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Vivitar 28-85mm f2.8-3.8
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 10:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It was made with the Vivitar Series 1 28-85mm f2.8-3.8 , (Kiron according to the serial number). Is it much different from the 28-90?


PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
amedow wrote:
It was made with the Vivitar Series 1 28-85mm f2.8-3.8 , (Kiron according to the serial number). Is it much different from the 28-90?

Yes, I'd be interested in the answer to this. I'd also like to hear how the 35-85 vario stands up to this lens as I find it very good but 35 is not wide enough for me.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
amedow wrote:
It was made with the Vivitar Series 1 28-85mm f2.8-3.8 , (Kiron according to the serial number). Is it much different from the 28-90?


Vivitar never made or marketed a Series 1 28-85 lens. They did put out a non-Series 1, 28-85 and a VERY good Series 1, 28-90.


PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 3:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
martinsmith99 wrote:
amedow wrote:
It was made with the Vivitar Series 1 28-85mm f2.8-3.8 , (Kiron according to the serial number). Is it much different from the 28-90?

Yes, I'd be interested in the answer to this. I'd also like to hear how the 35-85 vario stands up to this lens as I find it very good but 35 is not wide enough for me.


The Series 1 35-85 f/2.8 is quite good. But not wide enough for me either.



PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I guess I must have the non series 1 version of the 28-85mm f2.8-3.8. Was thrown off by the Series 1 lenscap it came with. Posting a couple of photos of the one I have:



PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
amedow wrote:
I guess I must have the non series 1 version of the 28-85mm f2.8-3.8. Was thrown off by the Series 1 lenscap it came with.

Exactly same lens as kiron 28/85 2.8-3.8 which was sold at the same period than the S1 28/90 2.8-3.5 komine made

I presume they sold it when S1 went to the 28-105


PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
PBFACTS wrote:
amedow wrote:
I guess I must have the non series 1 version of the 28-85mm f2.8-3.8. Was thrown off by the Series 1 lenscap it came with.

Exactly same lens as kiron 28/85 2.8-3.8 which was sold at the same period than the S1 28/90 2.8-3.5 komine made

I presume they sold it when S1 went to the 28-105


The Vivirar Series 1, 28-90 and the Vivitar 28-85 are not the same lens. Completely different. The Vivitar 28-85 and Kiron 28-85 are howver, pretty much identical. Komine made the Viv S-1 28-90. The Vivitar Series 1 28-105 lenses were made by Cosina, and not all that good. There is also an older Vivitar non-Series 1 28-105, made by Kobori.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Russ wrote:
PBFACTS wrote:
amedow wrote:
I guess I must have the non series 1 version of the 28-85mm f2.8-3.8. Was thrown off by the Series 1 lenscap it came with.

Exactly same lens as kiron 28/85 2.8-3.8 which was sold at the same period than the S1 28/90 2.8-3.5 komine made

I presume they sold it when S1 went to the 28-105


The Vivirar Series 1, 28-90 and the Vivitar 28-85 are not the same lens. Completely different. The Vivitar 28-85 and Kiron 28-85 are howver, pretty much identical. Komine made the Viv S-1 28-90. The Vivitar Series 1 28-105 lenses were made by Cosina, and not all that good. There is also an older Vivitar non-Series 1 28-105, made by Kobori.


The 28/85 Kiron AND the 28/85 vivitar are SAME lens
The 28/90 and the 28/85 are different lenses (komine made for the 1st one)
ALL are very close because ALL were designed by Ellis betensky at opcon/optigon which was at that time a subsidary of vivitar
http://www.opconassociates.com/index.html

Conception close but lenses differents and manufactured by different companies
    28/85 Kiron for Kiron & Vivitar
    28/90 Komine for Vivitar
    28/105 Kobory for Vivitar
    28/105 Cosina for Vivitar


PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
PBFACTS wrote:
Russ wrote:
PBFACTS wrote:
amedow wrote:
I guess I must have the non series 1 version of the 28-85mm f2.8-3.8. Was thrown off by the Series 1 lenscap it came with.

Exactly same lens as kiron 28/85 2.8-3.8 which was sold at the same period than the S1 28/90 2.8-3.5 komine made

I presume they sold it when S1 went to the 28-105


The Vivirar Series 1, 28-90 and the Vivitar 28-85 are not the same lens. Completely different. The Vivitar 28-85 and Kiron 28-85 are howver, pretty much identical. Komine made the Viv S-1 28-90. The Vivitar Series 1 28-105 lenses were made by Cosina, and not all that good. There is also an older Vivitar non-Series 1 28-105, made by Kobori.


The 28/85 Kiron AND the 28/85 vivitar are SAME lens
The 28/90 and the 28/85 are different lenses (komine made for the 1st one)
ALL are very close because ALL were designed by Ellis betensky at opcon/optigon which was at that time a subsidary of vivitar
http://www.opconassociates.com/index.html

Conception close but lenses differents and manufactured by different companies
    28/85 Kiron for Kiron & Vivitar
    28/90 Komine for Vivitar
    28/105 Kobory for Vivitar
    28/105 Cosina for Vivitar



My mistake. I thought that someone had said that the Vivitar "Series 1" 28-90 and the Vivitar 28-85 were the same lens. And don't tkae all that you read on the Internet, as the gospel truth.There's quite a bit of incorrect Vivitar info floating about there...


PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Reading about Vivitar and its unique business model is endlessly fascinating. Is Kiron the only manufacturer worth getting with Vivitar lenses or are the other suppliers worth looking into as well? I ask this because I'm still deciding between the 28-90 and the 28-105 for my standard zoom and neither are made by Kiron to my knowlege.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Chris Watson wrote:
Reading about Vivitar and its unique business model is endlessly fascinating. Is Kiron the only manufacturer worth getting with Vivitar lenses or are the other suppliers worth looking into as well? I ask this because I'm still deciding between the 28-90 and the 28-105 for my standard zoom and neither are made by Kiron to my knowlege.


Vivitar in the 1970/1985 period mainly bought their lenses from Tokina / Kiron and Komine

All are VG to excellent quality

The best sub-contractor is Komine but most Kiron are top too (to be more precise and to give you an example 28/2 exists in Komine and Kiron version : Kiron VG and Komine top)
Tokina are usually very good but a little bit under

Komine : Most excellent / Some VG
Kiron : Mixed Vg / Excellent
Tokina : Most VG/ Some Excellent

Later they were manufactured by Kobori (VG) then Cosina (Good only)


PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Chris Watson wrote:
Reading about Vivitar and its unique business model is endlessly fascinating. Is Kiron the only manufacturer worth getting with Vivitar lenses or are the other suppliers worth looking into as well? I ask this because I'm still deciding between the 28-90 and the 28-105 for my standard zoom and neither are made by Kiron to my knowlege.


Chris

I highly recommend the Vivitar Series 1 28-90 lens. My favorite. If you want a manual focus 28-105, go with the Kiron 28-105. It's considerably better than the Vivitar S-1 (Cosina made) 28-105 and better than the Kobori made Vivitar 28-105. You'll want to avoid the Cosina made models.



Russ


PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ah the Vivitar 28-90mm series 1, my 1st Vivitar MF lens. I enjoyed this lens in 2008 but haven't touched it since. Got some more Vivitar lenses after that.

some fun test shots in my backyard








PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I must say the more I look at this thread, the more I'm tempted by one of these lenses. I am worried that my beloved S1 35-85 will become redundant.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
martinsmith99 wrote:
I must say the more I look at this thread, the more I'm tempted by one of these lenses. I am worried that my beloved S1 35-85 will become redundant.



I actually prefer my S-1 28-90, over my S-1 35-85.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 15, 2023 10:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
The lens seems to be pretty sparse. I get some hits from the US for the Kiron, but usually shipping prevented me from getting it. I already have the Kiron branded version bought cheaply from Rocky Cameras on Etsy (He seems to have closed shop now. He was selling exclusively from his website after moving from Ebay to Etsy to Bonanza) , but that will not stop down and has a lot of fungus and lens separation. Still makes for a nice soft focus lens though.
Opoe's Diekje - Oosterhoogebrug by The lens profile, on Flickr

But now I found the Vivitar version on Ebay for 25 pounds so I snapped it up. (Still €50 when it's here due to stupid Brexit)

seller pic

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