Vivitar wide angle lens

Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 193 Location: Bronx

Has anyone ever used a vivitar lens?

What were the results?

I had a 28-80 Tamron that was junk, So I found a 17mm Vivitar, but before I bought it I wanted to know more about it.

Thanks

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:56 pm

Well, most of the vivitar lenses that I know about are worse than bad. They define awful. I would be interested to know if there are any exceptions. In the meantime, look at the photodo ratings here:

http://www.photodo.com/nav/prodindex.html

Photodo's rating system is 0-5, with 5 being the hypothetically perfect lens. While most namebrand lenses score 3.0-4.6, almost all of the vivitars are below 2.

Some vivitar flash units aren't so bad, I am told.

:) keithwms

P.S. if you look at those scores you will see that your tamron actually ranks way above the comparable vivitar.

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:44 pm

I can also vouch for the crapiness of Vivitar lenses. I've tried one on my camera (a guy I know works for them). The image always came out blurred and dark. I have a suspicion that they are using some sort of plastic parts in it. Try to stay away from Vivitar - they are cheap and it shows.

Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 193 Location: Bronx

thanks for the link and the info.

Im looking to buy a wide angle lens, and found a 17mm vivitar. I think its an auto focus.

Correct me if Im wrong, but to achieve a true 24 on my D70, I need as close to a 17 or 12 mm, right?

I would be buying a used lens. so any tips would appreciated.

Thanks again

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:37 am

DigiMan wrote:

thanks for the link and the info.

Im looking to buy a wide angle lens, and found a 17mm vivitar. I think its an auto focus.

Correct me if Im wrong, but to achieve a true 24 on my D70, I need as close to a 17 or 12 mm, right?

I would be buying a used lens. so any tips would appreciated.

Thanks again

Yes, your thinking is correct, you would need a 16mm lens on a 1.5x crop DSLR to get 24mm.

Check KEH for some used primes. Manual focus would be lowest cost.

If you want an ultrawide zoom, then the tokina 12-24 is probably your best option, it may be worth saving up for that. Around $500 as I recall.

:) keithwms

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:24 pm

Of course you all know that Vivitar makes nothing.

Some of Vivitar's older glass was mfg'ed by the likes of Tamron, Sigma and Tokina. Their older Series 1 glass is not half bad, not great but not as bad as you might think.

Joined: 29 Nov 2004 Posts: 792 Location: St. Louis, MO

Vivi makes some decent flashes that are pretty cheap pricewise. I love my 285. :)