A stroll with Vivitar S1 200mm F3

bobcominitaly · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 71 Location: Terontola (I)

I recently came across this lens and loved its rendering and bokeh as I saw it in a topic on this site. Took mine for a stroll with the dogs (they're no subjects) and de Nikon d7k and tried a few shots. Seems to me I need to get to know this lens better, but so far I like it...

Blue cichory flowers @ 1,5 m

Hay rolls on a parking space

Downstram towards Trasimeno Lake (there is even e heron in the bushes, visible @ 100%)

Waiting tractor

Looking forward to your comments about lens, photo's and anything else

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I had this lens in past I remember for better contrast, check your lens out about haze.

ChromaticAberration · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 819 Location: Portugal

I like the sharpness of this lens, at least it is sharp enough to me. Maybe a bit lacking in character, but I would like to see some wide open, closeer focus shots to see how well it renders bokeh like that.

Ivan Lee · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject:

Here's a sample wide open

http://www.ivanlee.com.br/photos/P1040066.jpg

Good sharpness wide open... but too much CA and low contrast.

ChromaticAberration · Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 819 Location: Portugal

Yeah I guess CA is killing it. But I also find a it a bit soft wide open. Contrast is the less worrying since it is easily boosted in post processing.

John Poirier · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 6:06 am Post subject:

bobcominitaly · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 71 Location: Terontola (I)

Thanks all for comments. Didn't want to boost the contrast too much, and haze is no miracle on a bright autumn morning with sun @45 degrees. However, I like this not-too-bright-and-vivid aspect older lenses often bring. I tried some wide open shots too, shortly I'll go for some close-ups. @Attilla - nice shot, so it is a sharp lens. Mine is from Komine, a year ending on a 9 - 1979 or 1989? And btw, how do I check for haze? Any suggestion on that? Thanks in advance.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

If you viewed a thread here about this lens, it likely had submissions from me. The S1 200mm is my favorite 200mm and certainly the sharpest. It's a challenging lens and takes a good deal of practice to get used to the focus. The blue fringing occurs throughout all stops, to lessening degrees, down to about f/11, but is very easy to correct in PS. I don't recall seeing red CA. Wide open is to be used in low light situations and where the light is even. Bokeh is outstanding. I will receive my 180mm Sonnar this week and have my first chance to compare the S1 sharpness to Sonnar. We'll see, nothing else I've had is as sharp.

bobcominitaly · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 71 Location: Terontola (I)

@Attilla - couldn't find any milkyness on lighting through the lens - have done some experimenting and I get more brilliant results when I adapt (Nikons) picture style by increasing contrast and saturation - which of course van also be done in pp.
@woodrim: I probably consulted your posts when deciding whether or not to buy this lens. I have a Nikon-fit version, and D7k makes focusing a lot easier - small green dot is a big help, especially if stop-down metering is not necessary.