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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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 Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 1:26 am Post subject: The Saga of the Chrome-Nose Vivitars Continues 85-205 Zoom |
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Big Dawg wrote:
Another of those Chrome nose Vivitar lens. Surprisingly a Zoom. A 85-205mm f/3.8 to be exact. Before the serial number lens of the early 70's so it is very hard to know who made it. Sweet looking and not a bad performer either. This makes 3 of them now...a 35mm, a 135mm and now this zoom. I just missed out on a 200mm so I'll just have to keep trying.
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mo
Joined: 27 Aug 2009
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Location: Australia
Expire: 2016-07-30
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:05 am Post subject: |
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mo wrote:
Nice colors on the flag,trees and the bokeh is great as well (to my taste anyway  )
Is the lens very heavy it looks solid?
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Moira, Moderator 
Fuji XE-1,Pentax K-01,Panasonic G1,Panasonic G5,Pentax MX
Ricoh Singlex TLS,KR-5,KR-5Super,XR-10
Lenses
Auto Rikenon's 55/1.4, 1.8, 2.8... 50/1.7 Takumar 2/58 Preset Takumar 2.8/105 Auto Takumar 2.2/55, 3.5/35 Super Takumar 1.8/55...Macro Takumar F4/50... CZJ Biotar ALU M42 2/58 CZJ Tessar ALU M42 2.8/50
CZJ DDR Flektogon Zebra M42 2.8/35 CZJ Pancolar M42 2/50 CZJ Pancolar Exakta 2/50
Auto Mamiya/Sekor 1.8/55 ...Auto Mamiya/Sekor 2/50 Auto Mamiya/Sekor 2.8/50 Auto Mamiya/Sekor 200/3.5 Tamron SP500/8 Tamron SP350/5.6 Tamron SP90/2.5
Primoplan 1.9/58 Primagon 4.5/35 Telemegor 5.5/150 Angenieux 3.5/28 Angenieux 3,5/135 Y 2
Canon FL 58/1.2,Canon FL85/1.8,Canon FL 100/3.5,Canon SSC 2.8/100 ,Konica AR 100/2.8, Nikkor P 105/2.5
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 3:07 am Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
| mo wrote: |
Nice colors on the flag,trees and the bokeh is great as well (to my taste anyway )
Is the lens very heavy it looks solid? |
Not that heavy but I'm used to a 50-500mm Bigma and this one is quite a bit smaller. So far all of these lens have great color and at least adequate Bokeh. To my taste a little more than just adequate but then tastes differ...LOL Really solid built and smooth focusing.
The 135mm is here..... http://forum.mflenses.com/vivitar-135mm-f-2-8-black-and-chrome-beauty-t25041.html
The 35mm is here..... http://forum.mflenses.com/35mm-little-brother-of-the-viv-135mm-black-and-chrome-t25142.html
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Big Dawg
Last edited by Big Dawg on Mon Jun 14, 2010 3:24 am; edited 2 times in total |
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mo
Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Posts: 8979
Location: Australia
Expire: 2016-07-30
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 3:11 am Post subject: |
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mo wrote:
You will have to show them all together sometime.What's the 2nd flag?
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Moira, Moderator
Fuji XE-1,Pentax K-01,Panasonic G1,Panasonic G5,Pentax MX
Ricoh Singlex TLS,KR-5,KR-5Super,XR-10
Lenses
Auto Rikenon's 55/1.4, 1.8, 2.8... 50/1.7 Takumar 2/58 Preset Takumar 2.8/105 Auto Takumar 2.2/55, 3.5/35 Super Takumar 1.8/55...Macro Takumar F4/50... CZJ Biotar ALU M42 2/58 CZJ Tessar ALU M42 2.8/50
CZJ DDR Flektogon Zebra M42 2.8/35 CZJ Pancolar M42 2/50 CZJ Pancolar Exakta 2/50
Auto Mamiya/Sekor 1.8/55 ...Auto Mamiya/Sekor 2/50 Auto Mamiya/Sekor 2.8/50 Auto Mamiya/Sekor 200/3.5 Tamron SP500/8 Tamron SP350/5.6 Tamron SP90/2.5
Primoplan 1.9/58 Primagon 4.5/35 Telemegor 5.5/150 Angenieux 3.5/28 Angenieux 3,5/135 Y 2
Canon FL 58/1.2,Canon FL85/1.8,Canon FL 100/3.5,Canon SSC 2.8/100 ,Konica AR 100/2.8, Nikkor P 105/2.5
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 3:22 am Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
| mo wrote: |
| You will have to show them all together sometime.What's the 2nd flag? |
That is the flag of the Sovereign State of Alabama. A Red St. Andrew's Cross on a field of snow white.
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mo
Joined: 27 Aug 2009
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Location: Australia
Expire: 2016-07-30
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 3:36 am Post subject: |
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mo wrote:
 I was thinking why did you have a English flag up the pole??
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Moira, Moderator
Fuji XE-1,Pentax K-01,Panasonic G1,Panasonic G5,Pentax MX
Ricoh Singlex TLS,KR-5,KR-5Super,XR-10
Lenses
Auto Rikenon's 55/1.4, 1.8, 2.8... 50/1.7 Takumar 2/58 Preset Takumar 2.8/105 Auto Takumar 2.2/55, 3.5/35 Super Takumar 1.8/55...Macro Takumar F4/50... CZJ Biotar ALU M42 2/58 CZJ Tessar ALU M42 2.8/50
CZJ DDR Flektogon Zebra M42 2.8/35 CZJ Pancolar M42 2/50 CZJ Pancolar Exakta 2/50
Auto Mamiya/Sekor 1.8/55 ...Auto Mamiya/Sekor 2/50 Auto Mamiya/Sekor 2.8/50 Auto Mamiya/Sekor 200/3.5 Tamron SP500/8 Tamron SP350/5.6 Tamron SP90/2.5
Primoplan 1.9/58 Primagon 4.5/35 Telemegor 5.5/150 Angenieux 3.5/28 Angenieux 3,5/135 Y 2
Canon FL 58/1.2,Canon FL85/1.8,Canon FL 100/3.5,Canon SSC 2.8/100 ,Konica AR 100/2.8, Nikkor P 105/2.5
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Russ
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 4:59 am Post subject: |
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Russ wrote:
Kiron-Panagor.
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 6602
Location: San Francisco, USA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 5:38 am Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
Great find !
I agree, these 85-205's were made by Kiron in many variants but the mechanics were the same. The later versions also sold by Vivitar carried the Kiron-origin serial number. You may have solved the origin of the "chrome nose" lenses.
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I like Pentax DSLR's, Exaktas, M42 bodies of all kinds, strange and cheap Japanese lenses, and am dabbling in medium format/Speed Graphic work. |
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
| luisalegria wrote: |
Great find !
I agree, these 85-205's were made by Kiron in many variants but the mechanics were the same. The later versions also sold by Vivitar carried the Kiron-origin serial number. You may have solved the origin of the "chrome nose" lenses. |
That was my thought as well when I first saw it in the auction add.
Now I'll need an early version of a Kiron made 85-205 to compare.
Excuses to indulge in LBA keep showing up!! LOL
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
This is mine, the "close focus" version.
http://forum.mflenses.com/a-very-humble-lens-t6054,highlight,vivitar+85205.html
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nemesis101
Joined: 25 Mar 2008
Posts: 2050
Location: Oregon USA
Expire: 2015-01-22
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| Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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nemesis101 wrote:
We accept your surrender! lol
Doug
| mo wrote: |
| I was thinking why did you have a English flag up the pole?? |
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Amateurs worry about equipment
Pros worry about money,
Masters worry about light. |
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Russ
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 2:07 am Post subject: |
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Russ wrote:
| nemesis101 wrote: |
We accept your surrender! lol
Doug
| mo wrote: |
| I was thinking why did you have a English flag up the pole?? |
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I'll never surrender!
A few Vivitar S-1, Kiron & Panagor lenses.
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Univer
Joined: 30 Jun 2009
Posts: 282
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| Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Univer wrote:
Hi,
Very interesting. I saw that model listed on eBay - one of several NOS Vivitar zooms a seller was offering - and was tempted. But I'm really a "prime" person, the charms of the mysterious "chrome nose" notwithstanding.
I now own the 200mm version in M42, but I haven't had the chance to try it out. Mine is nice cosmetically, but the focusing is a bit rough.
For what it's worth, I think the Kiron/Panagor identification must be right. I've seen pictures of a semi-chrome-nose variant of the familiar Kiron 28/2.5. The flaring nose was black, but the styling otherwise matched the other chrome-nose lenses (and if you think about it, that flaring nose would look very odd in chrome - to my eye, anyway). It also bore a standard "22" Kiron serial number.
I suppose the 28/2.5 was a lens whose production run began before the period of the standard serial-number coding, and continued into it. I own a preset 28/2.5 that's clearly the precursor to the familiar auto version, and mine does have a proper "22" serial number; but I've also seen that same preset version with one of the non-standard too-short serial numbers beginning with a "7". This preset is the version with the strange second aperture ring with a little window to show the aperture selected, along with an engraved "delta" symbol (I assume it's the delta symbol, and not an arbitrary triangle). That design detail strikes me as a late attempt to make the preset mechanism seem more "modern".
Oh, and one other thing: it's probably pure coincidence, but (with the exception of this beautiful zoom and the semi-chrome 28mm described above), there almost seems to be a correlation between the first digit of the chrome lenses' serial numbers and their focal lengths. The 135s I've seen have serial numbers beginning with "1"; the 35s I've seen begin with "3"; and my 200 begins with "2".
Lovely photos!
Cheers,
Jon |
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:20 am Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
| Univer wrote: |
Hi,
Very interesting. I saw that model listed on eBay - one of several NOS Vivitar zooms a seller was offering - and was tempted. But I'm really a "prime" person, the charms of the mysterious "chrome nose" notwithstanding.
I now own the 200mm version in M42, but I haven't had the chance to try it out. Mine is nice cosmetically, but the focusing is a bit rough.
For what it's worth, I think the Kiron/Panagor identification must be right. I've seen pictures of a semi-chrome-nose variant of the familiar Kiron 28/2.5. The flaring nose was black, but the styling otherwise matched the other chrome-nose lenses (and if you think about it, that flaring nose would look very odd in chrome - to my eye, anyway). It also bore a standard "22" Kiron serial number.
I suppose the 28/2.5 was a lens whose production run began before the period of the standard serial-number coding, and continued into it. I own a preset 28/2.5 that's clearly the precursor to the familiar auto version, and mine does have a proper "22" serial number; but I've also seen that same preset version with one of the non-standard too-short serial numbers beginning with a "7". This preset is the version with the strange second aperture ring with a little window to show the aperture selected, along with an engraved "delta" symbol (I assume it's the delta symbol, and not an arbitrary triangle). That design detail strikes me as a late attempt to make the preset mechanism seem more "modern".
Oh, and one other thing: it's probably pure coincidence, but (with the exception of this beautiful zoom and the semi-chrome 28mm described above), there almost seems to be a correlation between the first digit of the chrome lenses' serial numbers and their focal lengths. The 135s I've seen have serial numbers beginning with "1"; the 35s I've seen begin with "3"; and my 200 begins with "2".
Lovely photos!
Cheers,
Jon |
Hi Jon. I envy you that 200mm. Just missed out on one a couple of weeks ago. It ended while i was at work and I was unable to up my bid. Oh well. You may be right on the serial numbers as the are all different and I have been wondering why. Your explanation could be right. Look to the grease in the focus ring as a culprit in rough focusing. Mine all work smooth as silk and render great color with out a of CA or Flair. Very sharp too. Wish me luck getting a 200 or maybe even a 300mm one if they made one...also looking for that elusive 28mm as well.
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Russ
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 5:41 am Post subject: |
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Russ wrote:
If you're looking for a very good and sharp 200m, go with the Vivitar Series 1, 200mm f/3.5AF lens. It ROCKS! It even beat out the legendary Nikon 180mm f/2.8 lens. I'd never part with mine.
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Boomer Depp
Joined: 08 Oct 2009
Posts: 552
Location: Kingston,Washighton
Expire: 2011-12-04
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| Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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Boomer Depp wrote:
It might be close to the early versions of the Nikkor 180/2.8 in image quality but I doubt it would beat it...and it would have it's work cut out for it compared to the Nikkor 180/2.8 ED or the even better auto-focus versions of the 180 ED....BTW the discussion was about the manual focus chrome nosed Vivitars.
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
A good one Russ but I'm still looking for a chrome nosed 200mm. Just need to finish the collection.
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mo
Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Posts: 8979
Location: Australia
Expire: 2016-07-30
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| Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 1:20 am Post subject: |
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mo wrote:
| Quote: |
| Just need to finish the collection |
The most important part other than using the lens!! I hope you find it soon.
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Moira, Moderator
Fuji XE-1,Pentax K-01,Panasonic G1,Panasonic G5,Pentax MX
Ricoh Singlex TLS,KR-5,KR-5Super,XR-10
Lenses
Auto Rikenon's 55/1.4, 1.8, 2.8... 50/1.7 Takumar 2/58 Preset Takumar 2.8/105 Auto Takumar 2.2/55, 3.5/35 Super Takumar 1.8/55...Macro Takumar F4/50... CZJ Biotar ALU M42 2/58 CZJ Tessar ALU M42 2.8/50
CZJ DDR Flektogon Zebra M42 2.8/35 CZJ Pancolar M42 2/50 CZJ Pancolar Exakta 2/50
Auto Mamiya/Sekor 1.8/55 ...Auto Mamiya/Sekor 2/50 Auto Mamiya/Sekor 2.8/50 Auto Mamiya/Sekor 200/3.5 Tamron SP500/8 Tamron SP350/5.6 Tamron SP90/2.5
Primoplan 1.9/58 Primagon 4.5/35 Telemegor 5.5/150 Angenieux 3.5/28 Angenieux 3,5/135 Y 2
Canon FL 58/1.2,Canon FL85/1.8,Canon FL 100/3.5,Canon SSC 2.8/100 ,Konica AR 100/2.8, Nikkor P 105/2.5
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Boomer Depp
Joined: 08 Oct 2009
Posts: 552
Location: Kingston,Washighton
Expire: 2011-12-04
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| Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 2:15 am Post subject: |
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Boomer Depp wrote:
Absolutely! or I can relate whole-heartily....
GO DAWG GO!
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2010 4:53 am Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
| Boomer Depp wrote: |
Absolutely! or I can relate whole-heartily....
GO DAWG GO! |
Thanks Mo and Boomer. I actually am passing up a 28mm one as it is offered with 2 other lens at a higher starting bid than they are worth. Oh well...I'll just keep looking.
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