vivitar 19mm f3.8 -GOOD CHOISE OF PURCHASE or simply not?

<p>I"d like to get this MF lens , need good advise for use ! Previous owners,EXPERTS, comments and photo in application (art counts) or I need just some one who can hold a LBA hand on present day Pentax optics market !</p>

<p>Several years ago I had the 20mm version of this lens. I don't think there is much of a difference. It was big, heavy, but pretty cool looking in a retro way.</p>

<p>Optically I thought that the lens was not worth keeping. Even on a cropped sensor camera, the corners were very soft.</p>

<p>If you want something on the cheap side and wide and optically better, find a 16mm f 2.8 Russian Zenitar. Or save some money and get the DA Ltd. 21mm; it's really good.</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p>This came up recently in another forum. The 20mm f/3.8 Vivitar with the large front element is a lens from the 1970s. I have four of them and have used this model for many years. It is a decent lens if t is in good condition. Some more modern lenses in this focal length range may have somewhat sharper edge performance. Many years later Vivitar sold a smaller and lighter 19mm f/3.8. The 19 was made by Cosina. It is much more lightly built and I do not find it as sharp as the older 20mm f/3.8. To confuse things, the later 19mm lens was also sold under a few names (including Cosina) as a 20mm. I guess that's poetic license. </p>

<p>Thank you .</p>

<p>Used to own the 19. Optically mediocre, wouldn't get it again.</p>

 

<p>How about the Tokina 17mm?</p>

<p>I had the 19/3.8 Vivitar in Canon FD mount. It was okay, nothing special. Lots of coma at the corners. The 17/3.5 Tamron Adaptall was much better, probably the best ultra-wide manual focus third party lens of that era I tried.</p>

<p>I have owned both the 51B and 51BB with the Tamron SP 17mm adaptall-2 f/3.5 lenses. The earlier version with 51B is equipped with three built in optical filters for black and white. I now owned the later version with 51BB that misses the optical filters. If I have to pick again, I will pick the earlier version. The Tamron lenses are not meant to compete with the digital as a DA 15mm will likely serve your needs better. But if you are into films and don't mind the extra Tamron adaptall-2 adapter, it is a lens that can be considered. </p>

<p>It is not built like a tank but sure has a look of its own especially if you find one with the original lens hood<br>

<a href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6821328191_903e5b0511_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="494" /></a><br>

Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (51BB) mounted on K-7</p>

<p><a href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6821314253_296763a3d1_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>

<p>You can see some of my sample shots with the lens in </p>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/sets/72157629180455459/with/6821314253/">Samples shot with K-7 and 51BB</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/sets/72157627654090295/with/6195659584/">Samples shot with K20D and 51B at night</a></li>

</ul>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/sets/72157627654090295/with/6195659584/"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6179/6195659584_2348c7f585_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="409" /></a><br>

shot with K20D and 51B</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/sets/72157622928604062/with/4156588262/"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2663/4155826069_4ff6f57853_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="433" /></a><br>

Film shot with 51B and Ricoh xr-p</p>

<p>All pictures are linked to my flickr page. Thanks!</p>

 

<p>If budget allows, I highly recommend either DA 15mm or DA 21mm. If your purpose of the lens includes street shooting and with people, I miss my DA 21mm. In the absence of the 21mm, I replaced it with a cheaper manual lenses that I actually like quite a bit. It is the Spiratone 20mm f/2.8 in K-mount and without the 'A' setting. It is not a pancake small lens but quite small and lightweight for a f/2.8 lens. This lens does not come often and it is a rare find for me. </p>

<p>I used it on my NEX with a K to NEX adapter. One gripe is on its short focus throw as in closer to 1/4 turn but it will be more forgiving if you shoot with smaller apertures<br>

<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7175/6751181327_956f0a49de.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/sets/72157628991082637/with/6751253651/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6751253651_b76e091b17_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640" /></a><br>

Spiratone 20mm f/2.8 in K-mount, used with Sony NEX 5N</p>

<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hin_man/sets/72157628991082637/with/6751253651/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6751189433_fd90b3fb1e_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="425" /></a><br>

Spiratone 20mm f/2.8 in K-mount, used with Sony NEX 5N, unintended for the ring of light. Shot likely wide open in iso 3200.</p>

 

<p>Thank you , I may go with scopar (da 21 about same) or for greater ultra structure . It what it is some thing half made do not go far .Thanks for help , almost unleash the beast for 100 bucks dill.</p>

<p>I have the 17/3.5 Tokina in Minolta MD mount and the Vivitar version of the same lens in Konica AR mount. These are decent performers. No lens this wide will have edge sharpness which is as good a center sharpness so if you keep the most important parts of a shot away from the far edges you will be OK. I sometimes use a Nikon Pronea S APS camera with the 20-60 zoom. Even at the 20mm setting the edge is about as sharp as the center, very sharp. It is supposed to be easier to design lenses with this quality in the smaller formats. The 26mm f/2.7 Ektar lens in the Kodak Trimlite 48 also have excellent edge sharpness. </p>

<p>Hin, any chance that those rings are reflections from inside your NEX adapter?</p>

<p>Yes Andrew, I think those rings are reflections and coupled with flare. </p>

<p>Hin, the reason I mentioned it is that it may be more the adapter than the lens -- possibly some appropriate flat black paint inside the adapter might help.</p>

<p>@Andrew, thanks for the tips and I will look into my adapter.</p>