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Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 VMC Macro
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:48 pm    Post subject: Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 VMC Macro Reply with quote

I bought this lens after a little bit "provoked" by woodrim in this thread .... Smile

http://forum.mflenses.com/an-85mm-question-t40472,start,15.html

I searched on eBay and none showed up.
But few weeks later one item showed up and I bought it immediately.
But I did a big big mistake. I didn't check the lens mount. It's in Minolta mount while I use Canon DSLR. I thought that this Vivitar should be in EOS-friendly mount like Nikon, Pentax, etc. Big mistake.

Though I've converted 3 Minolta mount lens before but somehow I didn't have a heart to modify this one. It's in a very mint condition. So I searched any alternative way to use this lens, and got some suggestions in this thread :

http://forum.mflenses.com/vivitar-2x-macro-focusing-teleconverter-t40765,start,45.html

I tried the Rollei mount but it was too loose and unsecured. So I decided to sell this lens. I hope one of local Minolta users will be the new master of this lens Smile
But before that I wanted to try this lens using Minolta-EOS adapter without optic, so it's like a thin extension tube.
And here is the result Smile

note: this time I used Canon 60D, Standard picture style with default settings, JPEG, and handheld.

Mostly at f8.



100% crop





Cropped a bit before resized ...








PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Judging by the results, perhaps worth keeping solely as a macro lens?


PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

martyn_bannister wrote:
Judging by the results, perhaps worth keeping solely as a macro lens?


Thanks for the advice.
I've been thinking about it too Smile

One thing that a bit bother me is the lens is heavy and front heavy (a bit unbalanced on handling it).


PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I guess these mounts are troublesome for Canon users but I wonder how far can you focus by using a regular "no glass elements" adapter? I'm saying this because if you need a macro-dedicated lens you most certainly won't need infinity focus.

Love the water drops shot, so very sharp...


PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ChromaticAberration wrote:
I guess these mounts are troublesome for Canon users but I wonder how far can you focus by using a regular "no glass elements" adapter? I'm saying this because if you need a macro-dedicated lens you most certainly won't need infinity focus.

Love the water drops shot, so very sharp...


Thanks ChromaticAberration.

It's only about 1 meter max. So sadly I can not use it for portraiture (the reason I bought this lens in the first place).


PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 4:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

get Sony NEX bro Very Happy


PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

martyn_bannister wrote:
Judging by the results, perhaps worth keeping solely as a macro lens?


+1 ... I have a Tamron 52B that i use only for macro, too, because its performances at long distances are simply bad ...

nixland wrote:
So sadly I can not use it for portraiture (the reason I bought this lens in the first place).


Do you really want to upset the first woman you will picture Wink ? You know that with such kind of lens your pictures will show all the faults of the skin ...


PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

IAZA wrote:
get Sony NEX bro Very Happy


I am still in love with full frame right now, and can not go back to crop sensor yet ... haha Smile

Second reason is, I just managed to stop my LBA (lens buying addiction) and in the stage of evaluating current lenses and selling the lenses I don't use much or lenses which are not my favorite. If I buy NEX I am afraid the LBA will be on again and worst .... imagine Leica-M, Konica, etc. etc. ... delicious food for my LBA, bad food for my pocket Very Happy



indianadinos wrote:
martyn_bannister wrote:
Judging by the results, perhaps worth keeping solely as a macro lens?


+1 ... I have a Tamron 52B that i use only for macro, too, because its performances at long distances are simply bad ...

nixland wrote:
So sadly I can not use it for portraiture (the reason I bought this lens in the first place).


Do you really want to upset the first woman you will picture Wink ? You know that with such kind of lens your pictures will show all the faults of the skin ...


Hahaha Smile
Well, for common people shot I might not use this lens for portrait, but for model shot with glamour make-up the lens sharpness is needed Smile

By the way at first I thought that this lens could have dual role as Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO Lanthar, which is a macro lens but good lens too for portrait Smile


PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like the last B&W image. I think I have the same lens; Komine made? I have the Tamron 90 which is sharper wide open so I tend to use that more.


PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 11:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

martinsmith99 wrote:
I like the last B&W image. I think I have the same lens; Komine made? I have the Tamron 90 which is sharper wide open so I tend to use that more.


Thanks Martin.

The serial number is 37xxxxxx, so it's Tokina made.
I had the Tamron 90/2.5 too. I hope I can do a comparison test before I sell the Vivitar Smile