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Vivitar Series 1 19-35AF 35mm Zoom

3.9/5 (40 Reviews)

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  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeZoom Lens
    Focal Length19mm - 35mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/3.5-f/4.5
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    Closest Focusing Distance19.2 in
    Picture Angle63 - 97 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size77 mm
    Groups / Elements13 Elements in 11 Groups
    Diameter3.2 in
    Length2.8 in
    Weight11.04 oz
    MPN312862
    Product ID20723669

Product Description



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Reviews 1 - 5 (40 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:2
Value Rating:3
Submitted by Vaskhod a Expert

Date Reviewed: April 9, 2009

Strengths:    Color rendition in natural light.
'Micro contrast'

Weaknesses:    Poor AF
CA
Purple fringing
Very soft at many apertures.
Never ever 'tack sharp'

Bottom Line:   
GBP £20

Macho looking lens. Using it on a Canon 1000D, APS-C DSLR.
Lens is soft as soap below F9-F11 and above F20.
Beautiful color rendition and microcontrast - reminds me of Minolta lenses
I have owned in the past. Some chromatic aberation and pruple fringing
in certain light. This lens is rarely convincingly sharp it seems.
Best results using manual focus - AF hopeless in poor light oon my Canon 100D.
The Canon 18-55 IS kit lens blows this lens away..and yet I like using it
still for landscape and 'portrait-style' candids because of the qualities.

Owing to softness at most apertures, this lens is useful only in good, natural
light. USeless for flash photography and it seems terrible white balance
under artifical light.

Strangely this lens is very very good when shooting monochrome.
Somehow much sharper and WB and CA etc not an issue when used
for monochrome.

On a APS-C low distortion and not noticeable vignetting.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $20.00

Purchased At:   charity shop

Similar Products Used:   Minolta 24-85
Canon 18-55
Sony 18-70

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by vrosario63 a Expert

Date Reviewed: December 31, 2004

Strengths:    Fast Focus
Bang for the buck
clarity and color

Weaknesses:    somewhat flimsy
front portion of lens turns with focus

Bottom Line:   
I take all types of photos. But never really needed a wide angle lens. So I desided to look forsomething not too expensive. Being I had used the Vivitar series 1 on my film camera. I desided to try the 19-35 AF on my Canon 20D. And to my surprise, the images are clean and clear. Focus was fast.Can't beat it for the money.

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $150.00

Purchased At:   Cameta Camera

Similar Products Used:   Canon 28-135 IS USM
Canon 85 USM

Type of photography:   Other

Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:5
Submitted by nspur a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: October 21, 2004

Strengths:    Good all-round performer of its class.
Good value for money.
Build quality is good (better than the Vivitar branded version)

Weaknesses:    Lens ring rotates on focus.
AF is a bit noisy and not too quick

Bottom Line:   
My copy of this 19-35 zoom lens is badged Cosina and is champagne coloured with a red ring around the focussing ring (like the Canon L lenses). While it is not in the same league as Canon L glass it is a good performer even at 19mm and full aperture. Stopped down to f5.6 it is very crisp and colour balance is good. I had one in Minolta fit for 12 years and currently in Canon fit.

It's very useful for landscape and architectural photography and interiors. More for film SLRs than digital with a crop factor of 1.5/1.6

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $230.00

Purchased At:   Jacobs (UK)

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:5
Submitted by wardy a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: June 19, 2004

Strengths:    A great lens for the money

Weaknesses:    Build Quality. Front of lens rotates when focussing so a bit of a pain when using filters.

Bottom Line:   
Had this lens for about 7 years and used it loads, mainly landscapes, focus ring very loose however it has'nt got any worse over the years. Auto focus fast but a bit noisey. optics are good when stopped down and flare not much of a problem for this type of lens. Edge sharpness a bit soft at the 19mm end.This lens is more robust than it feels, mine has taken a fair beating over the years and its ok.Excellent Value for money

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $159.00

Purchased At:   Darligton photo cent

Similar Products Used:   Sigma 24mm f2.8 fixed, sigma 24-70f2.8ex

Type of photography:   Outdoor

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

Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004

Strengths:    Excellent sharpness
Excellent color
Excellent contrast
Fast focusing
Light weight
Compact

Weaknesses:    Feels fragile, but mine has never failed despite robust use

Bottom Line:   
For the dollar, this is the best lens I've ever owned. I have used it for many years [since it was introduced, almost 20 years ago] on Nikons, and it has always given me knife sharp pictures with excellent color and contrast. It also focuses very quickly, virtually instantly, in AF mode.

It is a very light and small lens, so it easily fits into a camera bag. The construction SEEMS flimsy, mostly plastic, but mine has gone around the world with me many times, and survived deserts, swamps, and Arctic cold. It has never failed to perform.

Like all wide lenses, it is prone to flare when pointed toward a bright light source, but so are my more expensive wide angle lenses.

Anyone looking for a wide angle zoom should take a good look at this lens!

[Note: I inadvertantly posted this review under the manul focus ens by mistake. My review is definitely for the AF version!]



Must stay aware of flare when shooting toward light source, and control it

Sigma 12-24mm
Sigma 15-30mm
Sigma 15mm
nikkor 16mm
Mikkor 20mm

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $139.00

Purchased At:   Miko's, Santa Monica

Similar Products Used:   Sigma 12-24mm
Sigma 15-30mm
Sigma 15mm
nikkor 16mm
Mikkor 20mm

Type of photography:   People


Reviews 1 - 5 (40 Reviews Total) | Next 15

Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

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  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeZoom Lens
    Focal Length19mm - 35mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/3.5-f/4.5
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    Closest Focusing Distance19.2 in
    Picture Angle63 - 97 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size77 mm
    Groups / Elements13 Elements in 11 Groups
    Diameter3.2 in
    Length2.8 in
    Weight11.04 oz
    MPN312862
    Product ID20723669
    Other Features<li>f3.5-4.5 <li>Filter size: 77mm <li>Minimum focusing distance: 1.6 ft.


 

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