I would just pick up an SMC Pentax A 28mm f/2.8 for that price. Otherwise, if you are looking for a good deal pick up an M or older 28mm f/2.8 or f/3.5.
Eric
Sony a7R Samsung NX1 Samsung NX 30mm F2 Pancake Samsung NX 85mm F1.4 ED SSA Samsung NX 60mm F2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA +5 more
UtahManSir • Veteran Member • Posts: 4,659
Re: Opinion on Vivitar Auto 28mm F2.5 please.
In reply to Benoz • Dec 28, 2012
Benoz wrote:I would appreciate your opinion on a Vivitar (Kiron) Auto 28mm F2.5 M42 screw mount WA lens.
The M42 does not come with the lens which is priced at $100.
Has anyone had experience with this lens? Is it worth buying it at that price?
Thank you in advance.
Ben
Are you sure it is the Kiron Version? I have a Vivitar 28mm f2.5 that was made by Tokina that has a TX mount to M42 adapter on it that is stellar wide open. If the filter diameter is 62mm or 67mm it is Kiron, if it is 58mm it is made by Tokina.
I paid $15 for mine and it is worth $100 as far as I am concerned. I have no experience with the Kiron version.
Here are a few shots with mine: //LloydShell.zenfolio.com/p920076858
Lloyd
awaldram • Forum Pro • Posts: 13,271
Re: Opinion on Vivitar Auto 28mm F2.5 please.
In reply to Benoz • Dec 28, 2012
Imo it worth about a tenner ($16)
but bear in mind lens have a higher value in the UK compared to the US
I might stretch to $30 if it was mint .
If your a collector of rareish glass then it quite a good price @$100 but as an everyday optical tool no.
Bear in mind Kiron though one of the better label makers were not good enough to forge a name for themselves as a lens maker so you can take the IQ the lens is capable of from that.
The're pretty much on a par with Tokina another manufacturer unable to break into mainstream due to inferior products affecting their reputation.
Pentax K-x Pentax Q Olympus PEN E-PM2 Pentax Q7 Pentax K-3 +17 more
OP Benoz • Veteran Member • Posts: 6,887
Re: Opinion on Vivitar Auto 28mm F2.5 please.
UtahManSir wrote:Benoz wrote:I would appreciate your opinion on a Vivitar (Kiron) Auto 28mm F2.5 M42 screw mount WA lens.
The M42 does not come with the lens which is priced at $100.
Has anyone had experience with this lens? Is it worth buying it at that price?
Thank you in advance.
BenAre you sure it is the Kiron Version? I have a Vivitar 28mm f2.5 that was made by Tokina that has a TX mount to M42 adapter on it that is stellar wide open. If the filter diameter is 62mm or 67mm it is Kiron, if it is 58mm it is made by Tokina.
I paid $15 for mine and it is worth $100 as far as I am concerned. I have no experience with the Kiron version.
Here are a few shots with mine: //LloydShell.zenfolio.com/p920076858
Lloyd
Thank you Lloyd,
it is a Kiron version and this is the descriptionit comes with:
"Auto Vivitar 28mm F2.5 Wide Angle Lens in Pentax M42 Screw Mount. Vivitar lenses with the SN# starting with "22xxxxxxx" are generally known to be made by Kiron, a highly respected lens maker which produces some of the sharpest lenses."
It is 67mm filter
I will follow the add and if they reduce the price I might try it before I buy it. The only thing is I would have to buy an adapter first!
Ben
Pentax MX-1 Ricoh GR III Pentax K-5 IIs Pentax KP Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4 +8 more
OP Benoz • Veteran Member • Posts: 6,887
Thank you guys...
In reply to Benoz • Dec 29, 2012
Thanks for your input...always helpful as usual.
I take the opportunity to wish you all an enjoyable New Year!
Cheers
Ben
Pentax MX-1 Ricoh GR III Pentax K-5 IIs Pentax KP Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4 +8 more
EArenz • Contributing Member • Posts: 608
Re: Thank you guys...
In reply to Benoz • Dec 29, 2012
That is a Kiron made lens and received some great test reports in the day. You can get it for well under $100 now though. I bought one new in the early 70s because of the glowing test reports...
Ed
Pentax K-01 Pentax K-5 II Pentax smc DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED Pentax smc DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] DC WR Pentax smc DA 40mm F2.8 XS Lens +17 more
OP Benoz • Veteran Member • Posts: 6,887
Re: Thank you guys...
In reply to EArenz • Dec 29, 2012
EArenz wrote:That is a Kiron made lens and received some great test reports in the day. You can get it for well under $100 now though. I bought one new in the early 70s because of the glowing test reports...
Ed
Thanks Ed,
wish I had an adapter to test it before buying and give an offer!
Pentax MX-1 Ricoh GR III Pentax K-5 IIs Pentax KP Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4 +8 more
afterswish1 • Contributing Member • Posts: 743
Re: Thank you guys...
In reply to Benoz • Dec 31, 2012
I think the fact that the f2.0 "MC Close focus wide-angle" version is reputed to be excellent has inflated the cost of all of these Vivitar 28mm lenses. That and perhaps the fact that the price of many reasonable old manual lenses is generally increasing. If you have a look on Ebay you'll see what I mean.
If you do a google search for 'Great Vivitar 28mm Bestiary' and you'll find a site dedicated to this family of lenses. I think my copy is the K04 from the bestiary. It's a little tricky to do a reliable comparison but fwiw I think my copy is slightly sharper than say the SMC 40mm XS, and if I remember correctly handily beats the WR 18-55 at 28mm. Obviously loses out significantly on the convenience factor though.
-- hide signature --
Beauty and folly are old companions.
BobORama • Senior Member • Posts: 2,867
Re: Opinion on Vivitar Auto 28mm F2.5 please.
In reply to Benoz • Dec 31, 2012
Benoz wrote:I would appreciate your opinion on a Vivitar (Kiron) Auto 28mm F2.5 M42 screw mount WA lens.
The M42 does not come with the lens which is priced at $100.
Its a good lens. I have one, serial number is 22... so is the Kiron version? It came in a box lot, so for "free" its OK. I would not spend more than $35 on it, net. For $100, it should come bundled with a bottle of scotch, like Laphroaig 18.
The issue is that its not tremendously faster / better than the 18-55 kit. Not weather sealed. No AF. No lens hood, perhap that's just me.
The optical performance is comparable to the 18-55 when you enable lens correction in terms of CA on the K-5. Its not that the kit lens is much worse or better, but rather I can get "good enough" without a lens swap.
Pentax K-5 Pentax K-1 Sigma 10mm F2.8 EX DC HSM Diagonal Fisheye Pentax smc DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR Samyang 14mm F2.8 ED AS IF UMC +9 more
EArenz • Contributing Member • Posts: 608
Re: Opinion on Vivitar Auto 28mm F2.5 please.
In reply to BobORama • Dec 31, 2012
BobORama wrote:Benoz wrote: I would appreciate your opinion on a Vivitar (Kiron) Auto 28mm F2.5 M42 screw mount WA lens.Its a good lens. I have one, serial number is 22... so is the Kiron version? It came in a box lot, so for "free" its OK. I would not spend more than $35 on it, net. For $100, it should come bundled with a bottle of scotch, like Laphroaig 18.
Yep, Kiron made. And you do like the peaty single malts I see...
Ed
Pentax K-01 Pentax K-5 II Pentax smc DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED Pentax smc DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] DC WR Pentax smc DA 40mm F2.8 XS Lens +17 more
KentG • Veteran Member • Posts: 4,842
Re: Opinion on Vivitar Auto 28mm F2.5 please.
In reply to awaldram • Jan 1, 2013
Not sure what you mean by the last comment. Tokina is the only 3rd party lens maker to get a lens into Photodo top 10 of all time MTF50 rating. Neither Sigma or Tamron managed to do that. Tokina has made a lot of lenses for others (like Kiron). Tokina has built most of the big pro tele lenses for Nikon for decades. But Tokina is primarliy a glass foundry. Their lens business is about as big in comparison as Sigma's camera business is to Sigma's lens business. Unfortunately for us Tokina has a production rule that they will not build a lens in a mount that will not sell a million copies. So we can't get a Tokina AT-X 11-16/2.8, among others.
Kent Gittings
Pentax K-3 II Pentax K-1 Canon EOS 80D Pentax smc DA 16-45mm F4 ED AL Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM +7 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads
You may also like
Latest sample galleries
Latest in-depth reviews
The Fujifilm X100VI is the sixth iteration of Fujifilm's classically-styled large sensor compact. A 40MP X-Trans sensor, in-body stabilization and 6.2K video are among the updates.
The Nikon Zf is a 24MP full-frame mirrorless camera with classic looks that brings significant improvements to Nikon's mid-price cameras. We just shot a sample reel to get a better feel for its video features and have added our impressions to the review.
This $250 electronic lens adapter is perfect for Nikon Z-mount curious Sony shooters — shhh, we won’t tell anyone.
Sony updates the ZV-1, giving the vlog-centric compact camera a 18-50mm equivalent F1.8-4.0 lens that's now wide enough for less cramped selfie mode videos.
OM Digital Solutions has updated its flagship high speed camera just two years after launch. The latest version includes more memory and some performance and handling tweaks.
Latest buying guides
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
'What's the best mirrorless camera?' We're glad you asked.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.