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vivitar 90-230
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:04 pm    Post subject: vivitar 90-230 Reply with quote

Hi for all.

I want to know how much versions of the zoom 90-230 in vivitar brand exist out there.

T4 ? TX ? Only two?

Are similar in formulas?

Thanks for read. Rino.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know there was a fixed mount close focus designed in 1975 between the first T4 and the later TX design in the fixed mount.The TX had two design generations,the later compact close focus and the earlier standard 90-230 with the tripod mount.The 90-230 close focus was originally a fixed mount,later used in the TX mount.

The TX 1st generation version has 12 elements in 9 groups versus the 13 elements in 9 groups optical design of the compact close focus version.

The TX 1st generation minimum focusing distance is 1.5m/5 ft versus the 43 centimeters(17 inches) of the close focus,the close focus also has a 2m/6.5 ft in normal shooting mode.

Perhaps someone else here knows if the T4 was the same optical design(I would suspect the TX was redesigned due to the influence of advances in zoom optics in the mid 70's, but perhaps not).

1st Design T4 mount 1969 with tripod mount

2nd Design Fixed mount Close Focus 1975 no tripod mount

1st generation TX 1975 with tripod mount

2nd generation TX Close Focus 1979 no tripod mount


Vivitar 90-230 Close Focus

Max Aperture: f/4.5...TX 1st same
Min Aperture: f/22....TX 1st same
Construction: 13 elements in 9 groups....TX 1st 12 elements in 9 groups
Front Element Rotation: Yes... 1st TX 1st same
Minimum Normal Focus: 6.5 feet/2 meters...
"Close Focus" Minimum Distance: 17 inches/43 centimeters...TX 1st 5 feet/1.5
Reproduction Ratio: 1:4....TX 1st 1:7.5
Filter Size: 62mm....TX 1st 58mm
Length: 6.5 inches/16.5 centimeters...TX 1st 8.25 inches
Weight: 28 ounces/794 grams....TX 1st 31 ounces
Other: Built-in Lens Hood...TX 1st same

2nd Generation TX Close Focus 90-230



1st Generation TX 90-230


Last edited by Boomer Depp on Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:24 pm; edited 7 times in total


PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Since these were made by Tokina, there are versions of this lens under many brands. Check ebay for 90-230 and you will find dozens of these on any day.

There was also a preset version, which may or may not have been earlier than the T4 version.

I have this in Soligor T4 and Sears M42 and a preset Lentar. They all seem to be the same optically.

The later more compact version in TX was also sold in fixed mounts by others. I also have another Sears version that was rebranded from Mamiya, sold by Mamiya as an SX lens.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks guys. Very nice answers.

Here in Argentina there are two of this zoom to sell. And seems to be the oldest.

Rino.


PostPosted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How much is postage to Argentina? I can probably find one and ship it to you.

The other Vivitar Close Focus zoom lenses are the 35-105/3.5 (Fixed and TX Tokina)...70-150/3.8 (Fixed mount Kiron & TX mount Tokina)....75-205/3.8(Fixed mount Kiron)...85-205/3.8 (Fixed mount Kiron)....100-300/5 (TX & Fixed Tokina).

The 85-205 is not as good as the other close focus lenses.All these close focus lenses are a pleasure to use.These lens are capable of focusing very close if you use the zoom ring between the shortest focal length and "Close Focus" area as your focusing ring. Not the way it's intended to be used, but it works very well. Normally you're supposed to set the zoom ring to the "Close Focus" detente and then you have a short range of distances you can accommodate with the focus ring. In practice you can vary the Close Focus distance quite a bit using the zoom ring for coarse focus and then fine-focusing with the focus ring.


Last edited by Boomer Depp on Sun Feb 14, 2010 3:51 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 2:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have owned both the T4 and the TX versions of this lens but not the close focus ones. They perform very well and are the same as far as I can tell optically. Very nice shooting lens. And quite cheap here in the US.


PostPosted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Boomer Depp

Thanks you, very much. The problem is the office here, in Argentina, where the things that come in sometimes they are lost or they broken. They "lost" 4 e-phones to my wife. I prefer not to take any risk with that people.

Thanks again. Rino.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My T4 90-230. I really like this one and it was less than 20 dollars US.










PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have one similar to Bid Dawgs in the Soligor except with the chrome F stop and metal focusing ring #17666164 (T4) I am using it now so can post photos in a week or so.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think they are an overlooked lens and shunned mainly because of the look. Not as sexy as some of the newer designs.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What surprised me about the first version is how well it shoots compared to it's big brother the 75-260 which flares quite readily even in overcast weather.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Boomer Depp wrote:
What surprised me about the first version is how well it shoots compared to it's big brother the 75-260 which flares quite readily even in overcast weather.

True...but it can get some good captures too..

75-260 Viv TX lens






PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice captures Big Dawg! You've mastered that lens very well.


PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Boomer Depp wrote:
Nice captures Big Dawg! You've mastered that lens very well.

You are too kind. Actually I've yet to explore either the 90-230 or the 75-260 to the point of mastery. Much more to do with each. So little time...........So many lenses..........


PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
So little time...........So many lenses..........

The challenge for all of us Rolling Eyes


PostPosted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mo-Fo wrote:
Quote:
So little time...........So many lenses..........

The challenge for all of us Rolling Eyes


As they say in Alabama...Amen brother. Wink


PostPosted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 5:04 pm    Post subject: Bokeh Vivitar 90-230 Reply with quote

edited

Last edited by bernhardas on Thu Apr 28, 2016 1:28 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 2:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote



I just removed the url tags from the above picture and kept the img tags...not sure what you may be doing wrong with the drag and drop/upload function.It is normal to just see the written words,if you use "preview button" before you click on the "submit button" you can check how the image will look on the final post....and see if you have it working or not. Smile I hope I have explained it well enough. Rolling Eyes


PostPosted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I too will revive this thread as I was about to make a new post about the Vivitar 90-230. Luckily I found this one already started. Anyway, here's mine:



PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad folks are still posting in this thread. These are really a good bang for the buck lens.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 9:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They sure are a great bang for the buck lens. I needed another zoom in this range like a hole in the head, but when I saw this lens in a dealers box of crap at the Camera Fair for £5 I just had to have it. If it was boxed it would be mint.
I haven't used it much, but that's not because I don't think it's a good lens, I think it is - but I generally reach for a Viv Series 1 70-210 or the very under rated Yashica ML 80-200 / 4. Does it compare to those lenses? Well, I haven't done any direct comparisons, but I think in a blind test this very common and cheap lens would surprise us.



77******** Serial Number = Kobori


PostPosted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 9:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Big Dawg !
Haven't heard from you in a while.
Hope things are going well for you.

Original versions of this thing were Tokina. Later versions seem to have varied.
There seem to have been a couple of different versions of the shortened two-touch type sold as Vivitar.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 11:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Luis. I retire in 191 days so things right now are going very good.