Vivitar 100mm f2.8 :)

[Puljak]

If I'm right, and I believe I am, I've got myself a pretty good deal at fleebay and God knows I've wanted one of these for some time now

Vivitar 100mm f2.8 Macro

Vivitar 335 SLR (which of course I was not interested in, but comes with the package)
Vivitar Auto Thyristor 3700 flash

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110310400488&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=001

I believe this camera is a K mount, and I tried to close-inspect the picture of the lens and from what I was able to see, it has A contacts and that makes me very happy

From what I've read so far, this lens is close in performance to the famous Kiron/Vivitar/Lester troika. I can't wait to get it and try it.

Could anyone explain in which ways could this flash be used with/on my K10? Do I need a safe sync, a trigger, in which circumstances it would figher higher than 1/180, please give any details that might be of help.

Thanks

 

[viking79]

Looks like a good deal. That is probably virtually the same lens as the 105mm f/2.5 Series 1 Macro that has a "legendary" status (I wouldn't be surprised if it is the same lens). It does have serial number 22xxxxx which means it is Kiron (same maker as the 105mm series 1).
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28177041@N03/

 

[Puljak]

My point exactly, it should be the same. I guess the difference is the production date. These 100mm ones should be the version which preceded the 105mm f2.5 with a Series 1 label.

I'd really appreciate anybodies input on the best way of utilising the flash I bought. I was primarily interested in the lens so the flash came as an extra and I would love to put it to good use if possible. I did some research and it seems that it would be safe to use it on my K10d without a safe sync, but since I have absolutely no experience with external flashes I simply have no idea how that would work. In manual? Manually set the camera's ISO and Aperture values and adjust the flash accordingly? Could the flash work as a slave?

 

[steephill]

Assuming the flash has a safe trigger voltage level then you should be OK to use it in manual and auto mode. I would guess that it has a Pentax dedicated module fitted. Copy of manual available here
http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes_meters/vivitar_3700.pdf

--
Steve

http://www.pbase.com/steephill

 

[viking79]

Yeah, you use A or M mode on the flash (A tries to guess power using a sensor on the flash, M will be either full power or some flashes let you dial it back to 1/2, 1/4, etc). Metering might not be as accurate as P-TTL, but I find it tends to do very good. You shoot with the camera in any mode you want and otherwise works the same as the built in flash.

Flashes with the adjustable manual power setting are not as common and quite desirable when used with a remote trigger as you can get the flash power you want for consistent results.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28177041@N03/

 

[Puljak]

Thanks for the info...

 

[egarrard]

I have a smaller Vivitar 3500 and it's sync is fine. It also works the same as my 285HV. No manual adjustment level though, but everything else is the same. A good flash.
--
Ed Garrard
http://www.pbase.com/egarrard

 

[Yamin Tedja]

Hi, I was watching this auction 2 days ago and the price was still at $3 and I thought I can win this auction for less than $100 but during the last 12 hours of the auction the price went up dramatically, once the price went above $100 I don't really care about it anymore. I just found out you actually won the auctions, congratulations I hope you like the lens. I also got a good deal on ebay, I won a brand new tamron 90mm F/2.8 adaptall lens for $99.95 plus $9 shipping which I think is a good price for this lens. Here is the link to the auction

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=370109186483

I thought there will be a lot of people that are going after this lens but I was the first one to bid and I won, I think it is because the lens was put under lens hood category and nobody really watching. I think the quality of tamron 90mm is comparable to the vivitar 100mm f/2.8 so I guess I got a good deal too.

 

[Puljak]

Congrats

I have the previous version of Tamron, the 90mm f2.5 adaptall2, but I don't like it that much. The thing that bugged me most was that it does only 1:2 and I very much wanted a 1:1 lens, plus for some reason I have a problem with the adaptall thing, it sometimes keeps the blades closed after firing the shutter. I was thinking of getting one of those AF macro lenses, Sigma or Tamron, but could not help it when I saw this Vivitar

 

[Steven7]

I have the Vivitar 3700, cost $10 and works fine (and safely!) on the K10d. I use it with an Omnibounce diffuser (same model used for Vivitar 283 and 285)

Check this recent thread -

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=30006487

and

http://forums.dpreview.com/ ... ... readflat.asp?forum=1036&message=26647384

Steve

 

[lewtwo]

I have the same lens.
Serial number on the the one you referenced is 22703294.
Serial number on mine is 22709565.

The first two digits indicate the company that actually manufacured the lens:
22 indicates the manufacture is Kino (aka Kiron).
http://www.cameraquest.com/VivLensManuf.htm

I believe that the year is 1987 (see below).

It is a PK "A" mount with contacts and a lever for the aperature.

Trully excellent build quality with a built in lens hood (that part is plastic), 52mm filter threads. This is a 1:1 macro. From infinity back to min focus (about 5 inches) is almost two full revolutions.

This is in german (I have given up trying to figure it out) but you might want to take a look at this:



Every year at our companies anual christmas party I take pictures of the couples as they come in. I plan on using the Vivitar 100mm for that this year.

====================
Ref:

100mm f/2.8 M: A very fine lens. It's comparable to my great Konica Hexanon 135mm f/2.8 lens and I use them interchangeably.
http://cybernetdenis.net/vivitar.htm

After some research it is my impression that all of he following lenses are identical (to K105)
-- Kiron 105/2.8 Macro 1:1
-- Lester A Dine 105/2.8 dental macro
-- Vivitar 100/2.8 Macro (make sure serial starts with "22")
-- Vivitar 105/2.5 Series 1 Macro (make sure serial starts with "22")
http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00H1Fy

Sample picture
http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00GuGL

------------------------------
Informations regarding the 90mm-105mm Macros of Kino, Vivitar & Co.:

1) at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kiron-Klub/message/20810 Boggy stated the following:

• Vivitar 90mm 2.5 Series 1 was made by Tokina, followed by
• Vivitar 90mm 2.8 produced by Komine, followed by
• Vivitar 90mm 2.5 uprated version of #2, produced by Komine, followed by
• Vivitar 100mm 2.8 produced by Kino, modified version of the Kiron 105mm f/2.8 Macro, followed by
• Vivitar 105mm 2.5 Series 1 uprated version of the above, also produced by Kino

and that the Komine produced Vivitar 90/2.5 served as base model for the 1:1 derivates like Elicar, Rokunar and Soligor

additional info on later request: approx. production periods for these lenses

• Tokina made 90mm f/2.5 1976-78
• Komine made 90mm f/2.8 1977-79
• Komine made 90mm f/2.5 1980-83
• Kino made 100mm f/2.8 1985-87
• Kino made 105mm f/2.5 1987-9?

 

[Puljak]

Thanks a bunch to Steven7 and lewtwo for their posts. Both are more than helpful. The one about using the flash is simply perfect, just what I needed to know. Judging from the German review, it's nice to see that they regarded Vivitar 100mm f2.8 to be optically better than Kiron 105mm, while they thought Kiron was mechanically better, but I guess you figured out that by yourself

I tried to do a bit of translating through google translate, but it's a pain in the b*t. From what I did, they have very high opinion about all three lenses and it seems their conclusion is that the lens is a tad soft wide open, but razor sharp when closed down a bit. They find vignetting to be very low and distortion practically nonexistent. Color reproduction seems to be neutral while they found Kiron to be slightly on the warm side. That's what I managed to figure out and I don't speak German at all )))

Anyway, I can't way to get my hands on this one, and the flash of course

 

[Crimson Penguin]

Good deal indeed! I got one of them for $300 (Canadian) a couple years ago, with just lens caps, skylight, and case. It was probably in better condition (it seemed just like new - which is quite impressive now that I know it was made at least 21 years ago), but yours doesn't look like it's in bad condition - and you got the flash and camera with it!

Anyway, congratulations - it's a wonderful lens! I use it most of the time, and it's got me spoiled; I'm just not quite happy with the quality of anything else. Plus I love macro. All but one of these pictures were taken with it: http://www.happyspork.com/fig/ (the one exception was taken with a Pentax 50mm f2, and it's the one of an old silo in a field)

 

[Tom Maher2]

I think the Vivitar 105 f2.5 Series 1 Macro was made until 1993
--
My photo gallery http://web.mac.com/tmaher3

 

[henryimages]

Try this site:

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Brent

--

I take pictures.....from walls, galleries, offices, waiting rooms, dentist offices...and rarely return them!
HENRYIMAGES
My gallery: http://www.pbase.com/henryimages

 

[Crimson Penguin]

Right, but I've got the 100mm f2.8, and according to lewtwo's post:

• Tokina made 90mm f/2.5 1976-78
• Komine made 90mm f/2.8 1977-79
• Komine made 90mm f/2.5 1980-83
• Kino made 100mm f/2.8 1985-87
• Kino made 105mm f/2.5 1987-9?

I think the Vivitar 105 f2.5 Series 1 Macro was made until 1993
--
My photo gallery http://web.mac.com/tmaher3

--
Nature (mostly) photography:
http://www.happyspork.com/

 

[tumbleguts]

Wow. lewtwo that is a fine bit of research there. Well done.
I too spent some time lingering around the Yahoo Kiron Klub forum.
They like to call the Kiron macro the "wonderlens"

My understanding is that the following are exactly the same lens:
---------------------------------------------------
1. Vivitar Series 1 105mm f2.5 (serial starts with "22")
2. Kiron 105mm f2.8
3. Lester Dine 105mm f2.8
4. Vivitar 100mm f2.8 macro (serial starts with "22")

Same optical formula: (6 elements, 6 groups)
Same angle: 23.3 degrees
Same aperture size (f2.5 to f32)
Same minimum focusing distance: 0.347m (from sensor)
Same filter size: 52mm
Same everything.
There are variations in hoods, grips, and markings.
(Even aperture markings.)
But other than that, they are all meant to be the same.

All manufactured by Kino Precision Industries (Japan).
Kino made some notable lenses under their own brand name - Kiron.

I was informed that the difference in aperture sizes and focal lengths relates more to marketing and trends of the day. (Also the manufacturer wishing to pass off the same design as a new lens - especially if it was being produced for a different company brand.) F2.8 was a more traditional aperture size when the original Kiron was released. Aperture sizes were only ever approximations. If my information is correct - they are all f2.5. (They may all be a little wider... ie - f2.4).

The only piece of conflicting information I have is that :

Vivitar stole the lens design for the Kiron macro and had Komine manufacture the later made 105mm Series 1 variations. (Source: Kiron Kid). These no doubt would have serial numbers starting with 28 (Komine) rather than 22 (Kino). It's hard to know what exactly happened here - As Vivitar and Kino probably didn't have the best working relationship in later years. In fact, supposedly the reason the Kiron brand went under - is that Vivitar had Kino's US distribution rights revoked - because the Kiron lens designs were too similar to the the lenses Vivitar had originally commissioned to them to build.

---------------------------------------------------
The earlier Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 is a different design.
(Requires adaptor to go to 1:1)
Optical formula supposedly designed by NASA.

Tokina bought the rights to this design producing their own (& famous) 90mm f2.5 macro.
These two share exactly the same optical design.

---------------------------------------------------
The Vivitar 90mm f2.8 / f2.5 (Komine made) is another design again.
These are the same as the Elicar / Soligor / etc derivatives.

Vivitar introduced a family of 3 macros:
55mm f2.8 (1:1),
90mm f2.8 (1:1),
and 135mm F2.8 (1:2).

All three shared very similar mechanics (all take 62mm filter), and were made by Komine.
These are plain Vivitars, not "Series 1". All have brushed metal finish.

 

[Crimson Penguin]

Wow, thanks for all that info!

--
Nature (mostly) photography:
http://www.happyspork.com/

 

[abaris]

tumbleguts wrote:
.
.
.
.

The only piece of conflicting information I have is that :

Vivitar stole the lens design for the Kiron macro and had Komine manufacture the later made 105mm Series 1 variations. (Source: Kiron Kid).

Just for documentation purposes, This lens as well as the 90mm f2.5 are covered by patents issued to Vivitar (Ponder and Best).

That's all I wanted to point out.

 

[KentG]

That is correct, they were all Vivitar designs. Vivitar had a wonderful optical design team but no production facility. So they designed the lenses and then made production deals with whatever maker they chose. In some cases there were expiration dates for exclusivity and in others they were allowed to market and sell the lenses themselves outside the Vivitar area of North America. In the case of Kiron one of the companies they used to market their own versions imported some in the US and that as I understand it is the real reason that the Vivitar-Kiron relationship went sour.
Kent Gittings