Hin's Photo Corner

I find the lens a bit too heavy to carry around in hiking purpose. It is a long lens and I feel better balanced when I have it mounted on K20D. The lens does well for me in sharpness and bokeh. The PF/CA is one thing that I still find occasionally in shooting. I recently used it with K-x in weekend hiking trip. I especially like the contrast and bokeh in the close up at the long end in 210mm.






And in the last fall, I used it with Pentax K20D for some fall pictures while visiting Mountain View Shoreline Park.






Related:

• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 19AH Initial Tests
• Comparing Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm
  
• Tamron SP 80-200mm f/2.8 adaptall-2 30A
  
• Tamron SP adaptall-2 p/ka adapter
• Tamron adaptall-2 articles
  
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I got this lens in a package of used Ricoh xr-p body. It is in Ricoh R/K mount that works in (P) programmed mode in Ricoh xr series of camera. It has the notorious Ricoh pin that can jam a digital Pentax bodies. Though the Ricoh pin is retractable, it does stick out too much and will jam onto the AF/MF connector on the Pentax bodies. It will work like a K mount lens on a non-AF Pentax film bodies.

It is quite easy to remove the pin and the zoom lens will just work like a regular manual K mount lens. I use it in M mode and do stop-down metering with the green button on K20D. In Pentax K-x body in M mode, (+/-) Av button acts like the green button with a easier access location.

The lens looks almost identical to the Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 by Tokina, the version 2 in the first three versions recommended by Mark Roberts. The filter size 62mm, the lens barrel, and the weight looks like the same lens to me



I test it out with Pentax K-x and performance closely resembles what I like about the Tokina Series 1 zoom.










Impressions & Notes

• It is quite good in sharpness
• Constant f/3.5 throughout the zoom
• Contrast can be better if a hood is added
• Close up is about 1:4 but I have not confirmed
• No zoom creep, 1-touch zoom, 62mm filter size, zoom quite easy to handle, good for MF
• Lens is small and lightweight as compared to v1 and v3 of Vivitar Series 1 zooms made by Kiron and Komine
• Good control of CA/PF in short experience with the zoom
  

Related:

• Access P-MC 35-70mm f/2.5-3.5 in R/K mount
  
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 by Tokina
• Ricoh P pin and R/K mount
• Comparing Vivitar Series 1 zooms
• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 19AH
• Pentax K-x and M42 lenses
• Pentax K-x White
  
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I am in the process of upgrading my 70-210mm zoom to an AF one. I took out my favorite Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 19AH zoom in the weekend with my boys in Gilroy Garden. Thanks to my good friend for the special Back to School coupon. We enjoyed the trip with a great discount for $10 per person. It is a great treat for my boys.

I had two copies of the Tamron Adaptall-2 P/KA Adapter and the same mishap of missing apertures come back again in the shooting. I thought I fixed it last time with scraping the connectors. But the problems comes and go in Av aperture mode. With a wiggle, sometime the f/stop come back to display. Whenever I get a problem with loose connection, I get F-- in the display whereas the aperture information is actually recorded with the picture. Unlike my previous adapter, my new adapter has no problems going to f/3.5 for the zoom. I need to sand off the contacts on my new adapter and see if the problem goes away.

I told others about this manual focus zoom. In my opinion, it easily beats all the first three versions of Vivitar Series 1 Zoom 70-210mm that I have tried. In terms of sharpness and ease of focusing, this is the best zoom that I have used. It may take some time to get used to. I like the focusing ring design with long focus throw and smooth and quick focusing with precision. And best of all, there isn't any zoom creeping that happens with the Tamron zoom as compared to version 1 and version 3 of the Vivitar Series 1 zoom.







Impressions & Notes

• This lens grows on me. The more that I use it, the more I like it over the Vivitar Series 1 zoom.
• It is not an easy lens to use due to its longer length. Weight is very similar to the Vivitar Series 1 zoom.
• Sharpness is the best in this zoom along with superb focusing and zoom ring. I rate this zoom with the best manual focusing ring that I have used.
• It engages you in precision focusing while you can zoom in and out without loosing your focus point. The lens has a CF which stands for continued focusing but I am not sure if that is what I refer to.
• I find minor PF/CA but I can't tell if is better than the Komine Vivitar Series 1
• The close up is at 1:2.6 and I favor my positive experience with Vivitar Series 1.
• Color and contrast are more vivid and better in this zoom than the Vivitar Series 1 zoom

Related:

• All adaptall-2 related articles
• Tamron SP 80-200mm f/2.8 adaptall-2 (30A)
• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 19AH Initial Test Shots
• Tamron 75-250mm f/3.8-4.5 adaptall-2 104A
  
• Tamron Adaptall-2 P/KA Adapter
• Compare Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm first three versions
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine with 'A'
• Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron with 2x doubler
  
• Pentax DA 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6
• Tamron 70-300mm Di LD Macro
• Tokina AT-X SD 80-200mm f/2.8 with 'A'
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

According to adaptall-2 site,

Tamron SP Adaptall-2 70-210mm F/3.5 Model 19AH

Tamron 19AH lens is better in performance than the Vivitar Series 1 Comparison . And I tested a used copy of this legendary lens on the adaptall world this weekend. It is quite a good zoom. Though the weight is about the same as the Komine copy v3 in Vivitar Series 1, the length is longer making it harder to handle. The battery grip does help a bit in the balance.


Test shots

I used to rely on my Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 Komine as my go-to zoom in that range, now I am not sure as I find great competition between the two. Close up in 1:2.6 in 210mm end is not as good and easy when I tried it first time as the Vivitar, but the portraits and candid street shots give good color and offer quite a lot of details for a zoom. Though it is a one-touch zoom design, it offer less zoom creep than the Vivitar. Focusing ring is top notch for manual focusing in both the Tamron and the Vivitar, and I can't tell which one is better. As for handling, the Vivitar is easier as it is shorter and less bulky. The Tamron is about similar weight and about 1.5 inches longer. It has a unique design in the zoom ring that doubles up as a lens hood. Will document more with product shots next.


Impressions & Notes

• I favor this zoom over any of the first three versions of Vivitar Series 1 zoom
• It is harder to handle this lens due to its size
• Zoom extends from 70mm to 210mm whereas the Vivitar zoom goes in reverse going from 210mm to 70mm
• 1:2.6 close up is at 210mm. It is harder to do close up as compared to Vivitar Series 1 zoom as the lens extend to the far end.
  
• Sharpness is great on this zoom. Many test shots in f/4.0 have good sharpness
  
• Both contrast and color are extraordinary when compared to my experience with Vivitar Series 1 zoom
• PF/CA is found moderate. I was expecting to find much less CA/PF in this zoom but pixel peeping reveal the presence and hinting of moderate amount PF. My impressions on PF on this zoom is better than Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine.
• Continuous Focusing CF is a feature in this zoom where by turning focusing ring to minimum focusing distance, the zoom will move towards the 210mm zoom positive to achieve 1:2.6 ratio.
• When extended to 210mm, the zoom seems like 2 inch longer than the Vivitar Series 1 from Komine
• Unlike Vivitar Series 1, there is no zoom creep. The focusing ring is top-notch for manual focusing, the best in a zoom that I have used -- long throw, precise, quick zooming and focusing, and no zoom creep
  

Related:

• Hiking with Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
  
• All adaptall-2 related articles
• Tamron SP 80-200mm f/2.8 adaptall-2 (30A)
• Tamron SP Adaptall-2 70-210mm F/3.5 Model 19AH -- official adaptall-2 site
• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 in Gilory Garden
  
• Vivitar Series 1 Comparison -- Hin's Tech Corner
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 Komine
• Tamron SP 90mm f/2.5 1:2 macro adaptall-2 52BB
• Tamron SP 28-135mm f/4.0-4.5 Adaptall
• Tamron Adaptall-2 P/KA Adapter
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

v1 from Kiron

• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5, v1 from Kiron
  
• serial number starts with 22
• best in color and contrast
• bokeh is very nice, next to Komin and better than Tokina
  
• heaviest unfortunately, it is actually not much heavier than Komine copy, but it is bulkier
  
• best build quality in construction
• very inexpensive to get
• sharpness square evenly with the Komine copy. But I do prefer the Tokina on sharpness when stopped down
• close up is at 1:2.2 and I think the weight and the bigger size in barrel may hinder the usefulness in close up

v2 from Tokina

• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5, v2 from Tokina
• serial number starts with 37
• best in sharpness when stopped down to f/5.6 and smaller
  
• lightest of the three and much usable in walk around
• does quite poorly in close up with magnification at 1:4, I see ghosting in close up
• color and contrast are reasonable, but I like the Kiron and Komine copies better for color, contrast and saturation
• best in focusing ring, maybe my copy with Tokina is newer than the other, the focusing ring in my tokina copy is the best among the three versions that I have tried.
• very inexpensive to get, a less competed model that should go well in terms of cost and value
  

v3 from Komine

• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine
  
• serial number starts with 28
• the only version among the three that has 'A' settings
• weight is middle tier in 860g in between 710g Tokina and the 879g Kiron
• perhaps the barrel are not as big, I feel similar handling to the Tokina
• close up is found quite decent at 1:2.5
• I still prefer the color and contrast from Kiron but I will give the Komine slightly better than Tokina
• sharpness is middle as 2nd runner after Tokina
• Bokeh is best among the three versions, very close with Kiron copy
• Some moderate Purple Fringe noted in test shots,
  
• best overall due to the 'A' setting, faster speed in f/2.8 in the shorter end.
• cost more than twice of v1 and v2
  

Related:

• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 from Kiron (v1)
  
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 from Tokina (v2)
  
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 from Komine (v3)
• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (19AH)
• Tokina AT-X 80-200mm SD f/2.8
• All adaptall-2 related articles
• Tamron SP 80-200mm f/2.8 adaptall-2 (30A)
• Hin's Camera Gear

After trying out the first two versions of Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm zooms recommended by Mark Robert, I found a good copy of the 3rd version made by Komine. The komine copy of the vivitar zoom looks so much like the Tokina copy. In appearance, v2 from Tokina and v3 from Komine almost look identical, but there is the red line in lens' front distinguishing it from v1 and v2. I will have a difficult time to decide which one to keep. The Komine copy has the best advantage with 'A' settings and the f/2.8 in the 70mm and it has macro at 1:2.5 magnification ratio.

Test Pictures:




Impressions & Notes:

The komine v3 copy does much better in close up as I see a lot of ghosting in the 1:4 close up with the Tokina, something noticed by others too when I discussed the lens in forum. I should look for a lens hood for the Series 1 as I do have run into glare in the late afternoon washing out some color in the shots.

• serial number starts with 28
• the only version among the three that has 'A' settings
• weight is middle tier in 860g in between 710g Tokina and the 879g Kiron
• perhaps the barrel are not as big, I feel similar handling to the Tokina
• close up is found pretty decent at 1:2.5
• I still prefer the color and contrast from Kiron but I will give the Komine slightly better than Tokina
• sharpness is middle as 2nd runner after Tokina
• best overall due to the 'A' setting, faster speed in f/2.8 in the shorter end.
• cost more than twice of v1 and v2, recent sale goes about $160 to $180 in both ebay and Marketplace.
• More frequent use of the zoom has shown CA in shots with high contrast area. Not as severe as shown in Tamron 70-300mm Di LD but noticeable.
  

Related:

• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5, v1 from Kiron (v1)
  
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5, v2 from Tokina (v2)
  
• Comparing Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm zooms
• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (19AH)
• Tokina AT-X 80-200mm SD f/2.8
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I had few test shots with Vivitar "Series1" 70-210 f/3.5 that I had a hard time selling in a forum marketplace. I finally managed to sell it for a meager $63.00 to another forum member who had enjoyed this fine lens before. I prefer much lighter gear and this lens is the heaviest that I have handled but the color, contrast, sharpness is the best 70-210 that I have handled. According to this site Vivitar 70-210 Series 1 Macro Zooms - Mark Roberts Photography the "Series 1" version I have is the version 1 with serial number starting with "22" made by Kiron, I think the version 3 will be lighter one. Though it is not the best one as reported by Mark in his report, I think this version 1 from Kiron with the exception on weight, produces quite outstanding images. Here are my summary of impressions with few test shots:


Pros:

• contrasty & sharp
• great color
• macro is 1:2.2 is quite pleasant
• reasonably sharp at wide open at f/3.5
• focusing & zoom ring are smooth
• very clean lens
• bokeh is reasonably pleasant to me

Cons:

• quite heavy & challenging to use
• I switch to MF on my K100D body for most shots in the series, AF switch for trap focus will be harder with the heavy weight on this lens

Test Shots:





Related:

• Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 from Kiron
• How to convert M42 to K mount lens
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5 Macro from Tokina (v2)
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0, from Komine (v3)
• Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (19AH)
• Tokina AT-X 80-200mm SD f/2.8
• Compare first three versions of Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm zooms
• Hin's Camera Gear