Panagor PMC 3.8/80-200mm

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3953 Location: Switzerland

Since my recently acquired Panagor PMC 3.5/35-100mm turned out to be quite a fun lens I couldn't resist to get the Panagor PMC 3.8/80-200mm tele zoom too. It's manufactured as well as the 3.5/35-100mm, and bot lenses seem to be perfect companions, at least from the outside:

The engravings are very well made:

While the 35-100mm has some weaknesses at f3.5 as well as at f5.6, the 3.8/80-200mm turns out be really a sharp beast at all foval lengths (80mm, 120mm, 200mm) as well as at all apertures (f3.8, f6.7, f11). That's pretty astonishing, although lateral CAs are visible at f=80mm as well as at f=120, and pretty strong at f=200mm. These findings from my preliminary tests are well in accordance with the "pentaxforums" ranking: 9.5 for sharpness and 7.5 for aberrations ...

Certainly a lens I will examine a bit closer ...!

S

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 1179 Location: Winnipeg Canada

I've seen that lens before, under a different brand name mark.

A quick, and not so perfect search suggests this is Kino manufactured. That thick focusing collar and stepped nose look familiar though~ if not vivitar branded, something close.

-D.S.

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2530

Based on the position of the small screws on the barrel part that contains the DOF scale, I would say Komine.
I also have Kino 75-205mm 3.8 Vivitar. The screws are higher up and the ring with the focus mark is slanted a bit instead of 90 degrees. Both are from 1980.

This is my Komine made Vivitar 80-200mm 1:4.5

Vivitar 80-200mm 1:4.5 mc zoom by The lens profile, on Flickr

Doc Sharptail · Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 1179 Location: Winnipeg Canada

There were quite a few different vivitar variations of the 80-200mm, 7 or 8 IIRC, without counting the series 1 line-up.

I know I've had that lens pass through my hands in either a f3.5 or f4 , more than once. It's probably at my sister's place, either in c-fd mount, or n-a.i.. I think I have a komine f4.5 or 2 in the deep closet here. It will take a bit of time to get at those.

-D.S.

BrianSVP · Joined: 09 Jun 2023 Posts: 343 Location: Philadelphia

I immediately thought it might have a Vivitar twin as well, but check out how short the focus throw on the Panagor is. I don't recall any of the Vivitar variants I've seen having such a short throw.
Jaca definitely sold the well-regarded 55mm and 90mm Komine macros sold as Vivitars under both Panagor branding and as dental lenses under Elicar branding, so Komine is a known supplier for them.