Hidden Gem? Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 MD Vintage Lens Review

Having ability to focus past infinity might be because of misuse. I once twisted a lens so hard it's helicoid came apart. I had to disassemble everything and calibrate the infinity. It took like 2-3 hours. On a minolta rokkor 50/1,7

The various 28mm with the Vivitar label were made by different manufacturers and have different properties. You can tell who manufactured them from the serial numbers. Yours is made by Kino Precision, and was one of the good ones. Vivitar never made their own lenses but marketed ones made by others (many of which were sold exclusively by Vivitar). Incidentally, just because a lens has a Minolta MD mount doesn't mean it's going to match Minolta quality. If you want more Vivitar lenses, I'd stick to ones with the same serial number (ie 22xxx...) as Kino made decent lenses and they'll match this one. If you Google "Vivitar Serial Numbers" the first result tells you which numbers tally with the different manufacturers. Focusing past infinity is a common quirk when using lens adaptors. If you had a full frame camera you'd not be getting as good results because a micro 4/3 camera takes advantage of the central "sweet spot," while a full frame will have more sharpness fall off at the edges.

Thanks for the clear and succinct review - thanks mainly to your review i had confidence to try get one off Ebay and I'm now waiting for a 67mm front diam variant to come from UK to Aust. I especially liked the insect and floral footage you showed, that and the funky blue flaring is something I think I'd like to play with. Cheers

Hi Net, I found very informative your video. I just purchased the same lens; when I purchased the lens came with a Tx-mount. I have a panasonic g7 camera. I can't figure out what adapter do I need for that kind of mount. Just wondering if the adapter link you post it is the same for it. I will appreciate your advise.

Nice lens and be careful to not point the camera too long directly to the sun for the flare examples. The sensor could get damaged!

very kubrickian intro my dude... you're going to be jelly af, but i have the RARE fd mount vivitar 28mm f2 close focus!!

Thanks for the review. Just grabbed one for my Olympus Micro 4/3.

Thanks for your sharing thoughts on this lens. I recently added this same model Manufactured by Kino and your video gives me a clearer idea of its advantages and the proper way to use it.

the day is now my friend. 5d mark 2 going for 500$ lol

Great intro! 👏 Where did you get the music from?

I got the same lens 10 bucks nice lens

Dear Nate, you can also chance the F-stops on your digital camera to 1/2 stops. Yes? Good luck and thanks for this review. I have the same lens, but that is a Panagor lens, also made by Kiron (Japan) in the '70s.

One of the Best Intro I've ever seen!!

Nate I wonder if you could post a pic of the mount of the lenses. I have a similar lenses with the serial number only changing in the last 4 digits. And I want to use with my m4/3 cam. Thanks!

Wait, this lens has macro as well?

do you still have and use this lens? intro was sweet!

Have you looked at the Sigma fp - seems great on paper heheh!!! I have not used it yet. Excited to see people using it with Vintage Lenses. Seems like a great combination.

Nice intro music from a symphonic wind orchestre and reciew.

Your film work is phenomenal. If you dispense with the awful muzak you could make real progress.

Thanks for the video. I have one in MD mount too and I use it as a 50mm equivalent on my Olympus EM 10. I am very happy with it. The funny thing is with that massive front element compared to other 28mm 2,8s you would at first glance expect it to be faster just because there is so much more glass up front.

Reviewing FF lenses only on M43 makes me sad. The corners are where all the lens character is at!

def is not 25 dollars on ebay =(

Using my Canon 50mm f1.8 fd lens I shoot at f2 which provides very sharp images. At f1.8 it's very soft which I do not like.

100 euros in germany already.

I got a kiron make vivitar 28mm via ebay. my aperture doesn't move above 4.0 the aperture ring slips all the way above but aperture dose not close down.. can you share any tear down guide to make things work again.

is it radioactive?

Thank you for your review.
I was hesitating between a Vivitar 28mm f / 2.5 MD or a Minolta W. Rokkor 28mm f / 2.8 MD.
I found both for around $ 50 on eBay but couldn't make up my mind.

Is this lens good for landscape and architecture photography? Thank you in advance.

Hey man! I own 2 of these, one is PK mount and the other is M42
They have different color coatings, but cool thing is that 1 of them (the M42) pairs perfectly with Miranda 50mm f/2 I have here, which is PK mount.

I wonder if you have further knowledge about 50mm that should match with the vivitar 28's.

I also own a 200mm f/3.5 Vivitar, M42, that seems to also match with them very nice.

SOMONE PLEASE HELP! I bought a lens at a thrift store and it dosent have ømm on it, its (auto vivitar wide-angle 28mm 1:2.8 no. 3707752) spent 5 bucks is there any chance i get my money back off this??

Thanks Nate for your review!

That's a really great reivew, but the lens doesn't look good to me at all. The contrast and sharpness are really low which means we deal with glass of low quality. Found one with a 22x serial for around $45, not sure if I should get it...

so, can i mount that onto a bmpcc6k (EF Mount) or would i need a speedbooster or anything? great video!

Great video, subbed. Nice

looks like it has a grey tone, do you have any black n white phoots?

The lens cost $40 in total. ROI: Just fantastic!

First time on your channel, that intro was awesome!

Nice intro... Much of visual content, though. Thank you for your work...

Hi guys! Does anyone know if this lens has radioactive elements?

there is a f2.0 from vivitar 28mm. Wonder how good that would do ?

I had mine in a box for the best part of 10 years... recently I got an FX mount and started to experiment. I will have to go out and use it in video... in stills I am not convinced, it is a lot less sharp than my 35mm Flektogon 2.4, my Helios, Industars, Takumars and colors are not the greatest either... maybe in video it can give me flaresand other characteristics that the others can't, I will try soon. Its a shame that it isn't doing it for me, its really well built and it is a nice looking lens. Great video!

Hii friend. Its a radioactive lens ?

I got one form a pawn shop a year ago and been using it with my Nikon d5100 and I love it I have took some of my best photos with that lens

I'm using the lens with my analog Nikons (F3, FM2 and F801) and it works great with Kodak films (colors, saturation). I don't mind some softness, if I want sharper pictures, I use digital. It's also really the best looking lens I own.

Uhh Vivitar Series 1 are excellent lens

Bro，thank u for your video，I want to know if this lens contains radiation like takumar.

Bro，thank u for your video，I want to know if this lens contains radiation like takumar.

Loved the images! Is this lens for full frame cameras?

If you like this, you should see the Vivitar 'Series 1' 24mm f2.0 on APS-C (or fullframe)...

Thanks Nate for your review! I just found this lens on an old box that my father gave me. Looking forward to using it.