, I've added some more lens shots as the others were touch blurry!


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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:39 pm
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:39 pm
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I think this is the most underestimated 85mm lens. I like it very much and it's one o my favourite 8xmm lens Smile

Very nice shots!


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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:13 pm
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:13 pm
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Desirable lens. I tried to get similar focal lengths in other brands and I was always outbid as my budget seems to be at a shorter focal lengths only. Good job. I see you have a Sony.
gil


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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:35 pm
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:35 pm
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My god man, you are just THE best lens hunter!



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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:54 pm
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:54 pm
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GrahamNR17 wrote:
My god man, you are just THE best lens hunter!



It remains my second most expensive lens behind the superb Tamron SP 60-300 for £39 Laughing


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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 12:32 pm
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 12:32 pm
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I've bid on more than a dozen of these in the last 2 years and never came close. Very nice lens. I love the preset lens the best. Just seems to work great with digital cameras.


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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 12:44 pm
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 12:44 pm
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You are the best lens hunter!

If you get tired of the Viv or the 60-300 tammy let me know. Laughing

In the meantime, have you still got the OM-1 and what do you want for it?


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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 12:56 pm
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 12:56 pm
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martinsmith99 wrote:
You are the best lens hunter!

If you get tired of the Viv or the 60-300 tammy let me know. Laughing

In the meantime, have you still got the OM-1 and what do you want for it?


Haha thanks! My 1st choice collection is almost complete now...and it's all cost about the same as a reasonably decent modern zoom lens!! Some of the items I managed to find incredibly cheap e.g. Pentacon 135/2.8 pre-set for £5.95 Shocked

As for the OM1, I'll take a proper look at it tonight (don't want to sell anyone a duffer!) and get back to you. Casual Collector has first dibs at the moment Smile

Cheers


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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:02 pm
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:02 pm
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Shrek wrote:
martinsmith99 wrote:
You are the best lens hunter!

If you get tired of the Viv or the 60-300 tammy let me know. Laughing

In the meantime, have you still got the OM-1 and what do you want for it?


Haha thanks! My 1st choice collection is almost complete now...and it's all cost about the same as a reasonably decent modern zoom lens!! Some of the items I managed to find incredibly cheap e.g. Pentacon 135/2.8 pre-set for £5.95 Shocked

As for the OM1, I'll take a proper look at it tonight (don't want to sell anyone a duffer!) and get back to you. Casual Collector has first dibs at the moment Smile

Cheers

I picked up a Meyer 135 preset for £5 and a mint Pentacon preset for £8.

No worries about the OM1. He's likely to use it more than me anyway as I only have 1 OM lens. Laughing


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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:08 pm
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:08 pm
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martinsmith99 wrote:
Shrek wrote:
martinsmith99 wrote:
You are the best lens hunter!

If you get tired of the Viv or the 60-300 tammy let me know. Laughing

In the meantime, have you still got the OM-1 and what do you want for it?


Haha thanks! My 1st choice collection is almost complete now...and it's all cost about the same as a reasonably decent modern zoom lens!! Some of the items I managed to find incredibly cheap e.g. Pentacon 135/2.8 pre-set for £5.95 Shocked

As for the OM1, I'll take a proper look at it tonight (don't want to sell anyone a duffer!) and get back to you. Casual Collector has first dibs at the moment Smile

Cheers

I picked up a Meyer 135 preset for £5 and a mint Pentacon preset for £8.


Shocked Shocked Good work!! Cool

I saw a Meyer 135 go on ebay for £70 just recently Laughing


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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:11 pm
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:11 pm
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Quote:
I saw a Meyer 135 go on ebay for £70 just recently

They vary so much. I see them for a tenner one day then similar to the price you saw.

I think they're over-rated to be honest. Oh, I've pulled the pin. Now I run. Wink


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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 10:46 pm
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 10:46 pm
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martinsmith99 wrote:
Quote:
I saw a Meyer 135 go on ebay for £70 just recently

They vary so much. I see them for a tenner one day then similar to the price you saw.

I think they're over-rated to be honest. Oh, I've pulled the pin. Now I run. Wink



BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:22 pm
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:22 pm
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I bought it. At $ 49 because nobody in Buenos Aires wanted it, it seemed.

It's a tokina lens (very similar to a mamiya/sekor lenses).

Close focus 1,4 m (that not good)

A planar design, six in four.

Excelent center at F/4 (perhaps the better center). The evenest rendering is at F/8. Something cold.

Nice, and for $ 49 it's good.

Rino.


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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:25 pm
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:25 pm
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Congrats! I never own any of them , but I think based on samples this is a nice lens.


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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:26 pm
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:26 pm
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One of my favourite 85mm lenses Smile


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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 8:49 am
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 8:49 am
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Got one too, the missing close focus is a bit annoying. Wide open it is rather a soft focus lens, but stepped down it gets accepatbly sharp and much better contrast. The T-mount comes handy, esp. when you need Nikon mount.

Last edited by kds315* on Thu May 21, 2009 4:32 pm; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 1:47 pm
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 1:47 pm
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kds315* wrote:
Got one too, the missing close focus is a bot annoying and wide opens it is rather a soft focus lens, but stepped down it gets accepatbly sharp and much better contrast. The T-mount comes handy, esp. when you need Nikon mount.


Klauss, I'm happy that you can got one too. I felt something guilty.

It seems to me that you don't like the lens so much Very Happy

I like all the lenses between 50 and 85 mm. In spite of that, can say that it seems to me a lens with character and my copy is specially sharp in the center to F/4.

Rino.


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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 4:32 pm
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 4:32 pm
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Well, I like 75-85mm lenses a lot and it has its own, unique character, so of course I like to have it added to my lenses!


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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:19 pm
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 5:19 pm
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I have added more samples from this lens shot on my full frame 6D into the gallery:

http://forum.mflenses.com/return-to-1945s-steam-vivitar-85-1-8-preset-t55634.html
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