Sony E-mount adapted VIVITAR Series 1 70-210mm f2.8-4 Manual Focus Macro Zoom

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Sony E-mount adapted VIVITAR Series 1 70-210mm f2.8-4 Manual Focus Macro Zoom Lens - NEX 7 - 28413298Offered is a superbly-built Sony NEX adapted "Komine-built" Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f2.8-4 manual focus 3X macro zoom lens, for use on any Sony NEX or Alpha mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera. It is a "one-touch" push-pull zoom. It has an equivalent focal range of approximately 105-315mm on a 1.5x "crop factor" Sony mirrorless ILC, and remains at 70-210mm on the Alpha 7 "full-frame" bodies. This is undoubtedly the Series 1 lens that has most earned the label "cult lens". The similar Tokina and Kiron-built versions of this lens are also very competent, but for my money I will choose the Komine version every time. Not only is this iconic optic tack sharp across the focal range, it provides very fine macro capabilities. The "locked-out" macro function operates between 100 and 210mm, and has a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.5. This is significantly more desirable than the typical 1:4 ratio that is common for this class of macro-zoom lens. The minimum focus distance is about 26 inches from the front element. It has a 62mm filter thread, that rotates during focus, so a circular polarizer is recommended. Though sized similarly as many other lenses in this focal range, it will startle you when you pick one up...it weighs almost 2 pounds. Fortunately, it is well-balanced, and I have comfortably shot these hand-held on just about every type of mirrorless, SLR , and DSLR. The optical configuration is a complex 14 element in 10 groups design, with a very round aperture formed by 9 aperture blades. Notable is the innovative counter-balancing of the zoom barrels. In my extensive handling of many examples of this lens, the counter-balanced scheme almost eliminates "creep". Usually I don't prefer "push-pull" zooms, but in this instance [once you master the "wrist dance"], it facilitates a very quick zoom/focus strategy. I have heard a couple of internet "experts" say that they had one of these lenses that did "creep", but I have yet to run into one that does. The Sony mirrorless ILC shown in image #12 is for illustrative purposes only. The camera is not included in this listing.I have recently learned that the new Sony A7 II has a metal bayonet that does not fit well with most aftermarket adapters. Some of my clients with the A7 II have been testing various adapters for me. It appears that both the Fotga [Prost] adapter and the Fotodiox adapter do not have the fit issue. Still, if you have this camera and have an adapter you prefer, then I would be willing to ship it without the adapter, and refund $9The original Vivitar Series 1 lenses made quite a splash in 1975 when they were introduced to the professional photographers of the era, as they were truly innovative, and the optical quality was unrivaled. The genesis of these still highly-regarded lenses was the result of exceptional lens design---aided by then state-of-the-art computers, coupled with fanatic production tolerances being demanded of the four principal lens manufacturers. Vivitar was committed to become one of the big dogs in 35mm lenses, and they succeeded through the five versions of the Series 1 line, particularly the first three. The design of these lenses was actually performed by the Connecticut firm of Opcon Associates, under the direction of chief designer and optical physicist Ellis I. Betensky. He was their ace-in-the-hole, as his previous post as a senior optical designer for Perkin-Elmer had allowed him to help design some of NASA's renowned optics, such as the Hubble telescope. Several of the Series 1 lenses can trace direct lineage to US Military optics, examples being the 600mm and 800mm mirror lenses. Ellis Betensky now is a partner and chairman in the famed optical consultancy, Light Capture, Inc., and among his accolades is an Academy Award for the Panavision Zoom Lens; an Emmy Award for Projection Television; and the Eli Whitney Award from the Connecticut Patent Law Association.A typical routine for setting up an ILC up for using a legacy manual focus lenses is to first go into the Setup menu and Enable "Release w/o Lens", set the "Focus Peaking" to Medium. Then I put the Mode dial on "A", or Aperture Priority, set the White Balance on Auto, and choose an appropriate ISO according to light conditions. This is generally between ISO 100-400, and bumped up to 800-1600 for capturing insects and birds in flight, or night shooting. The f-stop is controlled manually with the aperture ring, and I generally 6-f11, depending on desired "depth-of-field". In Aperture Priority the camera will set the shutter speed, according to the amount of light passing the aperture blades and striking the sensor. Rarely in daylight will the speeds be less than 1/500 th , and if you shoot wide open they can be as fast as 1/4000 th of a second plus.Much of the enjoyment of mirrorless photography is seeing how these classic 30 to 50 year-old "legacy" lenses measure up in the digital age. So I go out and "road test" the most interesting ones that people may not be familiar with. Usually I capture some landscape and architecture, and then do some closest focus work with flowers and critters. It's fun, and gives a NEX shooter a real world idea of what they can get from their equipment. I shoot them without filters in Fine JPG, and then upload the uncropped, unaltered JPGs to eBay. eBay of course shrinks them down with their software, but I have found that if you use either the "rollover" or "double- The aperture ring was on f11 for all sample images, in Aperture Priority, and White Balance on Auto. Image #3 was taken at ISO 200, with a shutter speed of 1/640 th of a second. All other samples were shot at ISO 100. Images #4, #5 had shutter speeds of 1/400 th and 1/640 th of a second. The shutter speeds for Images #8 and #9 were 1/320 th and 1/500 th of a second.This Made in Japan lens is graded as in GOOD condition, exhibiting minor indications of prior use, such as a pinhead-size nick on the leading edge of the focus/zoom barrel [ SEE PHOTOS]. Front and rear elements are nice, and aperture blades are free of oil and snappy. The focus and zoom actions are smooth and damped, and the zoom does not "creep", even when held "nose down". Aperture detents are medium and definitive, in half-stops. The Fotga OM to E-mount adapter with rear cap, and a front Series 1 cap are included.Glass Disclaimer - Frequently, lenses, even when brand new, will have a slight amount of dust visible within the lens elements. This is a result of the manufacturing process and will not affect image quality or resolution. As a result, used lenses may exhibit the same consistencies.All items are shipped USPS Priority Mail and are insured up to $100. Items which are more than $100 will also be insured. I furnish Signature Confirmation at my expense on items addressed to an apartment.International shipping will be through the e B a y " Global Shipping Program " exclusively. This is a list of the eligible countries for this program:Austria ; Australia ; Bahrain ; Belgium ; Brazil ; Bulgaria ; Canada ; Chile ; China ; Colombia ; Costa Rica ; Croatia ; Cyprus ; Czech Republic ; Denmark ; The Dominican Republic ; Estonia ; Finland ; France ; Germany ; Greece ; Hong Kong ; Hungary ; Indonesia ; Ireland ; Israel ; Italy ; Japan ; Kuwait ; Latvia ; Lithuania ; Malaysia ; Malta ; Mexico ; Netherlands ; New Zealand ; Norway ; Panama ; Philippines ; Poland ; Portugal ; Qatar ; Romania ; Saudi Arabia ; Singapore ; Slovakia ; Slovenia ; South Africa ; South Korea ; Spain ; Sweden ; Switzerland ; Taiwan ; Thailand ; Trinidad and Tobago ; Turkey ; Ukraine ; United Arab Emirates ; United KingdomIf your country is not on that list, contact me first before buying and I will consider it predicated on your feedback and past performance. Any other circumstances will have the transaction canceled. In such cases of international shipping, be advised that shipping and insurance charges will be added to the total. I insure all of my gear read more

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