Vivitar 70-210 f/3.5 Series 1 - samples!!

I forgot to mention, it´s a MD lens and I used the generic 7000/9000 AF/MD adapter

I've got one in M42 mount, so works with a lensless adapter. Mine is also Series 1, mark 1, made by Kiron. The separate macro mode in this lens is really great, goes down to 1:2.2.

Here are a couple of pics I've taken with this lens on the A100 (full resolution available for most, click the magnifying glass above the image).

Here's also the "pepper scene" shot with this lens at about 135mm:

f/3.5


f/5.6


f/11


I posted the same scene shot with the CZJ Sonnar 135mm and the Soligor 135mm lenses earlier.

All in all, I think this is an outstanding lens if you can find the right version (made by Kiron, 67mm filter threads, f/3.5 constant aperture and serial number begins with 22). I still can't believe my luck in getting this lens practically for free, as it came with a camera body (which I was going to buy anyway) and a couple of other lenses for 35 EUR. The seller considered the Vivitar broken because it had oil on inner surfaces, but disassembly and cleaning was straightforward and easy. =)

Edited by Arkku - 04 August 2007 at 00:35

I have one too. It's a gem.

I also have the original sales receipt dated July 24, 1973 for $275.05 including case and $11.85 Ohio sales tax from Avon Studio and Supplies in Maple Heights, Ohio.   I have the original owner's manual, original screw-in front cap and rear caps, the leather hard case and the Vivitar 67mm UV-Haze filter. My lens appears to have been used very lightly and is well cared for. The glass is like new. There are no serial numbers on the lens. It says: "lens made in Japan __ patent pending __ M/SR" The zoom is very stiff. The resistance feels like a new hydraulic cylinder. The focus and aperture rings are very smooth. The case carrying strap must have annoyed the owner because the ends were snipped off at the case fittings.

Edit: I found the serial number at the front end of the lens, not near the mount as expected. It is 223023xx. So it was made by Kiron in the 2nd week of January, 1973 as lens number3xx of the series. One of the first batch of Series 1 lenses. The website refers to a start date of 1975 as the first Series 1. That is an error. I have the proof that they started in January, 1973 in my hands.

I am not sure about the meaning of "SR" in M/SR--? Minolta/Single Reflex maybe?

I searched for a few years before I finally found this one. Very high quality stuff, these old Series 1 lenses!

Edited by Shercando - 04 August 2007 at 00:55

One thing I particularly like about this lens is that while the bokeh is not as smooth or passive as on some lenses, I still find it very pleasing in the background (e.g. see the flower shots I linked to above)... at least as nice as the beercan. A lot of zooms have weird, distracting bokeh, which is an important reason why I generally use only primes.

Shercando, you say that yours has "original screw-in front cap". Mine cap is the same like the one in Ivan's link and does not screw as for 35-85/2.8.

Mine looks the same as above, but I have a push-on lens cap which reads "Vivitar Series 1".

Arkku wrote: Mine looks the same as above, but I have a push-on lens cap which reads "Vivitar Series 1".

I think the push-on may have been the original and the screw-on an optional cap or even possibly dealer supplied cap since the screw-on cap I have has no writing on the exterior. I believe the cap I have was always on the lens from day one too. It is such an odd size I rather doubt that many shops would have stocked them. My Vivitar Series 1, 28-300 has the same writing as well but is a outside pinch type as are the others in the photo. When I wrote that I meant that my lens was the same as the first on in the photo, not meaning the cap.

I should also note that mine is an MC mount, not M-42.



Edited by Shercando - 04 August 2007 at 22:34