- Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 in K mount -- one touch zoom
- Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 in K mount -- two touch zoom
- Viviar 70-150mm f/3.8 in M42 mount -- two touch zoom is my current one
left to rightVivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron --
two touch zoom in K | m42 mount
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine
It is relatively smaller and should not be considered as a big lens when compared to the DA* zoom or the Vivitar series 1 zoom. It covers a useful range for portrait and candid shots that require a longer reach. Combined with the 2x Kiron multiplier, you have a range of 70-150 in f/3.8 and 140 to 300mm with lost of 2 stops close to f/6.3 to f/7.1. I have not used the multiplier on this lens as I find the focal length 70-150mm really fit my needs as in DA* zoom. It is smaller and lighter than DA* making it an easy candidate to bring along.
I tried it out over the weekend with some candid shots in f/3.8 indoor, results are quite reasonable and when stopped down to f/5.6 and more, the lens is really sharp and the 1:4 close up in the 70mm is quite useful for flowers
1/60 sec, f/3.8, 150mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
1/50 sec, f/3.8, 150mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
1/40 sec, f/3.8, 150mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
1/50 sec, f/3.8, 150mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
1/50 sec, f/6.3, 70mm, iso 200, 0 Ev
1/40 sec, f/8.0, 70mm, iso 200, 0 Ev
1/50 sec, f/6.3, 70mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
1/50 sec, f/6.3, 70mm, iso 400, 0 Ev
Impressions & Notes
- Lens is relatively small with a good focal range from 70-150mm.
- With multiplier, it can go to 140 to 300mm
- Constant aperture in f/3.8 is quite useful
- Wide open aperture is a touch soft but which lens is NOT at wide aperture. With the candid test shots on my boys, I am very impressed already, more use will tell.
- Very sharp overall for this lens
- A great street performer that is not intimidating and heavy to bring as an alternative to bigger lens as in DA* 50-135mm.
- Close up focus happens in 70mm end and it is roughly 1:4
- Filter size is 52mm
- The built in hood is not nice but I find it too small to be reall useful
- Color tend to have a blue cold tone
- I like the two touch zoom design, as any focusing will less likely move the zoom position
- Very nice and decent lens to get on a budget
- Best strength in this lens is all the sharpness and smooth and quick focusing ring that is good with fast action shot. I would love to get back focus trap, I will experiment on slipping a piece of aluminum foil in between the K-mount and the lens rear to enable focus trap
- A value and inexpensive lens not to be missed
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2 comments:
Thank you for your write-up of this lens. I just sold a Pentax-A 28mm f2.8 in order to get a kit with the Pentax-M 28mm f3.5. (I would love to have the 8 element K version of the 28mm f3.5, but this will make me happy for now).
:)
Anyway, along with the Pentax-M is coming a K1000 with 50mm f2.0 Pentax-M and a Vivitar 70-150mm f3.8, (not sure which version). The owner also mentioned a Vivitar 2x teleconverter, but not sure which model. Was there a Kiron teleconverter made especially for this lens?
The Vivitar will have a serial number starting with 22 if it is manufactured by Kiron. The vivitar 2x will also share the serial number of 22 if it is made by Kiron.
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