Difference between revisions of "Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5"

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* '''1967197''' - This example lacks the tripod ring, lens hood, and lens cap. Sold on eBay 8 Jan, 2012 for $888.88 USD by phytorx<ref>[http://myworld.ebay.com/phytorx eBay seller phytorx]</ref> of Tucson, AZ.<ref>[http://www.ebay.com/itm/190622489264 eBay listing (not visible to public after 90 days)]</ref>
 
* '''1967197''' - This example lacks the tripod ring, lens hood, and lens cap. Sold on eBay 8 Jan, 2012 for $888.88 USD by phytorx<ref>[http://myworld.ebay.com/phytorx eBay seller phytorx]</ref> of Tucson, AZ.<ref>[http://www.ebay.com/itm/190622489264 eBay listing (not visible to public after 90 days)]</ref>
 
* '''196811''' - This example is mentioned in a Yahoo lens forum in 2005 but no details of condition were given.<ref>[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ManualMinoltaFree/message/10885 Yahoo! forum ManualMinoltaFree: That's a lens!]</ref>. In December 2011, it was reported sold on eBay.  
 
* '''196811''' - This example is mentioned in a Yahoo lens forum in 2005 but no details of condition were given.<ref>[http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ManualMinoltaFree/message/10885 Yahoo! forum ManualMinoltaFree: That's a lens!]</ref>. In December 2011, it was reported sold on eBay.  
* '''196819''' - This example is said to be in good condition. Includes tripod ring and lens hood but lens cap is missing. Sold on eBay 12 Feb 2012 by phytorx<ref>[http://myworld.ebay.com/phytorx eBay seller phytorx]</ref> of Tucson, AZ.<ref>[http://www.ebay.com/itm/190636906076 eBay listing (not visible to public after 90 days)]</ref>
+
* '''196819''' - This example is said to be in good condition. Includes tripod ring and lens hood but lens cap is missing. Sold on eBay 12 Feb 2012 for $932 USD by phytorx<ref>[http://myworld.ebay.com/phytorx eBay seller phytorx]</ref> of Tucson, AZ.<ref>[http://www.ebay.com/itm/190636906076 eBay listing (not visible to public after 90 days)]</ref>
 
* '''196825''' - This example was reported sold on eBay UK in the summer of 2011.<ref>[http://forum.mflenses.com/templates/mflenses/images/icon_minipost.gif Manual Focus Lens Forum: Post by Tervueren about sn 196825, 17 Nov 2011]</ref>
 
* '''196825''' - This example was reported sold on eBay UK in the summer of 2011.<ref>[http://forum.mflenses.com/templates/mflenses/images/icon_minipost.gif Manual Focus Lens Forum: Post by Tervueren about sn 196825, 17 Nov 2011]</ref>
 
* '''197001''' - This example was sold on eBay in August 2011 by Reed Drummond, who granted Camera-wiki.org permission to use his auction photos here. This example is missing the lens hood. It includes the tripod ring and lens caps. A previous owner has engraved some numbers and letter on the outside of the barrel near the front of the lens. At the time of the auction, glass looked clean with a slight amount of internal dust visible.
 
* '''197001''' - This example was sold on eBay in August 2011 by Reed Drummond, who granted Camera-wiki.org permission to use his auction photos here. This example is missing the lens hood. It includes the tripod ring and lens caps. A previous owner has engraved some numbers and letter on the outside of the barrel near the front of the lens. At the time of the auction, glass looked clean with a slight amount of internal dust visible.

Revision as of 03:58, 13 February 2012

The Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5 lens is a rare telephoto lens marketed by Ponder & Best.

Description

"Vivitar Professional" was a name applied to only a few, rare lenses marketed by Ponder & Best (aka Vivitar). This badge follows the "P&B Vivitar" badged lenses and precedes the more common "Vivitar" branding. The Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5 lens is highly sought after by collectors and generally fetches a very high price in auctions due to its rarity. Opinions of the quality of the lens vary. The identity of the manufacturer is unknown; however, the lens is marked "Made in Japan". It is not known exactly how many were produced. Second-hand accounts of total production numbers vary from under 100 to the low hundreds. The known serial numbers suggest that at least 197 were produced in 1967, less than 100 in each of 1969 and 1970. Only a handful of surviving examples are known (see serial number list below).

The lens was first produced in 1967-1968, originally for NASA. It retailed for just under $600 USD. According to a review published in a 1967 issue of Camera 35 magazine, the lens intentionally sacrifices resolving power to gain the extra two stops over an f/2.8 lens but the result is better than that from shooting at f/2.8 and pushing development by two stops. A quote from the article:

This is no general purpose lens. First, It's huge - five inches long, four inches wide, weighing a hefty four pounds, eight ounces. Second, it's pre-set. But this should present no problem, since you'd be foolish to use (and pay the price for) a lens specifically designed for speed at any but its widest apertures. A lens with this much glass area gives less than optimum performance under a bright sun, due to inevitable flare. Even inside use a lens hood. Mechanically, this Vivitar is superb. But this is to be expected, since the lens was originally made for NASA, to rigid government specifications.[1]

Modern users of the lens confirm that the result is soft when the lens is wide open, but the lens is now primarily a collectors' item and rarely used.

Specifications

  • Badging: Vivitar Professional
  • Manufacturer: unknown
  • Manufacture Date: 1967
  • Focal Length: 135mm
  • Aperture Range: f/1.5 - f/22 w/half-stops
  • Diaphragm Type: preset
  • Diaphragm Blades: 16
  • Filter Diameter: 95mm
  • Minimum Focus: 1.65 meters (5 feet, 5 inches)
  • Mounts: T-mount
  • Elements: 7
  • Groups: 6
  • Weight: 1,970g (2,170g with hood, tripod collar, and caps)
  • Accessories: tripod mounting ring, and detachable metal hood
  • Example Serial Numbers: 1967197, 19671001, 196811,197001
  • Original Stock Number(s): unknown


Known examples

Because this lens is both very rare and very sought after by collectors, it seems worthwhile to describe the small number of known examples. These are listed in chronological order by serial number. The serial numbers for this lens are made up of the four-digit year of production followed by the sequential number of production for that year. The one exception to the numbering system is number 19671001, which has other minor differences with the usual production version of the lens and is believed to be a prototype.

If you have further information on any of these copies or can provide information on other copies not yet listed, please feel welcome to add to this listing.

  • 19671001 - Photos of this example may be seen on this page. Additional photos were posted on the Nikonians forum[2]. In 2009, Andrej Korencc, the current owner, said it was purchased with a Nikon F T mount adapter and was in very bad condition with scratches, dust, and fungus on the glass. He had it disassembled, cleaned, and the some elements polished by Fotomehanika camera services in Slovenia. After reconditioning, Korencc reported that the lens functioned very well and he subsequently sold it. The current owner is unknown. This example does not have the usual "Vivitar Professional" badging, tripod ring, lens hood, or lens cap. It has an unusual serial number, suggesting it may be a prototype that preceded the first production run. [3]
  • 196767 - This example shows significant wear and was described as having fungus on rear elements. Tripod mount and lens hood are missing. Lens cap is included but due to wear and damage, does not fit properly. Sold on eBay 17 Feb, 2012 by lostintheozarks[4] of Joplin, MO.[5]
  • 1967197 - This example lacks the tripod ring, lens hood, and lens cap. Sold on eBay 8 Jan, 2012 for $888.88 USD by phytorx[6] of Tucson, AZ.[7]
  • 196811 - This example is mentioned in a Yahoo lens forum in 2005 but no details of condition were given.[8]. In December 2011, it was reported sold on eBay.
  • 196819 - This example is said to be in good condition. Includes tripod ring and lens hood but lens cap is missing. Sold on eBay 12 Feb 2012 for $932 USD by phytorx[9] of Tucson, AZ.[10]
  • 196825 - This example was reported sold on eBay UK in the summer of 2011.[11]
  • 197001 - This example was sold on eBay in August 2011 by Reed Drummond, who granted Camera-wiki.org permission to use his auction photos here. This example is missing the lens hood. It includes the tripod ring and lens caps. A previous owner has engraved some numbers and letter on the outside of the barrel near the front of the lens. At the time of the auction, glass looked clean with a slight amount of internal dust visible.
  • 197012 - Photos of this example were posted to the Manual Focus lens forum in September of 2009 by user taunusreiter. There is no lens cap on this example. The lens hood and tripod ring were present. The lens barrel appears in remarkably new condition and the glass appears clean and clear.[12] This example was last seen in a German eBay auction where it sold on 18 Dec 2011 for 699 Euros. At the time of the auction, the lens included the original Vivitar packaging.[13]

Photos



References

Links