Has anyone used a Vivitar 24mm f/2?

JonesLongShot wrote:

ProfHankD wrote:

Of course. I have the Kiron version, as was discussed here a year and a half ago and way back in 2017, here was my quick review on my A7RII, as opposed to on APS-C. I rate it an "A" for IQ on both APS-C and FF, although it doesn't play quite as well with a focal reducer on APS-C. I think MFT would be pushing it a bit too hard wide open...

It has some softness at f/2 (all old fast lenses are soft wide open, and this has the usual SA glow and lowish contrast), but it sharpens up nicely stopped down, and by f/2.8 it's doing better than most old 24mm do at f/4. The Kiron version does have notorious problems with oil on the iris blades and stuck-open aperture due to the spring stretching over time; my quick fix of shortening the spring has fixed mine since 2010. I paid $40 for my very clean copy in 2010, and I'd say it's worth more for a FF body against other current options, but I'd be hesitant to spend much over $100 for one with a working aperture.

BTW, there's also a Komine version which is significantly different.

Thanks for the information. It sounds like this might make a decent purchase but the question now is how to tell if it is a Kiron or a Komine? Maybe a internet search will give me that information.

I should be able to grab this one for less than $100 although I hate spending even that much on old Vivitars.

The serial number,

Beginning 22 = Kiron

Beginning 28 = Komine