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I miss my Vivitar Series 1’s!
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 5:28 pm    Post subject: I miss my Vivitar Series 1’s! Reply with quote
I’ve been using Contax/Zeiss glass for years and they’re amazing. But looking back at photos I took with my Vivitar Series 1 70-210 and 28-90 I am newly amazed by their sharpness and color pop. Wow. So sorry I sold them off. But soo cheap on eBay these days!

Vivitar Series 1 (Kiron) 70-210





Vivitar Series 1 28-90 (Komine)






PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The 70~210/3.5 - picked up one in Nikon Ai mount for $20 and one in Minolta mount for even less. Big, heavy- sharp, well handling. Also have the 135/2.3 in F-Mount, the lens I took to the camera store the day the Df was released. Told the salesman: If I can focus the camera with this lens on it, I'm buying it. I did.

So what's holding you back?


PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:21 pm    Post subject: Re: I miss my Vivitar Series 1’s! Reply with quote
Nice sample photos. Those are the first two Vivitar Series 1 lenses that I got. The 28-90 is still mounted on my Nikon FE2, along with the 70-210 f/2.8-4 in a camera bag.


PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 11:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you've got that pair of S1's, you have the perfect walkabout kit in two classic lenses. Cool


PostPosted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
S1 lenses can definitely be found cheaply with patience, although the condition may be a gamble. I recently bought a Kiron v1 (70-210) for US$ 7.50 and a Tokina v2 (70-210) for US$ 17.55, just to compare against the Komine v3 I already had.

I have had less luck with my version of the 28-90, although sharp photos can be taken, veiling flare seems to be a constant problem. I purchased a Kiron 28-85, which seemed slightly better, but they were both bested IMO by the Cosina made 28-70, which is lighter as well, although correspondingly not as well made.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
fiftyonepointsix wrote:

So what's holding you back?


Nothing, really, except for the fact I don’t want to overwhelm myself with gear choices. I’m not a technician or collector but the going rate on these lenses are so low it’s hard to ignore considering their performance. An eBay seller of the Kobori 70-210 version (smaller, lighter) recently complained to me the best bid she got was US $8. I’ve had the Kobori, but would rather have the Kiron for $12. LOL.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Actually, the Kobori wasn’t so bad. Nice detail, bokeh and separation.

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