Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm MF

Review Date
August 27, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by
Teun , Expert

Price Paid
$15.00 at online - used

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Other

Summary
This lens comes in different varieties. Several manufacturers have build one for vivitar. i've got the second generetion, which I absolutely adore. I bought this unit for €20 and it's worth every cent. The sharpness is really good, flares are pretty well handled, although not as good as as nikkor lenses from the same age. i've got also pretty much CA, which is it's only downside. Build quality is just very very very good, much better than what nikon and canon nowadays produce.

Strengths
- optical sharpness is very good
- build quality is excellent
- size & weight
- cheap

Weaknesses
- no af
- CA quite visible in a lot of shots
- flares are sometimes visiible in the more difficult shots.
- no lightmetering on cheaper nikons (like D40-D90/D3000-D5000)

Similar Products Used
Nikkor 80-200 2.8, Vivitar 70-210 for FD, some other telezooms from that decade.

Review Date
June 29, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
bloggs69 , Expert

Price Paid
$60.00 at eBay

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
This is just a stunning lens. Lightweight, easy to use and great macro ability. It has lovely Bokeh and was a bargain 18 months ago on eBay. This is just such a lovely lens to use with great resolution, contrast edge to edge. A real bargain at twice the price!

Strengths
Bokeh
Contrast
Resolution
Lightweight
Macro ability

Weaknesses
None really except availability

Review Date
August 6, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
Singer , Intermediate

Price Paid
$25.00 at eBay

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
I have a third edition of this lens and it has been my most favorite one. Excellent build quility with unbelievable optical results. The macro function is very good. Hardly I can fiind any of the modern lenses that can satisfiy me so well. Highly, highly recommend.

Strengths
Good build quility and excellent optical result.
Cheap price but professional quility.

Weaknesses
No, can't ask more with such a cheap price!

Review Date
August 31, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.25 of 5, 16 votes

Reviewed by
quietlightphoto , Expert , from Vancouver, WA

Price Paid
$130.00 at Varies

Photography Experience
21+ years , Other

Summary
Regarding Viv S-1 glass. There are numerous Series 1, 70-210 lenses. However, for the sake of discussion, we will deal with the first five. The 4th & 5th editions are nothing to seriously consider, so we will concentrate on the first three editions, which are the good one's. The 4th & 5th editions are also 2.8-4 variable aperture model's, but lacking in construction quality (Cosina built). Due to the fact that the third one is a variable aperture lens, (2.8-4) it will be somewhat sharper than a fixed aperture lenses. It is much easier to design and build a quality variable aperture lens. The first edition was designed by Vivitar (Ellis Betensky had a hand in it) and built by Kiron. (67mm filter) It is a professional caliber lens, with a 1:2 macro feature built into it. It was the first zoom, designed with the aid of computers, that truly rivaled the OEM lenses of the time. That was in "76."

The second edition (my personal favorite) was built by Tokina, per, Vivitars specs. It too, is a fixed 3.5 aperture, but smaller, lighter and sharper. (62mm filter size). I really like it because of the fixed 3.5 aperture which is nice for focusing in dim light and long range flash work. However, not a true macro, 1:4 life size.

The third edition was made by Komine, and like the first two, is very well built. It is a 2.8-4 variable aperture lens, and the sharpest of the bunch. It has 1:2.5 life size macro from 100-210mm's, with a working distance of about two feet. Which can be quite useful. Can you see a discernible difference in slides taken with either one of them? No! Don't get caught up in bench tests. Any of the first three editions will give you professional-publishable images. I really like this lens, and in time may become my favorite.

Personally, I recommend the second or third edition of the line. I have and use all three of the first editions, and can highly recommend any one of them. Superb optics and construction.

If you have anymore questions about the Vivitar or Kiron lenses, or want more detailed information on a particular lens, please don't hesitate to ask. Are you aware of the Viv S-1 28-90 or the Kiron 28-85? As for Kiron glass, well that's another discussion.........

Russ

Strengths
Very good optics and construction in the first three editions of this line.

Weaknesses
Like all older lenses, if they become excessively hot, the lubricant may work itself down onto the aperture blades. Replace with newer synthetic based lubricants, and you're good to go.

Similar Products Used
Nikon and Kiron lenses

Customer Service
Not really needed.

Review Date
July 11, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 5 votes

Reviewed by
, Expert , from danvers MA

Price Paid
$50.00 at hunt

Photography Experience
21+ years , Outdoor

Summary
I have the second f3.5 version from about 1983. This lens is my second sharpest zoom, but just to put second sharpest in perspective, my sharpest is my canon ef 100-300L (maybe the shapest 100-300 ever produced). This Vivitar gives excellent contrast and holds up very well at all apertures and focal lenghts. Performance is very similar to some high end Nikkor zooms.

Strengths
Sharpness, contrast , flare control, price, built quality.

Weaknesses
none

Similar Products Used
18 Canon ef lenses, 2 Sigmas, 4 Nikkors, 1 Vivitar 28-90 series 1(not as sharp wide open)

Customer Service
none yet