Vivitar 100mm f/2.5 Series 1

[dynachrome]

I have a number examples of the lens which was sold variously as the Kiron 105/2.8 Macro, Vivitar 100/2.8 Macro, Rikenon P 100/2.8 Macro, Lester Dine 100/2.8 Macro and finally the Vivitar Series 1 105/2.8 Macro. I don't think I have a Lester Dine version but with today's arrival of the Series 1, I have the others. I realize that the f/2.5 marking on the Series 1 lens is a bit of poetic license. Mine arrived frozen solid a few hours ago. I will see if the aperture opens more quickly when it fully thaws. It is otherwise in nice condition. The Series 1 version has nice cosmetics. It's funny to read old reviews. The lenses are often described as being made by Kiron rather than by Kino Precision. Later tests or reviews were often done on non-film cameras and supposed differences between them are cited. This is most likely due to sample variation. The price for this lens was reasonable. This is probably due to the fact that it was listed as being in Canon FD mount but with photos clearly showing that it was in Nikon AIS mount. It turned out to be in AIS mount. I have three of the Vivitar 100/2.8 version in Canon FD mount, a Kiron version in Konica AR mount and one each of the Vivitar 100/2.8 in Nikon Ai, Minolta MD, Olympus OM and Y/C mounts. I have to be careful using the Rikenon P version because of the extra pin. It could get stuck on an AF Pentax camera. Apart from some family holiday photos, my picture taking tends to slow down during the winter. I will try to break that cycle this winter

 

[Paul Howell]

I have come to buying the V S1 in Konica Ar mount, but as I have the Konica version did not know if the V S1 was any better.

 

[xkaes]

I have the 105mm f2.5 with Minolta mount, and I like that it's slightly faster (brighter) than f2.8 and that it focuses to 1:1 without an adapter. It's a #22XXXXX lens, and don't really care it's called a Kiron or Kino lens -- it works for me!

 

[Les Sarile]

I know one of mine is a Lester A. Dine as it is labeled as part of a Nikon Dental kit I acquired . . .

Lester A. Dine Nikon Dental kit by Les DMess, on Flickr

Kiron 105 f2.8_A by Les DMess, on Flickr

Kiron 105 f2.8_B by Les DMess, on Flickr