Vivitar 135mm for Minolta

baachitraka · Aug 30, 2011

How do you rate this lens? I saw one just for Euro 19. If it is good may be I will pick on SRT-101.

dynachrome · Aug 31, 2011

I have a number of different Vivitar 135mm lenses. The plain 135/2.8 Fixed mount Ser. 28XXX... is a very good performer. The 135/2.8 Close Focusing is an excellent lens and focuses to 1:2. The 135/3.5 Fixed mount Ser. 37XXX... is a decent lens if not as good as the 135/2.8 Fixed mount. The 135/2.3 Series 1 is very nice and focuses to 1 meter. It' heavy. There were f/2.8 and f/3.5 T4 lenses Ser. 37XXX... which are adequate if in good condition. There were f/2.5 and f/2.8 TX series lenses Ser. 37XXX.... Both are good. The f/2.8 lens is quite compact. The later Ser. 9XXX... lenses work but I can't vouch for their sharpness. I have a number of Minolta Rokkor and Celtic lenses which are all godd and which are also not too expensive. Any of the Vivitars I have listed would be fine for $19 if in good condition.

Christopher Walrath · Aug 31, 2011

I would like to throw in one other manufacturer into the mix. Makinon. Solid, sturdy. A very good lens with a great feel. I adored it from the moment I laid eyes on it. And it performs well to this day.

CGW · Aug 31, 2011

Depends on the series. Series 1 lenses described here:

Dead Link Removed

Minolta MC/MD were usually quite good and are hardly over-priced now, especially the 135mm lenses. I have the old MC 135/2.8 that's very sweet.

Trask · Aug 31, 2011

The 135 f/2.3 is a very nice lens, as is the 200 f/3 -- Vivitar Series One.

baachitraka · Sep 2, 2011

I just bought Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 OM mount for euro 37. I have no idea about its performance...

David Lyga · Sep 2, 2011

Thou shalt never find a VIvitar that is less than optimal. - David Lyga

j-dogg · Sep 2, 2011

I have the Series 1 70-210 non-AI, an extremely early version seeing as they began production of the 70-210 3.5 in January of 1975 and mine is a March 1975 copy.

If it weren't for AF I would use it over my Canon 70-200 f4L IS

BillBingham2 · Sep 2, 2011

The first three Series 1 lenses were great as were the three solid CATs. Can't speak to the other Series 1 lenses, though their first point and shoot with a manual zoom was excellent also.

The 200/3 I had was very close to as good as my fathers Nikkor 180/2.8 many moons back.

B2

Tom Hicks · Sep 5, 2011

baachitraka said:
How do you rate this lens? I saw one just for Euro 19. If it is good may be I will pick on SRT-101.

the Vivitar 135 2.8 M/MD lens is very nice here are some sample shots with

it on My Minolta SR7

baachitraka · Sep 7, 2011

Just received Vivitat 135mm with OM mount but without a grip for focusing. Any help in finding a grip for this lens.

BillBingham2 · Sep 7, 2011

Hockey stock tape.

B2

lightdreamer · Sep 17, 2011

I own a Vivitar 135mm f2.8 for Minolta SR bajonett.

It is a solid, really good performer. Sharp but not the best concerning bokeh, but only visible bokeh problems when the background is not far away.

If the background is strongly blured the bokeh can be very nice.

Mechanically a really nice lens.

If I don't had a MD Rokkor 2.8 135mm (4 Elements), which is still a little better, I wouldn't mind using the Vivitar all day for my 135mm task.

I would prefer the Vivitar against my Tokina 2.8 135mm for SR which also is a sharp lens.

Nearly no lemons in this range.

Vivitar 135mm for Minolta

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