Rare lenses?

[shooter438]

Hello everyone I'm a new user and still have although I don't use much anymore my Pentax MX with 50.1.7 since 1978. I have also retained two lenses that I'm curious about and am wondering if anyone else has ever heard of or used. I have a Vivitar Serious One 28-90 1.3.5 and a Series One 90-180 Flatfield zoom which focuses to 1.2 and is very sharp. Thanks. Glad to be here.

[spyglass]

Welcome to PentaxWorld.

Vivitar was a very interesting company. They made a very strong push with their flash units and lenses and seemed to have good representation in my stores. They did contract out many of their lenses. The link below may help tell you more about your lenses.

http://www.cameraquest.com/VivLensManuf.htm

You also may find This
 discussion interesting[url]

I would enjoy seeing some examples shot with these lenses.


Spyglass

[blackcloudbrew]

You didn't say which Pentax series that 50mm lens is. If it's an M, it's supposed to be a very good one.

I don't personally know the two Vivitars but from what I've read the 28-90 get's high marks and is considered a classic lens. It's worth is likely in the $50-100 range. The 90-180 is supposed to be built like a tank and is superior to the 28-90. It's worth is around $150 or so. If all of these lenses are in good condition (no fungus, scratches, or oil on the blades), I'd say they are keepers to use with some pride.

[shooter438]

Thanks for the replys, and yes the 50mm is an M and both zooms are mint-. I'll have to try to find some prints or revive my MX and shoot some slides to test operation.

[shooter438]

If these lenses are as good as you say and are sharper than my memory, then, would they be useful on a pentax dslr?

[blackcloudbrew]

Absolutely useful on a modern Pentax DSLR. I don't personally have any M lenses but I've got a few M42's that are even older and several Vivitars that I enjoy using.

[shooter438]

Seems like all that that exists in the photographic world to everyone else is a Canon or a Nikon. Without much of a budget to work with I am considering buying a Pentax DSLR body aaaand beginning with the lenses that I have. Does anyone think this is reasonable? or worth it. I'm not an aspiring professional I just want to pursue my hobby and try to make satisfying photos. Thanks.

[blackcloudbrew]

That is reasonable. I would suggest you look at a K-r and buy it with the kit lens a DA 18-55. It's good to have an auto focus lens to get familiar with your DSLR and it's a very respectable kit lens. To be clear, while the older lenses will work with a DSLR, they work a little differently in how you meter the subjects. So getting the kit lens with a body will give you a good stable base to learn from. It's not hard using older manual focus lenses with DSLRs but it's not as easy as a modern lens.

About Canikon's seeming like they are all there is. While it's true that they have a large share of the market, there is Sony, Pentax, Olympus, and some others too. Pentax is around 5% of the market. If you are lucky enough that your local photo store stocks Pentax equipment, you would be able to hold one but mostly you are going to get it at New York stores like B&H or Adorama online.

[shooter438]

Thanks for the advice. As of now I'm using an advanced compact with auto, ap priority shutter priority manual program custom and I'm learning how to make the best photos within its limitations. If I learn to use it's full potential, perhaps then I'll appreciate how to make even better photos with a dslr and will be able to make a better decision with the forums help and a professional dealers help.  Thanks for the help. In the meantime I'll keep saving and using my compact and Pentax mx until I can make the leap.

[blackcloudbrew]

That's what we are here for.