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VIVITAR SERIES 1 MIRROR ASPHERICAL 450mm f4.5 mirror
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
calvin83 wrote:
In case any need the patent of the soild cat https://www.google.com/patents/US3926505 .


This is the patent used for vivitar lenses but the ORIGINAL solid cat lens is here
https://www.google.com/patents/US3700310
See how solid is that original design (99% is solid, quite NO air-spaca at all)


PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I used to work for PerkinElmer a long time ago and a few years back I had a chance to buy a real solid cat and I didn't. Still pisses me off.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
this one is twice as big for less than 1/2 the money http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vivitar-800-11-Series-1-Tele-Mirror-for-Nikon-/201209917508?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item2ed90bb044


PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 12:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Seems to have disappointing IQ

http://www.pbase.com/token/lens_comp


PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Interesting discussion. I had never heard of this 450mm being part of the Perkins Elmer solid cat lineup either. If it is an early 80s mirror made by Bauer, I wouldn't pay close to that much. I have a 600mm solid cat, it's a nice piece of history but I only paid a couple of hundred bucks for it. In new condition they go for maybe $400-500.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
kenetik wrote:
I have a 600mm solid cat, it's a nice piece of history but I only paid a couple of hundred bucks for it. In new condition they go for maybe $400-500.


It is exactly the truth .. "The 600mm solid cat, it's a nice piece of history" exactly as an old car is "a nice piece of history"" interesting / worth to test / worth to drive but not worth the money for everiday use (when you compare to much modern lens")


PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
sammo wrote:
ZoneV wrote:
calvin83 wrote:
I think those telescope who made of mirror only are reflectors(like the Telespect 500). Mirror lenses does consists of mirrors and lens element.


There are some catdioptric Kutter telescopes:
http://atm.udjat.nl/articles/schief_kit.html


That is a reflective telescope, not a catadioptic!


Please scroll down a bit to the "Catadioptric design" caption Smile
Most Kutter telescopes are pure reflective, but not all.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
PBFACTS wrote:
kenetik wrote:
I have a 600mm solid cat, it's a nice piece of history but I only paid a couple of hundred bucks for it. In new condition they go for maybe $400-500.


It is exactly the truth .. "The 600mm solid cat, it's a nice piece of history" exactly as an old car is "a nice piece of history"" interesting / worth to test / worth to drive but not worth the money for everiday use (when you compare to much modern lens")


solid Cats are big heavy things and while I appreciate the design and idea behind them, my personal experience doesn’t rate the 600mm any better than other mirrors in the same approximate range.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I own both the Vivitar Series 1 solid cats (600/8 and 800/11) and while they are definitely an awesome pair of lenses to behold in terms of craftsmanship, their optical performance is quite lackluster, especially in today's landscape. I have always been curious about the performance of this rare 450mm, though I am of the belief as those folks above who say it's completely separate from the solid cat series. As a sidenote, I have seen the solid cats on various auction sites labelled "Perkin Elmer" instead of Vivitar, but it's obviously the same lens (again, as mentioned, it was a Perkin Elmer design after all).


PostPosted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Abbazz wrote:
This is a very rare lens, much sought after by the collectors. It is part of the "Solid Cat" series, a top-of-the-line trio of catadioptric lenses ...

Quote:
Vivitar 450mm f/4.5 Series I Mirror
...the unusual use of aspherical plastic elements in its design...



Hmmm... Many modern good lenses use plastic barrels and optical glass elements. Vivitar did exactly the opposite! Razz

Who still dreams of buying a "classic" Vivitar Cat should read this article:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/solid_cat.shtml


PostPosted: Tue Nov 18, 2014 6:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Here's another one (auction no)
251714905994
rather cheaper than the first.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
PBFACTS wrote:
1-The 450/4.5 is NOT part of the "solid cat" series which included 600/8 and 800/11 and projected but not sold 1200/11
It was projected (1985 patent)/manufactured long time after the end of the "solid cat" series

The solid cat were "Perkin Elmer" manufactured but NOT the 450/4. which was bauer made

Sorry, my bad, I should have checked the facts and not relied on "common Internet wisdom".

Here's an excerpt from the Photokina roundup in the October 1982 issue of Popular Photography magazine:



Cheers!

Abbazz


PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 4:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Don't remember the exact model, but recently, 450/4 mirror telescope was on sale for $133 on Woot.

Here it is:

http://sellout.woot.com/offers/cometron-114az-reflector-telescope-2?ref=cnt_wp_8_3
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