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I'm assuming it's a Kino made Vivitar?
Posted 49 months ago.
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Sorry there screaminscott: I do not think this lens belong to the series 1. The serial indicates it's made by Komine and this is supported by the article at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivitar
This lens was also produced later under the "Elicar" brand I think.
I'll try to do a decent picture of it later tonight. I'll keep you posted.
Originally posted 49 months ago.
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nikonorse edited this topic 49 months ago.
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That's a real nice looking lens....Shame all of our used lenses don't come to us in that shape...
Posted 49 months ago.
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These Komine consumer grades are a really super value. They're getting a little more costly as people learn about them, but they still are a bargain compared to some of the other units I've seen or had. I didn't get a chance to shoot the Series 1 Kiron I had for any length of time (I am truly regretting having sold that lens), but the testing I did produced images of about the same IQ and saturation as this consumer grade. The Kiron was built like a damn tank compared to one of these Komines but the pictures are in the same range from either lens.
Scott, this is the same design as the 135mm we were chatting about a short while ago, isn't it?....
Heres the 90 mm and you can hardly tell it from the 55mm or the 135mm...
Originally posted 49 months ago.
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RadioFreeCalifornia (a group admin) edited this topic 49 months ago.
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@nikonorse
Looking forward to your excellent work with Vivitar 55//2.8 Macro.
Can't seem to find too much info regarding this lens.
I searched online, but could find one for sale.
Where can I find one used?
Posted 49 months ago.
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These lenses are not very "usual" but not "unusual" either on the second hand market. After I bid on mine at ebay I've seen several for sale in the US and at prices way under 100$. But prices vary a lot.
I've read that these lenses - both the 55mm and 90mm were not "cheap" when they came on to the market in the late 70's early 80's. I've seen one post suggesting that the retail price was about $265 back then. They were clearly competing with the nikkors but also other systems and other brand lenses. These Vivitars can be found on Canon, Pentax etc.
I usually scout for a long time before I get a lens ... this was more of a Vivitar impuls covered with guilt because not getting a 70-210 sugested by RFC.
Originally posted 49 months ago.
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nikonorse edited this topic 49 months ago.
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RFC,
The design is the same between the 55/90/135 & all 3 are great performers
Posted 49 months ago.
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Look at that little beauty.... Thanks Scott..
These were already hard to get, now their going to disappear all together...
www.flickr.com/photos/79953333@N00/2387861127/
www.flickr.com/photos/79953333@N00/1427768552/
www.flickr.com/photos/79953333@N00/1406559817/
www.flickr.com/photos/79953333@N00/1395729152/
Originally posted 49 months ago.
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RadioFreeCalifornia (a group admin) edited this topic 49 months ago.
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My friend recently purchased Vivitar 55mm 2.8 1:1 and I got my Nikon Nikkor 55mm 3.5 Micro few days ago. I could not resist to compare side by side personally. Please note, my comparison maybe biased and objective.
Comparison parameters: Handheld, ISO 200, White Balance Auto, Tv=~1/800, Av= 5.6, Camera =d40, Format=Large Jpeg
Color rendition: Nikkor 55mm f/3.5
Sharpness: Same from what I can see through naked eyes
Usability: Vivitar 55mm 2.8 as 1 stop faster than Nikkor 55mm 3.5 and 1:1 without extention ring. However, please note, Nikkor 55mm 3.5's M2 extension ring can be used on any other F mount lens.
Price: Nikkor 55mm f/3.5 with M2 extension ring for $57 bargain that looks like new. Vivitar 55mm 2.8 usually goes for $80+ on eBay
Please see examples of Nikkor 55mm 3.5 followed by Vivitar 55mm 1:1 2.8 Macro lens
Originally posted 48 months ago.
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martyoh edited this topic 48 months ago.
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I bought a Vivitar 55mm f/2.8 Auto Macro a few months ago from a friend of mine and I began to love it. The lens is very sharp and can go 1:1 reproduction ratio without needing any accessories. Here are some of my shots using this lens (images are scanned negatives since I am using 35mm film):
www.flickr.com/photos/25031245@N07/3021722776/
www.flickr.com/photos/25031245@N07/3022001448/
www.flickr.com/photos/25031245@N07/3020930403/
www.flickr.com/photos/25031245@N07/3020929365/
Posted 43 months ago.
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I have though about this lens a few time. The lens extension to get to 1:! is absolutely crazy. I would assume that from Infinity to 1:1 is something like 2-3 fulls turns of the focusing ring?
Posted 43 months ago.
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Its 2 full turns on my 90mm Komine and 1 3/4 turns on the Kiron. Macro lenses don't throw like zooms, telephotos or standard primes.
Posted 43 months ago.
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I just got a version of this lens in Switzerland. It was branded "Admiral auto macro f=55mm 1:3". Its identical except for the color of the letters. The construction is beautifully solid, only metal with a rubber focus grip. The focus throw is about 1.9 turns.
It's significantly heavier than the 55mm micro nikkor 2.8(((EDIT: correct that, its roughly the same weight actually))). However it goes to 1:1 macro focus without any accessories and seems to get better exposure than my Micro Nikkor.
The sharpness seems higher than the resolution of my sensor.
After reading this thread, I decided to bid. I paid 30 CHF (~37 USD), I was the only bidder.
A definite recommendation to anyone looking for a manual focus macro lens.
Originally posted 9 months ago.
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Geochron edited this topic 9 months ago.
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Hmmm...never heard of Admiral before. Without looking too closely it looks exactly the same as one of the Panagor incarnations.
Posted 9 months ago.
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