A few more with Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 close focusing

[Deepak Kaw]

A few more photographs clicked with this lens:

View: original size

View: original size

View: original size

View: original size

View: original size

View: original size

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http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/profile/38043/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/49294808@N05/

 

[Letsgokoulos]

Nice pictures ! This lens is a real pleasure to use, whether for close-up work or regular 135mm shooting. I like it for portraits too...

Unfortunately it really starts being expensive and difficult to find.

We already had a thread on this very same subject around 2 years ago, check this link !

Marc

 

[Hope1943]

Inspired by you, I finally decided to take a few with my Vivitar 135mm Close Focus lens on one of my m4/3 cameras while walking the dog. Nothing great, by any means - all hand held, but still a very nice lens.













Peace.

John

 

[Deepak Kaw]

Thank you. I find this lens works wonderfully for portraits and close ups both. Still have to try some landscapes with it

 

[Deepak Kaw]

Enjoy using the lens

 

[QuietOC]

I just bought one of these for $10 at my local camera store. The 1:2 capability is neat. I made the mistake of comparing it to my little Minolta AF 135mm. The Minolta is much sharper everywhere has internal focus and works fine with extension tubes. The Minolta did cost quite a bit more.

 

[Letsgokoulos]

I just bought one of these for $10 at my local camera store. The 1:2 capability is neat. I made the mistake of comparing it to my little Minolta AF 135mm. The Minolta is much sharper everywhere has internal focus and works fine with extension tubes. The Minolta did cost quite a bit more.

I am quite amazed, both by the price you purchased the lens at and by your comment...

I like the AF 135mm, but I do not think it is so much sharper than the Vivitar 135mm CF. I believe I have excellent copies of both lenses, and to me their sharpness is quite identical. The difference for me is that one lens is AF and that the other has better close-up capabilities. Of course, the Vivitar is slightly heavier...

Marc

 

[QuietOC]

I don't know. This is my second AF 135mm F2.8, and it is sharper than my first one. The Vivitar looks brand new. I was thinking I got a steal for it. They had a couple of smaller 135mm's. I also bought a Vivitar Series 1 70-210 F3.5 (v2) they had for $10, and a Vivitar 35mm F2.8 also for $10. The later seems to be the best lens of the 3. The zoom has some crazy attenuation of blue. Otherwise it is decent, but nowhere near as good as my Minolta AF 70-210mm F4.

Maybe I'll take the 135mm apart. It is not horrible--fairly sharp in the center with some moderate focus field curvature. I might think it was fine if I didn't compare it.

 

[PC UK]

The Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 can focus as close as 60cm - fantastic for a 135mm lens.

But today I got an alternative 135mm F2.8 that focusses nearly as well - to 70cm.

It is sold as a UNITOR 135mm macro F2.8; 52mm filter and weights 450g.

Mine is in OM mount, has a 4/4 element design, just like the Vivitar/Komine - but doesn't need to extend anything like as much as the komine design, or need a 62mm filter size. This is achieved using a complex design internal second lens element.

IQ and build is excellent, with good colour, resolution and with low distortion and CA. It is a good looking and handling lens - in that typical 1980s pre-plastic style. Unitor seems to be a brand name that was used for Sankor Lenses in the 1960s-70s - which were excellent; however the look of this is very different from those lenses; from its style, rubber focus ring and finish this looks to be a later 1980/90s design - so it could be another make that was marketed as "Unitor" . One suggestion is that it was a resurrected brand name used by a chain of photo-retailers in the UK in the 1908s-90s.

Makinon made a much bigger and heavier 135mm F2.8 "macro" that used as second focus ring at the front of the lens to go closer. It was sold under a variety of brand names including Hanimex. I own that as well. That has a 55mm thread and is nowhere near as good for IQ as this lens when wide open. It however makes a great "soft focus" portrait lens on full frame - at a fraction of the price of the Nikon soft focus 135mm.

Given that the Vivitar/Komine 135mm F2.8 close-focus is now so sought after and has become very expensive on auction sites - can I persuade the usual helpful and knowledgable readership at DP review to....

• suggest any more alternative legacy close focus or macro 135mm lenses to search out?
• make any helpful suggestions as to the real origin of my "Unitor" lens?

 

[filmluvr]

Inspired by you, I finally decided to take a few with my Vivitar 135mm Close Focus lens on one of my m4/3 cameras while walking the dog. Nothing great, by any means - all hand held, but still a very nice lens.







Peace.

John

Beautiful work, John! I don't use adapted lenses for closeup work, but your images show it can be done!

Jack

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http://jackandkelly.zenfolio.com/