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FotoGear | Lenses

Vivitar

FotoGearLens Vivitar VMC Series 1

Select • 17mm f3.5

20mm f3.8

Rare 28mm f1.9

90mm f2.5 Bokina

135mm f2.3
Macro • 90-180mm f4.5 Flat Field

Komine 135mm f2.8

55mm f2.8 Macro
Zoom+ • 28-90mm f2.8-3.5

1 • Vivitar 17mm f3.5 Version 1 Nikon F

The Vivitar 17mm f/3.5 is a highly regarded, ultra-wide manual focus prime lens originally manufactured by Tokina and rebranded by Vivitar. Known for its compact size, robust metal build, and excellent image quality, it remains a popular and budget-friendly choice for film and digital landscape photography.

Vivitar sold two primary versions of the 17mm f/3.5 lens, both produced by Tokina:
• First Version (1976–1980): Featured an 11-elements-in-8-groups design, a larger 72mm filter thread, and a petal-shaped, integrated lens hood.
• Second Version (1980–Early 2000s): Featured an 11-elements-in-9-groups design and a more convenient, smaller 67mm front filter thread.

• FOV: 104° • Mininum Focus: 8.66" • Aperture Scale: 3.5 to f16.0 • Filters: 72mm
• Dimensions: 80mm x 80mm • Weight: 329g

2 • Vivitar 20mm f3.8 Nikon F

• The True Manufacturer: Vivitar was a distributor (originally Ponder & Best) and did not manufacture their own glass. This specific lens was built in Japan by Kino Precision Optical (which later sold lenses under their own Kiron brand name).

• The Serial Number Trick: You can verify a Kino Precision build by checking the lens serial number; if it starts with "22", it was built by Kino. The third digit indicates the year of production (e.g., a serial starting with 221 means a Kino build from 1971).

• Production Year: 1971 • FOV: 95° • Mininum Focus: 50.8 mm (2 inches) from the front element • Aperture Scale: f3.8 to f22.0 • Filters: 82mm
• Dimensions: 82.5mm x 120mm • Weight: 368.5g

3• Rare Vivitar Series 1 28mm f1.9 Nikon F

The Vivitar Series 1 28mm f/1.9 VMC is a legendary, ultra-fast wide-angle lens introduced in 1978. Manufactured by Tokina for Vivitar, it is renowned for its all-metal build, beautiful optical rendering, and "exploding" out-of-focus background bokeh at its widest aperture. For a hands-on look at the image quality and vintage characteristics of the Vivitar Series 1 28mm f/1.9:

• Focus Mechanism - Internal Focusing (IF) with a floating element
• Made by Tokina • Production Year: 1978 • FOV: 75.40° • Mininum Focus:11.8" • Aperture Scale: 1.9 to f16.0 • Filters: 58mm
• Dimensions: 65mm x 62mm • Weight: 335g

4 • Rare Vivitar Series 1 90mm f2.5 + Macro Adapter - Bokina m42

The Vivitar Series 1 90mm f/2.5 Macro (often nicknamed the "Bokina") is a legendary vintage manual focus lens, highly regarded for its exceptional sharpness and creamy bokeh.

• Made by Tokina • Magnification: 1:2 reproduction ratio
• Macro Adapter: Dedicated 1:1 Macro Adapter
• Made by Tokina • Production Year: 1978 • FOV: 75.40° • Mininum Focus:11.8" • Aperture Scale: 1.9 to f16.0 • Filters: 58mm
• Dimensions: 65mm x 62mm • Weight: 335g

5 • Vivitar Series 1 VCM 135mm f2.3 Nikon F

The Vivitar Series 1 135mm f/2.3 is a legendary, heavy-duty manual focus telephoto lens introduced in the mid-1970s. Designed to compete with premium brand-name optics, it was an optical marvel that is highly sought after for its large maximum aperture and smooth, creamy bokeh.

• Production Year: 1978 • FOV: 18° • Mininum Focus: 30 in • Aperture Scale: f2.3 to f22.0 • Filters: Rear 72mm
• Dimensions: 82.5mm x 120mm • Weight: 675g 1.49 lb • Lens Hood : Built-in, sliding/telescoping

6 • Vivitar Series 1 Flat Field 90 - 180mm f4.5 with Macro Adapter OM

The Vivitar Series 1 90-180mm f/4.5 Flat Field Macro is a highly specialized zoom lens originally designed for medical and industrial photography. It is often confused with the legendary 90mm f/2.5 "Bokina" prime lens, but it offers a unique "flat field" design that ensures edge-to-edge sharpness for flat subjects like artwork or documents.

• Optics: Features 18 elements in 12 groups with Vivitar Multi-Coating (VMC).
• Macro Ratios: Native magnification of 1:4 at 90mm and 1:2 at 180mm.
• 1:1 Macro Capability • 38 oz / 1.1kg) with a rotating tripod mount.

• Production Year: 000 • FOV: 000° • Mininum Focus:00cm / 000". • Aperture Scale: f0.0 to f00.0 • Filters: Rear 000mm
• Dimensions: 000mm x 65mm • Weight: 000g • Lens Hood : Minolta 0000

7 • Vivitar Series 1 Komine Close Focusing Macro 135mm f2.8 Nikon F

8 • Vivitar Series 1 Macro 55mm f2.8 OM

The Vivitar 55mm f/2.8 Auto Macro is a highly regarded vintage lens often found in the Olympus OM mount. It is widely celebrated for its "true" 1:1 life-size magnification, which it achieves without needing external extension tubes—a major advantage over contemporary competitors like the Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/3.5. • Serial numbers starting with 28 were manufactured by Komine
• Macro Capability: Provides a 1:1 magnification

• Min ocus distance of approximately 2 inches (5cm)
• 315g to 345g
• Special Feature: The front element is deeply recessed
• Focusing: It features an exceptionally long focus throw (up to 630 degrees).
• Distortion: The lens exhibits virtually no distortion or chromatic aberration

• Production Year: 000 • FOV: 000° • Mininum Focus:00cm / 000". • Aperture Scale: f0.0 to f00.0 • Filters: Rear 000mm
• Dimensions: 000mm x 65mm • Weight: 000g • Lens Hood : Minolta 0000

9 • Vivitar Series 1 Macro Focusing Zoom 28-90mm F2.8-F3.5 Nikon F

The Vivitar Series 1 35-85mm f/2.8 (circa 1974) is a historic, all-metal "variable focusing" (varifocal) lens designed by Kino Precision. Renowned for its fast f2.8 constant aperture, it offers excellent contrast, 10-inch close-focusing capabilities, and robust construction, weighing roughly 27 oz. It was an early, high-performance zoom designed for 35mm SLRs like the Nikon F.

10 • Vivitar Series 1 Macro Focusing Zoom 28-105mm f2.8-3.8 PK

• Production Year: 000 • FOV: 75.4° • Mininum Focus:00cm / 000". • Aperture Scale: f0.0 to f00.0 • Filters: Rear 000mm
• Dimensions: 000mm x 65mm • Weight: 000g • Lens Hood : Minolta 0000

11 • Vivitar Series 1 Macro Focusing Zoom 70-210mm f/2.8-4 Series 1 VMC Macro Focusing Zoom Nikon F

12 • Vivitar Series 1 35-85mm f2.8 Nikon F