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

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VIVITAR SERIES 1 MIRROR ASPHERICAL 450mm f4.5 mirror
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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:10 pm
Post subject: VIVITAR SERIES 1 MIRROR ASPHERICAL 450mm f4.5 mirror
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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:10 pm
Post subject: VIVITAR SERIES 1 MIRROR ASPHERICAL 450mm f4.5 mirror
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HOW MUCH
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VIVITAR-SERIES-1-MIRROR-ASPHERICAL-450mm-f4-5-mirror-lens-T-MOUNT-w-pk-mount-/331365175128?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item4d26e74f58


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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:45 pm
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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:45 pm
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He sells a lot of nice stuff, and has been for a long time. I guess he must sell it for what he asks? That's a nice lens .


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 1:02 am
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 1:02 am
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You can ask what you like who will take it that is a different story. This price may not high at all very rare lens and probably popular to Astro photographers. 500mm f4.5 Carl Zeiss Jena lens has lot higher price range.


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:54 am
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:54 am
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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, which optical formula included refractive elements in the optical path. Focusing was achieved by moving the refractive elements inside the lens, rather than modifying the distance between the mirrors, hence the "solid" denomination (nowadays we would call it "internal focusing"). Since the lens has internal focusing, its focal length varies from 437mm at infinity to 261mm at the minimum focus. Here's the optical diagram of the 400/4.5 lens (the focusing group is labelled "G2"):



These lenses were manufactured by Perkin Elmer (the manufacturer of the Hubble space telescope). They were so expensive when new that very few were sold so they are very scarce indeed. Here's a quote from the now defunct "Cult Classics" webpage of Robert Monaghan:

Quote:
Vivitar 450mm f/4.5 Series I Mirror
This Vivitar 450mm f/4.5 Series I mirror lens is only six inches long and 4 5/8ths inches in
diameter. Unfortunately, it takes an expensive and hard to find 97mm filter. Like many Vivitar
Series I lenses, the close focusing distance is excellent at a remarkably short 12 feet.
This lens was another failure in the marketplace, and relatively few were sold due almost entirely
to the high price (over $770 in 1986, or over $1,100 US today!). The reason for its excellent
close-focus performance, and high price, was the unusual use of aspherical plastic elements in its
design. But such elements cost ten times what a non-aspheric element costs to manufacture, and
that adds quickly to the cost of these lenses.

Vivitar 450mm F/4.5 Mirror Design Update
Thought I would let you know that the design is every bit as rugged as the solid cats were, but the
design is entirely different from the older solid cats. Several more elements in the 450 design as
shown in Vivitar literature than from the 600 or 800mm design. It is the best of the 3. Best
regards. Great web site. Nelson Davis sent 3/8/99


Here's a picture taken with this (reputedly excellent) lens:


Credit: Yi Yan style

Cheers!

Abbazz


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:40 am
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:40 am
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I would say it is a fair price for such rare lens. Wink


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:10 am
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:10 am
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i am guessing it value is based on its rarity and not its optical qualities then
although i am looking for a long mirror to play with but i do find the out of focus highlights disturbing


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:21 am
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:21 am
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Any mirror lens has that Dave Wink


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:08 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:08 pm
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kds315* wrote:
Any mirror lens has that Dave Wink


Exept some oblique mirror lenses, like your Goema Katoptar TS 500 E or Kutter mirror telescopes Smile
But your right for the common mirror lenses.


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:22 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:22 pm
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I think those telescope who made of mirror only are reflectors(like the Telespect 500). Mirror lenses does consists of mirrors and lens element.


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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:58 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:58 pm
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kds315* wrote:
Any mirror lens has that Dave Wink


yes i have had mirror befour a500mm f8 hanimex, i don't know who made it .it was not to bad a lens..i fancy something like a MTO-1000A 1100 mm F/10.5 as i wont to do some moon shots


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Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:54 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 4:54 pm
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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


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Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:53 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:53 pm
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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

I see. Thanks~


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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:53 am
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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:53 am
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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!


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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 2:21 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 2:21 pm
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Abbazz wrote:
This is a very rare lens, much sought after by the collectors. It is part of the "Solid Cat" series,
....
These lenses were manufactured by Perkin Elmer (the manufacturer of the Hubble space telescope)

Abbazz


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

Pls find here the full patent for that lens :
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4523816.pdf

2- The price is silly because for 1100£ you only get a 450/ T:5.6 (actual aperture) lens which is more or less the same than a 50/100$ tokina 400/5.6 (and the 400/5.6 tokina has lens stop and i NOT much more longer )


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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:20 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:20 pm
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In case any need the patent of the soild cat https://www.google.com/patents/US3926505 .


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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:31 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:31 pm
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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)


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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:54 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 3:54 pm
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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.


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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:45 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 11:45 pm
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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


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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 12:23 am
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 12:23 am
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Seems to have disappointing IQ

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


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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:40 pm
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:40 pm
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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.


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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:17 am
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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:17 am
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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")


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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:42 am
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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:42 am
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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.


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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:15 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:15 pm
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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.


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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:55 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:55 pm
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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).


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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 10:16 pm
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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 10:16 pm
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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
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