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

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

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!

Customer Service

nope--its strong

Similar Products Used:

many many many.this is the best

Cost Optical Quality

Build Quality Adapter may Ghost with Long Exposures

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.

Similar Products Used:

SMCP-M 50 f/4 Macro

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

None that I have noticed.

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.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

Too many to list.

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

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.

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.

Sharp Light Inexpensive

Plastic construction may lose some apparently non-essential parts.

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.

Customer Service

This lens has lost some plastic trim, but they have never affected its functioning, and I've never bothered sending it for service. However, long ago I had another vivitar lens serviced, and it was excellent -- fast, free, and delivered with a smile.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 105mm 2.8 macro Sigma 105mm 2.8 macro Sigma 180mm 2.8 macro

Outstanding macro performance, just make sure to do macro photography correctly, tripod, mirror locked up, cable release, and stop down for depth of field.

slow autofocus, cheap construction, average sharpness at infinity.

This lens produces over 120 lines of resolution from 1/1 to 1/10 macro focusing distance, this is the same performance as the current Leica 100mm apo, and nearly twice the 68 lines of resolution produced by the 105mm macro Nikkor. Its cheap construction but has unbeatable sharpness.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

too many to list.

The price and the ability to go 1:1 with the attachment.

Soft details, plastic construction.

Purchased this lens for use on my Nikon but now wish I hadn't. Photos lack the sharpness I'm looking for although non-photographers appear to think the pictures are good. You have to have confidence in your lens and this one just doesn't cut it for me.

Customer Service

Haven't used

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 90mm macro

The glass inside.

Will not survive much abuse.

I purchased this lens after reading a publication's favorable review on it. It is well talked about. For the price, it has no right to be as sharp as it is. The color is good, not great. I have used it countless times for macrophotographs and it's produced every time. This lens can actually be used for pro work.

Customer Service

Never had to call.

Similar Products Used:

90mm F2.8 Elmarit-M

For the money you can't get a better lense. I bought this lense to use with my Nikon N65 and had nothing but great clear shots!

No real weakness unless you mind plastic.

Crisp and clear

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 50mm f 1.8.

Clarity, clarity, clarity. 1:20-1:1 ratio is incredible. Small, lightweight, well designed lens. Accurate and precise focus ring. $120 price tag, new, online, with warranty (B&H Photo is great!)

Need a screw on adapter to reach 1:1 (what doesn''t?) Need to turn focus ring practically 360 degrees to go all the way through it''s 1:20-1:1 range.

As a young natural photographer, and a serious artist-in-the-works (I''m going to school for this, folks) I can''t say enough about this lens. I shoot the Canon Manual Focus FD mount, and I can''t think of a bad thing to say about it. I normally just come to this site to look, but this lens inspired me to review! Take my word, it''s phenomenal.

Customer Service

Haven''t needed it, and that''s the best kind of all!

Similar Products Used:

Various other macro lenses, I''m a learning photography student; what haven''t I played with?