Opinions on Kiron 28mm f2 in K mount?

[wpoupore]

Anyone know anything about this lens?

[miserere_mei]

Justin should be able to say a thing or two about this lens.

[hinman]

I don't have the lens but I do have positive experience with two lens from Kiron and both are Vivitar lens. I have Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 and Vivitar 70-210 "Series 1" f/3.5 and both bear the serial number starting with 22 which seems to come from Kino (Kiron) as suggested by this page

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<a href="http://www.cameraquest.com/VivLensManuf.htm">http://www.cameraquest.com/VivLensManuf.htm</a>

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I have since sold the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 (version 1) from Kiron. And that lens has outstanding color and contrast to me but it is way too heavy for me to enjoy.

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<a href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/03/vivitar-70-210-series-1-f35-from-kiron.html">http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/03/vivitar-70-210-series-1-f35-from-kiron.html</a>

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Common to the two Kiron lens that I have, I need to grind down the base in order to use it with my K100D body, so be aware of that Ricoh K mount that has a flange too big to fit onto K10/K100D. My modification on the extra flange is done with dremel tool and documented in my blog

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<a href="http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/03/vivitar-28mm-f25-from-kiron.html">http://techtheman.blogspot.com/2008/03/vivitar-28mm-f25-from-kiron.html</a>

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And you can see some test pictures that you can click to visit bigger size in my Flickr page. Ever since I sold my Series 1 from Kiron, I missed the experience with Kiron Lens and I have since got a Vivitar 70-150 f/3.8 that is also from Kiron and I am yet to test the lens.

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Actually, I am waiting to hear more about Kiron lens, my experience has been positive so far but I do remember Justin getting problems with his latest purchase of 28mm f/2.0 from Kiron.

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I find this link that may suggest the Kiron 28mm f/2.8 to be related to Ricoh camera and please be aware of the extra flange that may not fit onto the latest dSLR in Pentax with KAF2 mount. With the extra flange, the lens will fit SuperProgram, K1000, etc, but not K100D body

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<a href="http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/japenese/kiron/kiron_28mm_f2/">http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/japenese/kiron/kiron_28mm_f2/</a>

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[mountainvisions]

I have the Vivitar version but as my post a few post down shows it's only usable at f/2 because of the oil Kiron used. The oil issue is fixable by any qualified lens repair place. It's merely a matter of completely removing the oil and polishing the blades.

 

Actually I will test it at f/2, but the consensus is that it's a great legacy lens. I've seen a few comments on the fact that it ghost on digital, but sometimes these reports are a bit misleading.

 

I'll test it at F/2 over the next few days and see if ghosting is problematic and see the bokeh.

[tommyinca]

This lens really shine at close up with its floating element and in reverse for macro. It is also a fairly fast at f2. At smaller aperture, I like the K-mount 28/3.5 better.

[dougmiles]

I have the Kiron-branded 28mm f/2, which came with a Pentax K2 off eBay. Sent both to Eric Hendrickson for examination and CLA, but the Kiron required no service; no problem with the diaphragm lube. I ran a few rolls of film with this lens, and I was surprised at how well it performed. Worst issue? Focus rotates the wrong direction, not so bad.<div></div>

[donnie_strickland]

I have one. I think it's outstanding, but I don't use it that much since I got my FA 35mm f/2. Performance is compatible, but the Kiron doesn't have the "A" on the aperture ring and it's not AF, so the Pentax gets used more.

[jerry thirsty]

Mine is great on film, not so great on digital. In addition to the green ghosting it gets off the sensor when the sun's in the image, it isn't very good in the corners when compared to the Pentax-F. See

 

http://www.pbase.com/jthirsty/image/43378547