Kiron and Komine Vivitars

[cbaldeck]

I am often amazed at the detailed knowledge of vintage lenses among those who participate here.

After some browsing on this forum, I noticed that Vivitar lenses made by Kino Precision (S/N starting with 22) and Komine (S/N starting with 28 ) are often mentioned favorably -- perhaps more so than Vivitar lenses made by other companies.

Is it the sense among Vivitar fans that Kiron and Komine made Vivitars are especially worth looking for? Or preferable in some way to the others? I know that the Series 1 Vivitars are generally well considered, but most of the Vivitars I've found lately, were the "ordinary" ones (not Series 1), and quite a few of those seem to be either Kino or Komine made.

Kino Precision did sell their lenses under their own name. I have a near mint example of the Kiron 28mm f2.8 (O/OM mount), but I have never seen a Komine lens marked as such. Did they sell under the Komine name?

Charles

[ManualFocus-G]

There were some Kominar lenses, but not the ones sold as Vivitar. From what I can see, there is still some dispute as to who Komine were, and whether the 28x lenses were actually made by them at all. That's part of the fun of MF

[casualcollector]

Kino and Komine are especially well thought of as they were Vivitar's chosen manufacturers for the early Series One lenses. Both companies had been suppliers to Ponder & Best (Vivitar) before Series One was introduced. Tokina was also a regular supplier to Ponder & Best but only an occasional supplier of Series One spec lenses.

The Komine name seems to be connected only with Vivitar and my opinion is it's an alias of Nittoh Kogaku K. K. There was a line of X-Kominar lenses that seem to be exclusively in Fujica "X" bayonet mount. Nittoh's web site shows several of their products that were manufactured with Fuji and Olympus names. http://www.nittohkogaku.co.jp/english/focus/history.php I have owned a Mamiya camera that was equipped with a Kominar lens.

As for the desirability of Kino or "Komine" made lenses over those made by Tokina, Tamron, Cimko, Makina, Komura, Kobori, Sigma, Sun and others, my opinion is that it's the individual lens that matters more than a manufacturers entire line.

[iangreenhalgh1]

[fuzzywuzzy]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Well, Konica and Minolta are no good to Canon shooters, but Nikon, Olympus, Pentax etc are.

But I take your point though, Konica and Minolta were probably poor examples to chose due to their unsuitability for use on DSLRs.

[FotoPete]

In the world of MFlenses and for many of us too young to have been through the thick of the 60-70s..80s camera scene, I think vivitar and especially Komine/Kiron/Tokina made vivitars represent of selection of third party glass that is still reasonably common amongst the ocean of ambiguous lenses and a solid, can't go (too) wrong choice.

[martinsmith99]

I'd rate Kiron & Komine lenses from the few that I have as good lenses. The 28-90 zoom being one of my favourites, followed by the 70-210/2.8-4.

[aoleg]

I have a few really old Vivitars, the 135/2.8 and 200/3.5, both Komine made with all-metal focusing rings. Both feature good construction quality and are built very solid, nearly up to the level of Super Takumars of the time. Their optical performance is very good even by today's standards, and excellent by the then-prevaling quality standards. Also, a Kiron-made all-metal Vivitar 28/2.5 that I have is no slouch either.

That, compared to many, many lenses of even much later periods, with MC glass and modern mounts. I had over a dozen 28mm, 200mm and 135mm lenses made by unknown companies that were plain crap or at best mediocre. Those lenses were manufactured much later than the Vivitars that I mentioned, featuring MC and looked much smaller and more modern than the ancient Vivitars, but image quality (and build quality!) was simply not comparable.

So there really is something in those old Kiron and Komine made Vivitars worth looking. Those lenses weren't bad by their own merits, and were an excellent choice compared to aftermarket alternatives.

[elliott]

I have 2 Komine made Vivitars, a Series 1 70-210mm f2.8-4 and a dime a dozen 200 f3.5, both are very good.

[guardian]

[PBFACTS]

[ramiller500]

I've had good success with Kobori-made Vivitar zooms with serial numbers starting with 77. By the way, is there a reason why so many Japanese lens makers have names with K in them?

[aoleg]

[aoleg]

[iangreenhalgh1]

[Excalibur]

My Kobori Vivitar 28mm-85mm, F3.5-f4.5...I would rate as just good, useful until you can afford something better....erm well I don't use mine so that means.....................................................

[iangreenhalgh1]

I honestly think it's better not to accumulate a collection of not very good low value lenses and instead make more targeted purchases and only accumulate what you actually need.

[Excalibur]

[iangreenhalgh1]

Yes, but how many dogs do you have to accumulate to find those gems? I'm also of the opinion that there aren't many gems to be had in third party lenses, especially zooms.

What's the sense in buying 10 cheap lenses in the hope one of them is good? What makes more sense - spend 100ukp accumulating a few cheap crappy lenses or spend the 100ukp on one very good lens?

[Excalibur]

[Lloydy]

The two non Series 1 Vivitar zooms that I've got are both Kobori ( 77 serial numbers ) The 80-200 / 3.5 - 5.3, 1:4 macro, looks very impressive with its 72 mm lfilter ring, but looks don't count. It's an average lens at best.
The other one, an 28-200 f4 fixed aperture, 1:3.4 macro, which is compact - 55 mm filter ring, is not bad at all. I did a rough shootout with a Kiron made Vivitar Series 1 70-210 3.5 and in some instances the Kobori was better. It's a lens I wouldn't get rid of until I was sure of its performance one way or the other, I 'think' it is a decent lens, for a zoom of it's age and type. But if it is, then it would probably be very good in area - a sweet spot - and fall off in others. I need to test it.
But having said that, I have used these lenses a lot as a walkabout lens on a K10 and had some very good results, but probably not the hit rate I get by carrying a pocketful of a decent primes.

[iangreenhalgh1]

[iangreenhalgh1]

[Excalibur]