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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:28 am Post subject: Vivitar (Kiron) 70-150/3.8 Close Focusing Auto Zoom M42 |
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luisalegria wrote:
This little beauty is the less common little brother of the extremely common Kiron-made 85-205/3.8 zoom.
Note that Vivitar called this one "close-focus" while the 85-205 in this case is "macro". Other slightly different versions of the 85-205/3.8 were also referred to as "close focus". While the larger version was sold by almost everyone in the early-mid 1970's, under at least 25 brands, this 70-150 seems to have been sold mainly by Vivitar.
It is a similar lens to the 85-205 in every way, with two-touch operation and a "close-focus" or "macro" setting that is engaged by turning the zoom ring past its minimum focal length. In this case it seems to work like a 70mm in "close focus" mode. Its a true constant-aperture zoom. It seems to hold focus while zooming, but not too precisely as far as I can tell. It also has the manual-auto switch (so useful on M42 lenses) that was beginning to disappear in the 1970's. The sliding hood is just as tiny and useless as the 85-205.
The minimum focus is 5ft/2.5m (when its not in "close focus" mode), which isn't close enough to my taste for a zoom, and the need to switch to "close focus" is inconvenient and one loses the focal length for a "standoff" distance, which is what I like about many zooms. But thats how it was back in those days. It is a rather limited zoom range, but still useful for framing, if you like to do that through zooming. Think of it as a replacement for a 135mm.
Performance is excellent, certainly matching its big brother. It is slightly soft and there is a "bit of a "glow" (spherical abberration?) at f/3.8, but its as sharp as my sensor can distinguish from half a stop under that. There is no problem with contrast and little detectable flare shooting close to the sun, though I would recommend a hood.
The bird -
crop -
_________________ 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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Screamin Scott
Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 1014 Location: Dallas, Georgia USA
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:04 am Post subject: |
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Screamin Scott wrote:
That lens came in two flavors, the 2 touch as you show here & a one touch (which I have)...I'm still looking to get either the 1.5x or the 2x matched multipliers for this lens. I won one on eBay, but it turned out to be the wrong mount (I have since sold the lens to Big Dawg)....I may have a 2x version coming my way soon though...They are nice lenses fop the small amount of money that they sell for. I got mine as "new" old stock from Adorama.........( Kino made lens as per the #22 serial #'s) _________________ Cameras-Nikon D300, D7100,D610,FE2,FTN ,FT2,N90s, Olympus Pen EP-3 & Olympus OM-D E-M10
Nikkor AF Zooms=28-105/3.5D,28-70/3.5D,35-135/3.5, et al
Nikkor AF //50/1.8,//Nikkor MF//50/2ai,50/1.8ais 50/1.4ai,24/2.8ais,28/2.8ai,28/3.5ai,55microAis/2.8,105/2.5ai,200/4ai,300/4.5ai35-135/3.5Ais,et al
Kiron /Kino made lenses//70-210/4ai,28-105/3.2ai,30-80/3.5ai,Viv 28/2ai,35-85/2.8aiVivS1,105/2.8Ais Dine,24-48/3.8ai VivS1,50-150/3.8aiViv,28-85/2.8aiViv,100/2.8Nai Viv,70-210/3.5Nai Viv,28/2.5ai Viv Komine made Viv//24/2Ais,135/2.8aiCF,28-50/3.5ai,28-90/2.8ai Viv S1,80-200/4.5aiCosina made Viv 19/3.8 Ais...Also Sigma 24/2.8 Ais Tokina made24/2.8ai VivAF Sigma 21-35/3.5,& other lenses... A link to some of my Flickr albums...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/albums |
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ManualFocus-G
Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 6622 Location: United Kingdom
Expire: 2014-11-24
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:00 am Post subject: |
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ManualFocus-G wrote:
Great stuff once again! I love the bird shot with the open mouth _________________ Graham - Moderator
Shooter of choice: Fujifilm X-T20 with M42, PB and C/Y lenses
See my Flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/manualfocus-g |
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sichko
Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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sichko wrote:
Nice shots Luis. I've had a copy for about 6 hours !. Initial impressions mirror yours although I've only got a few indoor shots at the moment.
Special thanks for the information on the 85-205. I was thinking of one of the 70-210s but this looks like a nice alternative. _________________ John |
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hintheman
Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 51 Location: Fremont, CA
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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hintheman wrote:
Screamin Scott wrote: |
That lens came in two flavors, the 2 touch as you show here & a one touch (which I have)...I'm still looking to get either the 1.5x or the 2x matched multipliers for this lens. I won one on eBay, but it turned out to be the wrong mount (I have since sold the lens to Big Dawg)....I may have a 2x version coming my way soon though...They are nice lenses fop the small amount of money that they sell for. I got mine as "new" old stock from Adorama.........( Kino made lens as per the #22 serial #'s) |
I have the 2-touch zoom with a 2x matched multiplier in M42 mount. I am also looking for the 1.5x matched multiplier.
A wide open test shot in f/3.8
Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron
I originally have one copy in K mount and I later sold it and replaced it with the same lens but in M42 mount as I got the 2x matched multiplier in the purchase. Is the multiplier equivalent to 2x TC? Perhaps, Kiron made both good lens as well as TC, I get reasonable results with the 2x multiplier.
Another question: what is the close focusing ratio on this zoom, is it 1:4 in the 70mm end? That is my guess and I have not used it on close focusing yet.
Thanks,
Hin _________________ http://www.techtheman.com
http://hintheman.blogspotc.om
http://hintheman.com
Last edited by hintheman on Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:16 am; edited 1 time in total |
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sichko
Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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sichko wrote:
hintheman wrote: |
Another question: what is the close focusing ratio on this zoom, is it 1:4 in the 70mm end? That is my guess and I have not used it on close focusing yet. |
Yes. I get close to 1:4. _________________ John |
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 2530 Location: Thach Alabama
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
Great little lens there. Also a close relative to the 75-205 two touch lens. Still need to do some shooting with mine that has some sun in it as mostly cloudy day shots so far. Wish I had your skill to go along with it though. Some very nice photos there. I am looking for an 85-205 to go with my other two touch lenses. _________________ Big Dawg |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:22 am Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
Hi Dawg,
The 85-205's are all over the place, and not just with the Vivitar brand. Try Shopgoodwill.com, there are usually some there every week. _________________ 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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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:23 am Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
Hi Scott,
How do you ID the Vivitar matched multipliers for these ? _________________ 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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Screamin Scott
Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 1014 Location: Dallas, Georgia USA
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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Screamin Scott wrote:
It says right on the teleconverter itself what it mates with _________________ Cameras-Nikon D300, D7100,D610,FE2,FTN ,FT2,N90s, Olympus Pen EP-3 & Olympus OM-D E-M10
Nikkor AF Zooms=28-105/3.5D,28-70/3.5D,35-135/3.5, et al
Nikkor AF //50/1.8,//Nikkor MF//50/2ai,50/1.8ais 50/1.4ai,24/2.8ais,28/2.8ai,28/3.5ai,55microAis/2.8,105/2.5ai,200/4ai,300/4.5ai35-135/3.5Ais,et al
Kiron /Kino made lenses//70-210/4ai,28-105/3.2ai,30-80/3.5ai,Viv 28/2ai,35-85/2.8aiVivS1,105/2.8Ais Dine,24-48/3.8ai VivS1,50-150/3.8aiViv,28-85/2.8aiViv,100/2.8Nai Viv,70-210/3.5Nai Viv,28/2.5ai Viv Komine made Viv//24/2Ais,135/2.8aiCF,28-50/3.5ai,28-90/2.8ai Viv S1,80-200/4.5aiCosina made Viv 19/3.8 Ais...Also Sigma 24/2.8 Ais Tokina made24/2.8ai VivAF Sigma 21-35/3.5,& other lenses... A link to some of my Flickr albums...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/albums |
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Screamin Scott
Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 1014 Location: Dallas, Georgia USA
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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Screamin Scott wrote:
I'm awaiting a Vivitar 2x matched multiplier & when it arrives, I'm going to compare the results with shots using the Vivitar 2x Macro converter.... _________________ Cameras-Nikon D300, D7100,D610,FE2,FTN ,FT2,N90s, Olympus Pen EP-3 & Olympus OM-D E-M10
Nikkor AF Zooms=28-105/3.5D,28-70/3.5D,35-135/3.5, et al
Nikkor AF //50/1.8,//Nikkor MF//50/2ai,50/1.8ais 50/1.4ai,24/2.8ais,28/2.8ai,28/3.5ai,55microAis/2.8,105/2.5ai,200/4ai,300/4.5ai35-135/3.5Ais,et al
Kiron /Kino made lenses//70-210/4ai,28-105/3.2ai,30-80/3.5ai,Viv 28/2ai,35-85/2.8aiVivS1,105/2.8Ais Dine,24-48/3.8ai VivS1,50-150/3.8aiViv,28-85/2.8aiViv,100/2.8Nai Viv,70-210/3.5Nai Viv,28/2.5ai Viv Komine made Viv//24/2Ais,135/2.8aiCF,28-50/3.5ai,28-90/2.8ai Viv S1,80-200/4.5aiCosina made Viv 19/3.8 Ais...Also Sigma 24/2.8 Ais Tokina made24/2.8ai VivAF Sigma 21-35/3.5,& other lenses... A link to some of my Flickr albums...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/albums |
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sichko
Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: Vivitar (Kiron) 70-150/3.8 Close Focusing Auto Zoom M42 |
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sichko wrote:
luisalegria wrote: |
Think of it as a replacement for a 135mm. |
It's also useful at 150mm.
A quick "roof test", at f/8, on the way home
100%
100%
_________________ John |
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Abraxas
Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 4 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject: Vivitar/Kiron 70150mm Close Focus lens on Nikon mount |
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Abraxas wrote:
Hi,
I have just aquired one of these but sadly it has some problems...no doubt one of its previous owners has either damaged it or had it apart and put it back together incorrectly.
The first thing that was obvious is that the aperture setting cannot be moved past f11 but moves from f3.8 to f11 as normal.
Secondly the focussing seems to be a long way out...at 150mm setting infinty is at about 40 feet on the barrel....at 70mm setting infinty is at about 12 feet on the barrel and on the close focus setting it focusses throughout the focussing range at about a distance of 1 foot.
Does anyone out there have any information regarding the internal construction of the lens and how to set it up again or repair it as all the elements seem to be in A1 condition.
With fingers crossed,
Mike |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
Hi Mike,
I bet the previous owner had the lens mount off and put it back on improperly, that could easily be the reason for both the aperture ring problem and the lack of infinity focus.
I haven't had the mount off on mine, so I can't help there. Pictures of the mount end could help maybe. _________________ 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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casualcollector
Joined: 01 Aug 2008 Posts: 749 Location: Spaced out on Florida's Space Coast
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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casualcollector wrote:
luisalegria wrote: |
Hi Dawg, The 85-205's are all over the place, and not just with the Vivitar brand. Try Shopgoodwill.com, there are usually some there every week. |
There's an 85 - 205/3.8 at a local thrift. M42, in the box and labeled Super-Albinar. They've got it marked $15. I haven't had the courage to bite at that price. If anyone is interested I'll pick it up and ship it. It should add up to about $25 net to the lower 48, USA.
Bill _________________ In Search Of "R" Serial Soligors
Found: 135/2.8 #R407660, 200/4 #R405526, 300/5.5 #R411127 |
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Abraxas
Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 4 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Abraxas wrote:
[/img] |
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Abraxas
Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 4 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Abraxas wrote:
Hi,
I seem to have messed up on attaching the photo ...but the lens was aperture was set between 5.6 and he photo was taken....let me know if other photo's can be of any use....it would certainly be really nice if it was just a case of sorting the fitting out....I have only taken the other end out of lenses before to remove rubbish and the ubiquitous fungus so it could prove enlightening too....
Regards,
Mike |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
Well, I can't see much from that.
Are there signs of someone having unscrewed the lens mount ? Scratching around the screws ? Anything loose ?
Does the thing stop down automatically ?
If you set the thing to f/3.8, can you still see the diaphragm blades ? _________________ 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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Abraxas
Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 4 Location: UK
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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Abraxas wrote:
...it is as I originally said...moving the setting from 4 ->3.8 causes the blades to just reach max dilation and disappear....if you stand the lens on the front end and look at the 3 screws tha are in the mounts rear slot there are 2 cross head screws that lie flush and one flat slot screw that is raised and looks like it has been 'used'....of the 5 cross heads that hold the mount to the body 2 may have been tampered with.....
Is the matt black block that has the iris actuator lever in it the same design as yours ? (I have seen one looking different on a lens (same) on ebay)........
Mike
luisalegria wrote: |
Well, I can't see much from that.
Are there signs of someone having unscrewed the lens mount ? Scratching around the screws ? Anything loose ?
Does the thing stop down automatically ?
If you set the thing to f/3.8, can you still see the diaphragm blades ? |
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luisalegria
Joined: 07 Mar 2008 Posts: 6602 Location: San Francisco, USA
Expire: 2018-01-18
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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luisalegria wrote:
My mount end is very different because it is M42 and yours is Nikon. My iris actuator is a pin.
It looks like your mount has been tampered with. _________________ 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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