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Vivitar 100mm f3.5 macro 35mm Primes

4/5 (25 Reviews)

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  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length100mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/3.5
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Macro LensWith Macro Lens
    Macro Magnificationx 2
    Closest Focusing Distance16.8 in
    Picture Angle24 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size49 mm
    Groups / Elements5 Elements in 4 Groups
    Diameter2.6 in
    Length2.7 in
    Weight9.44 oz
    MPN218430
    Product ID20723721

Product Description



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Reviews 1 - 5 (25 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Christiano a Professional

Date Reviewed: March 22, 2005

Strengths:    NEED I SAY ALL??? need i?its also made in japan..

Weaknesses:    too cheap and its not a nikon canon-or any brand hypo type

Bottom Line:   
as a pro,i demand the best for my eye;this product is cheap but nevertheless much much in a class of its own,no regard of its cost-.
It is more than pure best buy,sharp sharp sharp sharp and a joy to use.
Its the same lens as from Phoenix and also of course made in japan,you can not go wrong and its on par with the sigma ,tamron and other hig brand names! BUY IT NOW!

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   11-20 years

Price Paid:    $169.00

Purchased At:   adorama

Similar Products Used:   many many many.this is the best

Type of photography:   Other

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Ranukhan a Casual

Date Reviewed: March 10, 2005

Strengths:    Cost
Optical Quality

Weaknesses:    Build Quality
Adapter may Ghost with Long Exposures

Bottom Line:   
This is one amazing lens for the cost. Although the lens itself is only capable of a 1:2 macro, it comes with a matched 1:1 close up adapter.

Now, many photographers will cringe at the mention of a close up adapter, claiming they destroy image quality. For the most part they are right, but this adapter provides very good results. I can see little to no loss in sharpness when using it.

On the downside, I have noticed ghosting on occasion when using the adapter with long exposures.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   0-1 years

Price Paid:    $50.00

Purchased At:   Ebay

Similar Products Used:   SMCP-M 50 f/4 Macro

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by bobinarabia a Professional

Date Reviewed: September 24, 2004

Strengths:    Extremly sharp, vivid color reproduction with slide film, fast auto focus in portrait range.

Weaknesses:    None that I have noticed.

Bottom Line:   
I have this lens in the Pentax Super Multi Coated version. It focuses to 1:2.
I use it as a portrait lens and get incredible sharp pictures wide open with the on camera flass. A very sweet lens.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $200.00

Purchased At:   Pentax Arabia

Similar Products Used:   Too many to list.

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by petrov a Casual

Date Reviewed: September 22, 2004

Strengths:    Great quality for an unbelievable price. I paid $45 for my Vivitar. Come on, this is not serious!

Weaknesses:    The lens body is made of plastic, which gives it a very precarious feel. It will probably not survive any serious impact. Still, macro work is supposed to be the most controlled and risk-free photo occupation. I told myself: if you can allow yourself to have one plasticky lens, let it be your macro.

Bottom Line:   
I love the fact that there are always people on this forum, who will take a 100-dollar lens and make a point of saying that it is not as good as a 1000-dollar Nikon AIS that they have. Very well! But we are talking about a 100-dollar lens!
I just got back my first roll of slides shot with the Vivitar 100mm. The sharpness is absolutely stunning. I blew up one of the shots to 8x10 (after doing some cropping) and got excellent clarity. A lens, and a macro at that, in this price range cannot be that sharp. Yet it is. I don't find the 1:1 attachment that much of a detraction.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   0-1 years

Price Paid:    $45.00

Purchased At:   eBay

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:5
Submitted by SWANNY a Expert

Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004

Strengths:    Sharp
Light
Inexpensive

Weaknesses:    Plastic construction may lose some apparently non-essential parts.

Bottom Line:   
This lens is a great value.

Out of the box, it focuses to a 1:2 magnification ratio, and it is very sharp at all apertures and ranges. It comes with an accessory "closeup" attachment, a single element lens like a filter, to let you focus to 1:1, but with the accessory lens, it loses a lot of sharpness. I never use it that way.

It is light and inexpensive, and I have carried it around the world. It has a plastic barrel, and lost some trim in its travels, but it has always taken sharp photos, no matter that the lens now looks battered, nearly shattered.

To get into macro photography inexpensively, but with a lens that will give you great results, this Vivitar can't be beat.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $99.00

Purchased At:   Simon's, Hollywood

Similar Products Used:   Nikon 105mm 2.8 macro
Sigma 105mm 2.8 macro
Sigma 180mm 2.8 macro

Type of photography:   People


Reviews 1 - 5 (25 Reviews Total) | Next 15

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  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length100mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/3.5
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Macro LensWith Macro Lens
    Macro Magnificationx 2
    Closest Focusing Distance16.8 in
    Picture Angle24 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size49 mm
    Groups / Elements5 Elements in 4 Groups
    Diameter2.6 in
    Length2.7 in
    Weight9.44 oz
    MPN218430
    Product ID20723721


 

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