Hin's Photo Corner

I finally find the time to test my copy of Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro on K-x. First some product shots on the lens mounted on k-x. The lens goes well in style and offers superb manual focusing for macro shooting.



It feel great in buying this lens back after I sold a similar lens with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro. I was wrong about the Lester A Dine in the past regarding bad 1:1 pictures. All bad pictures with exception on purple fringing/CA are my faults in not using it correctly when focus distance is past the 1:2 margin. I simply can't hand-hold shot beyond 1:2. The DOF is literally razor thin when I am in between 1:2 to 1:1 in focus distance and it is beyond my ability in hand-holding. No matter how hard I try, it ain't working for me in hand-holding.


Some flower close up test shots mostly in 1:2 to 1:3 distance wise when I could still manage to hand hold. Beyond the 1:2 marking, I would have liked the help with several aids:

• A macro flash ring light to open up the DOF while keeping the shutter not too low
• A mono-pod to try out
  
• A tripod that can collapse lower to the floor
• Some railing support that can be used with the tripod
  
• Some means to keep the flowers still from the wind
  

I am happy to rectify my past LBA remorse into selling too soon. At the moment, I don't want to visit my rational (the evil) part of my LBA mind as I do have overlap with Sigma 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Ex DG Macro


Related:

• Berkeley Botanical Garden with Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 Macro
• Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro by Kiron Purchase
• Missing My Lens With Color
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 Macro Ring Light Flash
  
• Difficulty in 1:1 macro with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro purchase
• Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
  
• Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
• Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro
• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 non-Di Macro
• Hin's Camera Gear

I have been trying out different M42 lens on my Pentax K-x. Results in the final images are good but I find that K-x does have some minor glitches with M42 lens when compared to Pentax K20D.

• I can't use Av mode on M42 lens like K20D. I found myself under-expose by a big factor as in 2 to 3 stops. I have not found if the difference is consistent so that a simple +Ev compensation will make K-x work with M42 lens in Av mode.
  
• For consistent metering, I have to use M mode together with either green button or (+/-) button for metering. I prefer the use of (+/-) button as K-x's green button location is awkward to access in the field. The (+/-) button is more natural for me to use.
  
• Ev compensation is omitted in K-x. This is unlike K20D which allow Ev compensation even in manual mode. I get spoiled with Ev compensation so that I can set a preset compensation adjustment for consistency with an M42 lens.
• I do miss the red focal point overlay for focus reference
• It is difficult to see bottom of viewfinder especially in bright daylight setting. The green hexagon is not bright enough to view in K-x. I rely mostly on the beep which is unsettling in the shooting.
  

Results are quite good when I tried my Pentax K-x with Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron in M42 mount. In some of the close up, I used the Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter which works like diopter with +3 to +4 magnification.












Impressions & Notes

• The Kiron zoom lens is great in terms of sharpness. It is not too big and works well in K-x.
  
• The close up works in the 70mm end and I think it is about 1:4 in magnification. With the diopter, it is roughly around 1:3
• The catch-in focus is absent like many M42 lens.
  
• Metering is center weighted and I have not tried the trick with aluminum foil to see if matrix metering and catch-in focus can be resumed in this m42 zoom on K-x
• As mentioned, I used M mode and green or (+/-) button for metering.
  

Related

• Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron
• Pentax Genuine M42 to K Adapter
  
• Kiron 2x matched multiplier
• Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter
• Pentax K-x White Arrival
• Hin's Camera Gear

I don't know what the heck happened that led me to sell my Lester A Dine before together with a matching ring light. I sold it to G_money in forum and he recently sold it again in marketplace. We all sold it perhaps for a different reason.

My LBA goes really in circle and I recently couldn't resist to make up my mistakes before I ended up with a great find in Marketplace from another wonderful member for the Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 macro that is also made from Kiron with serial number starting #22.


As far as I can tell, they are very similar in appearance. The one thing that I like the Vivitar over the Lester A Dine lies in the absence of the dentist instruction on the lens barrel. There were few things that I was not impressed in my first handling with the Lester A Dine and I will re-examine the Vivitar given that I have learned from my mistakes -- all lens has its strong and weak points and even the famous lens has a weak spot and it is up to the user to abuse or use it to its strength. The lester A dine or the vivitar are great for macro use and it should be used as such. If I want a macro lens that can double up handily for portrait and event, I would highly recommend the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 or the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 alternatives. Both will fit the bill of doubling up as portrait and event lens other than its core virtues in macro.

I have been naive in macro photography and I do it all wrong especially in getting close to 1:1 distance without aid of tripod, railing and the essential need of enough lighting such as using an external flash to open up the DOF. As a result of my poor setup, the narrow thin DOF is what drive me the craziest and that is really NOT the problem of the lens but the problems that I encountered mostly come from me and my poor setup. Another noted problem is some purple fringing on high contrast shot when I use it for an event. It is also a mood point as the lens is meant for close up and macro and the long focus throw make it not quite suitable lens for other purposes unless I don't mind the long focus turn in shooting.

I will hopefully report back the 2nd time of ownership with this macro lens

Related:

• Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro and Pentax K-x
  
• Berkeley Botanical Garden
• Missing My Lens With Color
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 Macro Ring Light Flash
  
• Difficulty in 1:1 macro with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro purchase
• Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
  
• Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
• Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro
• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 non-Di Macro
• Hin's Camera Gear

I have several versions of the Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 made by Kiron and I like the two touch zoom the best out the three that I have owned in the past. I sold all but kept the last one in M42 mount in 2 touch zoom design as I like Av mode with M42 lens without the extra step in stop-down metering.

• 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

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











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

Related:

• Kiron 2x matched multiplier
• Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 in m42 mount initial test shots -- 2-touch zoom
  
• Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 in K-mount -- 1-touch zoom
  
• Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
• Genuine Pentax M42 adapter
• Hin's Camear Gear
  

Kiron made good lens and I am fortunate to have an inexpensive copy of Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 in m42 mount that comes with the Vivitar/Kiron 2x matched multiplier. The matched multiplier can be used as a 2x TC on other lens such as my Soligor 200mm f/2.8 in M42 mount with reasonable results.

Unlike K mount adapters, this m42 adapters are made in metal construction which are better built for longer lens that has heavier weight. I actually prefer the use of this 2x TC when I am using my 200mm as the Kiron 2x TC has a better screw thread in mounting to my K body than my my 200mm lens alone.

There are two zoom type with 1-touch and 2-touch format. I have used both and they come in either K mount and M42 mount. All have close focusing capability and close up happen in 70mm end and magnification ratio roughly goes to 1:4

I bought it for $40 and I got the two touch zoom in M42 mount for the Av mode. The K mount is just as good and very similar. If you look for this zoom, also look for the ones that pair with Vivitar/Kiron 1.5x or 2x matched multiplier as I have used the 2x multiplier. The Kiron has done a great job in the lens as well as the matched multiplier.

I reckon the 2 touch zoom share many IQ with the one touch but I prefer the 2-touch zoom for less mistakes in moving the zoom position while focusing. The best about the two touch zoom are as follows:

• very sharp, even wide open are sharp
• though 2-touch is bigger, but still relatively small to cover a useful range
• close focus is quite good due to good sharpness, when paired with diopter, it is like a 1:2 close up zoom lens
• f/3.8 is very capable for this zoom
• bokeh is alright, will be nice if softer
• slight tendency for bluish color
• built-in lens hood but not deep enough

The lens often goes low value and if you love manual lens zoom lens that don't break budget, this is a value lens to get from Kiron.


Related:

• Pentax K-x and M42 Lens
  
• Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron in K mount
• Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 in 1-touch zoom
• Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I just got this used Vivitar 500mm f/8.0. I don't shoot long focal length but I find the price cheap enough to give it a try. I was hoping that it is a Vivitar from Kiron or Komine. But I see the serial number starting with 6 and it is made in Korea, probably why I get it for cheap.

This is lens is extremely small, it is almost the same size like my Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro (non-Di)

This mirror lens is amazingly small and light. And I wish it heavier to help stabilize the shot. I only did few test shots, sharpness seems reasonable but I see quite flat color and contrast but I have cloudy day in my city today. Please excuse the poor view in this reference shot, the light red tower is located to the left of the red Mini car and Marriott is the right of the the Mini

The normal place that I visit in Vivitar Lens Manufactuers seems to suggest Olympus but I find it from others that my Vivitar is similar to Opteka and Kalimar brand


Impressions & Notes

• I won't recommend fully on this mirror lens from Vivitar. If your focus is occasional use for tele-shot, by all means, try it but don't have high expectation on this mirror lens, you get what you pay for.
  
  
• The Tele shot in 500mm is reasonable in sharpness but it is all flat in color and contrast.
  
  
• The lens is compact and easy to work with in hand-held operation but I will suggest use of a tripod as the lightweight in this mirror lens hinders the shot stability when I try it.
  
  
• Contrast and color are all flat, one need to tune saturation and contrast on this mirror lens. I used Vibrant image color tone in K20D and it seems to improve the shot a bit. Post processing is needed to boost color and contrast.
  
  
• Lens is reasonable in construction but it is too light to get a stabilize shot in both close up and tele settings.
  
  
• Lens can be used in Av mode as all the metering is done wide open with a single aperture. There is no need to do stop-down metering.
  
  
• The close up in 1:2.7x is a joke only for spec purpose, but in reality, I can't get a single shot with satisfaction. Please don't rely on this mirror lens for close up as you will be very disappointed.
  

Related:

• Tamron SP 500mm f/8.0 adaptall-2 (55BB) 1st copy
• Hiking with Tamron 55BB -- 2nd copy
  
• Pentax K 300mm f/4.0
• Tamron 70-300 f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro with 1.4x TC
  
• Pentax F-1.7x AF TC
• Tamron-F 2x TC
• Hin's Camera Gear