Testing the Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8 lens on a Fujifilm X-T2
To start, I need to make a few disclaimers.
Firstly, this isn’t a technical review, involving test cards, colour charts, and other rigorous methods of optical testing. I don’t know how to do any of that, and I’m sure plenty on the internet have already done so.
Secondly, these images are unapologetically edited/stylised.
Rather, this post describes more of my experience using the lens, what it enables me to do, what I have to adjust to use it, and what I’ve had to learn.
Does that make sense? Good.
Finding the Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8
Heading up one of the steepest roads in Kendal, Beast Banks, a beautiful and almost timeless scene emerges that I can rarely ignore.
Regular readers of my blog may have noticed in my previous post that I alluded to having acquired a new lens after a good hike up and down Scout Scar. I spotted the lens in the shop window of Oxfam. A Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8 Macro, for Pentax K mount.
This immediately piqued my curiosity. A “walk about” travel lens with a handy zoom capability had been at the back of mind for a while. Until recently, my lens set up involved three prime lenses: a Fujinon 23 mm f/2.0, a Laowa 9 mm f/2.8 ultra-wide, and an adapted Pentax SMC 55 mm f/2.0.
The 23 mm has served me well. It’s a good standard lens, but in my opinion and experience a little too wide for my tastes. I’ve been feeling that somewhere between a 28 or a 35 would be a good standard wide for me. The nice thing about the 23 mm though is that it’s weather sealed, giving me more confidence when out and about in the somewhat unpredictable weather of Britain.
Smaller scenes that had previously eluded me, such as this simple composition at Greenside, are now possible thanks to the maximum focal length of 105 mm.
The Laowa 9 mm ultra-wide is definitely more niche. It’s not a lens I’ll use all the time, especially in open vistas, because at 9 mm (13.5 mm equivalent on full-frame) you capture so much of a scene that it starts to become meaningless. Where the 9 mm has proved useful is in near-far compositions and scenes where everything is very close to you. The 9 mm has an ability to push everything away from you that is nearly incomparable.
The Pentax 55 mm is definitely useful, especially for situations where the subject or scene that I want to shoot is a good distance ahead of me. At a full-frame equivalent of 82–83 mm, that’s a good bit of zoom and scene compression. This lens is a Pentax K mount, but happily there are many adaptors available on the market that will allow you to attach retro/vintage lenses onto modern mirrorless cameras, such as my Fujifilm X-T2.
This brings me onto the Vivitar discovery.
At close to 105 mm, I’m able to compress elements of a composition, bringing the distance closer. Until now compositions like this, shot from the limestone kiln towards the top of Greenside, were not possible for me.
A 28–105 mm focal length would be very handy, a full-frame equivalent of 42–157.5 mm. It’s fairly fast too, opening up to f/2.8 at 28 mm to f/3.8 at 105 mm. It also features a macro focal feature, allowing a tighter minimal focal distance than many other lenses.
I entered the Oxfam shop and asked to inspect the lens. Its condition was practically flawless. No visible markings, clean elements, beautifully damped zoom and focal grip, and a nice clicky aperture ring.
Additionally, the lens came complete with its original packaging, sturdy leather carrying case, and a manual. Seemingly missed by the staff at Oxfam, attached to the lens was also a Hoya Skylight filter.
As we had just come down from Scout Scar, I already had my camera gear with me, which included the Pentax 55 mm f/2.0 with its Fujifilm adaptor. I asked to try out the lens on my camera body. A satisfying clunk and click later, the Vivitar seated beautifully onto my Fujifilm adaptor and mounted onto my camera perfectly.
And all for £30.
I had to have it.
Testing and getting used to the Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8
Macro photography has never really been my thing, but the advertised capabilities of this Vivitar lens made me curious. As I headed up Kendal Fell through the golf course I tried my hand at snapping some Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). Not bad at all.
With the advent of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and the additional two days public holiday, an opportunity arose for me to get out and about on a beautiful summer’s day and really see what I could achieve with this lens.
I almost immediately found myself using the full 105 mm focal length a lot. Compositions that had previously alluded me were now totally possible at this focal length.
A focal length of somewhere around 28–35 mm. Looking at these images in detail, I’ve noticed that the lens provides sharp images, excellent contrast and tonal rendition, and nice colour.
I had to learn how to use the zoom and focus ring too. This Vivitar lens utilises a “one-touch” zoom and focus mechanism. My previous experience of zoom lenses were nearly all autofocusing, so I only had to think zooming by turning the zoom ring.
But this lens is built differently. It’s a manual focus, or at least it is mounted to by Fujifilm. So the mechanism of use was totally alien to me. You zoom in by pushing the zoom ring away from you, and zoom out by pulling back in. You then focus by turning the same ring. Push, pull, and turn. Definitely something I needed to get used to.
More macro opportunities present themselves to me by zooming in to 105 mm.
Thankfully, many mirrorless camera systems utilise focus peaking, making focusing on manual lenses a doddle.
The zoom and focus ring on the lens is beautifully dampened. A good bit of effort is needed to zoom the lens in and out, and the focus turns cleanly. Happily, this also largely stops the lens slowly zooming in or out when you’re pointing steeply down or up.
Adapting my shooting style
From the top of Kendal Fell, I’m really able to bring in the distant Lake District fells into the composition, even resolving the individual peaks and fells.
Something else I noticed with my early test shots was that I was getting a fair bit of camera shake.
Ah.
This is something I’m not used to.
Zooming into 105 mm means I really must pay attention to my shutter speed and make sure it’s fast enough to reduce the chances of shutter speed. With this lens, I’m now altering my aperture and ISO more to ensure my shutter speed is fast enough. I’m also utilising the Fujifilm’s Continuous Low shooting mode, enabling me to shoot 3–4 images quickly to try and minimise any camera shake from pressing the shutter button.
Such is life with a 6-year old camera with no image stabilisation.
The weight of the lens is an additional factor I’m getting used to. My three prime lenses are all quite short and light. The Fujinon 23 mm is about 180 g, the Laowa 9 mm is about 215 g, and the Pentax 55 mm is about 221 g.
The Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm weighs about 620 g, three times heavier than most of my primes.
As you can tell, I was having lots of fun zooming into 105 mm and picking out individual scenes available from the expansive panorama from the top of Kendal Fell. Here, the Kentmere valley and its fells are clearly defined.
This adds extra strain and camera shake at the longer end of the lens that I need to compensate with a fast enough shutter speed. Thankfully, the dynamic range of Fujifilm X-T2 is excellent, and I can push the camera to ISO 1600 with little decrease in image quality.
The history of the lens
Vivitar is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of photographic and optical equipment, originally from California, USA. They were founded in 1938 as Ponder & Best, but introduced the “Vivitar” branding in the early 1960s.
By the 1970s Vivitar introduced their “Series 1” lens range, partnering with experienced lens manufacturers to produce optically excellent lenses at lower prices than their competitors. The range were also computer-designed.
The Vivitar “Series 1” 28–105 mm f/2.8–3.8 VMC Macro zoom lens was made for Vivitar by Cosina, and marketed from 1985 onwards.
Extra sample images
From the top of Kendal Golf Course, views are extensive. On this beautiful day, it was enough to see Benson Knott and the Howgills beyond.
Using the landscaping features of the golf course as leading lines towards the distant Kentmere fells.
Cunswick Scar and the distant Lake District fells.
Not a bad place for a rest on a bench.
Heading back down into Kendal.
Zooming in on some purple rock cress, utilising the Vivitar’s macro-focussing capabilities.
Conclusion
I love it. Can’t you tell?
The focal range is so useful, the lens is sturdy in construction, optically sharp and produces some gorgeous images. It’s resulted in rethinking how I shoot, but it’s always good to adjust and evolve your shooting style and knowledge.
Hopefully, this baby will be with me for a long time.