Hidden Gem? Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 MD Vintage Lens Review

A compelling review of the vintage Vivitar 28mm f/2.5 minolta md mount lens with the 62mm filter thread. I adapt this vintage lens to my panasonic GH4 to see how unique this lens is from strange bokeh to rainbow flares.
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Hi my name is Nathan, I’m a cinematographer based in Florida, I’m sharing what I learn in concise videos. Subscribe for my film tutorials, gear reviews, short films and behind the scenes content, every week on KZbin.

[@FernandoQuevedo]

Thanks Nate for your review! I just found this lens on an old box that my father gave me. Looking forward to using it.

[@Cybjon]

The various 28mm with the Vivitar label were made by different manufacturers and have different properties. You can tell who manufactured them from the serial numbers. Yours is made by Kino Precision, and was one of the good ones. Vivitar never made their own lenses but marketed ones made by others (many of which were sold exclusively by Vivitar). Incidentally, just because a lens has a Minolta MD mount doesn't mean it's going to match Minolta quality. If you want more Vivitar lenses, I'd stick to ones with the same serial number (ie 22xxx...) as Kino made decent lenses and they'll match this one. If you Google "Vivitar Serial Numbers" the first result tells you which numbers tally with the different manufacturers. Focusing past infinity is a common quirk when using lens adaptors. If you had a full frame camera you'd not be getting as good results because a micro 4/3 camera takes advantage of the central "sweet spot," while a full frame will have more sharpness fall off at the edges.

[@Agounet]

Hi. I found one with No. 22741253. Apparently from my quick research it would have been made in 74 by "Kino Precision". What is it worth? Can it be better than a 28mm f/2.8 Minolta W. Rokkor MD?

[@swisswildpicsswp3095]

@@Agounet I was asking myself the same question. Anyone did a comparison?

[@maaxrenn]

the 28's are pretty good too

[@fredr.]

@@Agounet The third digit represents the last digit of the year of manufacture (e.g. a '4' could mean 1974 or 1984). The fourth and fifth digits represent the week number of manufacture. The remaining digits would be the actual manufacturing sequence number.

[@Raychristofer]

That intro though. Really well done bro. Thanks for this review

[@gregschmigel]

Thanks for the review. Just grabbed one for my Olympus Micro 4/3.

[@certs743]

Thanks for the video. I have one in MD mount too and I use it as a 50mm equivalent on my Olympus EM 10. I am very happy with it. The funny thing is with that massive front element compared to other 28mm 2,8s you would at first glance expect it to be faster just because there is so much more glass up front.

[@PrabhjotSinghTech]

Great video Nate, liked the intro as well 👌

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thank you!

[@Talismantra]

Thanks for the clear and succinct review - thanks mainly to your review i had confidence to try get one off Ebay and I'm now waiting for a 67mm front diam variant to come from UK to Aust. I especially liked the insect and floral footage you showed, that and the funky blue flaring is something I think I'd like to play with. Cheers

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Talismantra Ah thanks for the kind words!

[@ericchouinard8075]

Thanks Nate for your review!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Appreciate it!

[@EzraWoodIsCool]

Absolutely loved the intro!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks!

[@chicamepa]

One of the Best Intro I've ever seen!!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Aww thanks!

[@samiazzi6021]

First time on your channel, that intro was awesome!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Appreciate it Sami! I should try that again sometime

Great intro Nate :) also enjoyed the review :)

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thank you!

[@portcorner_noise]

I had mine in a box for the best part of 10 years... recently I got an FX mount and started to experiment. I will have to go out and use it in video... in stills I am not convinced, it is a lot less sharp than my 35mm Flektogon 2.4, my Helios, Industars, Takumars and colors are not the greatest either... maybe in video it can give me flaresand other characteristics that the others can't, I will try soon. Its a shame that it isn't doing it for me, its really well built and it is a nice looking lens. Great video!

[@connorwagstaff2348]

Great video, subbed. Nice

[@enriquevp77]

Thanks for your sharing thoughts on this lens. I recently added this same model Manufactured by Kino and your video gives me a clearer idea of its advantages and the proper way to use it.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

I’m glad you found it useful. That’s the biggest thing when buying vintage lenses, you don’t know if it’s a good one or not. I find it useful when other people share a video explaining in detail, so I figured to do the same. :)

[@RichShumaker]

Have you looked at the Sigma fp - seems great on paper heheh!!! I have not used it yet. Excited to see people using it with Vintage Lenses. Seems like a great combination.

[@newfoundmass]

Also if you're looking to get some more MD lenses the Minolta MD Rokkor-X 35-70 mm f/3.5 is a beautiful lens. Also highly recommend the Minolta MD Rokkor-X 50mm f1.7, which which is a great portrait / interview lens.

[@fromaugusto]

Great intro! 👏 Where did you get the music from?

[@smashtime1904]

Have you tried a focal reducer? Right off the bat you can get it back to 39mm... I can tell you the Viltrox to m43 for Nikon goes for like $80 and it is superb and if you look up reviews it seems like thats the consensus. There are other options but considering generics cost about the same and the lens turbo 2 is like $150 I'd say its your best budget option - "Metabones killer." I'm actually doing a video comparing optically "flawed" or "low quality" 28mm lenses, comparing them with better ones(like this lens) and their optical quality without a speedbooster. My theory is that the speedbooster will not only imcrease the FOV and allow in more light but Aldo improve the image quality. I'm basing this on the fact that the flaws are similar to what happens when using a teleconvertor and a focal reducer does the opposite so images should be sharper with better contrast and less chromatic aberrations ect...

[@malennachbruchzahlen]

just came across your channel, very nice videos, i'm a new subscriber

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

malennachbruchzahlen welcome aboard

[@LeendertCordemans]

Nice intro music from a symphonic wind orchestre and reciew.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks!

[@talizhakniya9469]

Hey man! I own 2 of these, one is PK mount and the other is M42 They have different color coatings, but cool thing is that 1 of them (the M42) pairs perfectly with Miranda 50mm f/2 I have here, which is PK mount. I wonder if you have further knowledge about 50mm that should match with the vivitar 28's. I also own a 200mm f/3.5 Vivitar, M42, that seems to also match with them very nice.

[@Zilvinas.Garnelis]

Having ability to focus past infinity might be because of misuse. I once twisted a lens so hard it's helicoid came apart. I had to disassemble everything and calibrate the infinity. It took like 2-3 hours. On a minolta rokkor 50/1,7

[@knoptop]

I’m a fan of the lens flares and focus blur effects of these old lens!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

I would like to have a nice set of vintage lenses I could use for cinema work.

[@scotthansenmtbt4110]

I just bought this lens, I’m impressed with the images sharpness and the color so far. Just came in yesterday so haven’t given it a run through yet but so far, so good! 👍👍

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Sweet! I’ve used it for my A roll setup now that I have full frame!

[@scotthansenmtbt4110]

Nate's Film Tutorials I see why. Mine just has a clean look and the color rendition is awesome! 👍

[@moronsmorons8913]

I'm using the lens with my analog Nikons (F3, FM2 and F801) and it works great with Kodak films (colors, saturation). I don't mind some softness, if I want sharper pictures, I use digital. It's also really the best looking lens I own.

[@henryinfinland]

Is this lens good for landscape and architecture photography? Thank you in advance.

[@pranayshahare738]

I got a kiron make vivitar 28mm via ebay. my aperture doesn't move above 4.0 the aperture ring slips all the way above but aperture dose not close down.. can you share any tear down guide to make things work again.

[@vergeben]

Nice intro... Much of visual content, though. Thank you for your work...

[@marysanchez4789]

Loved the images! Is this lens for full frame cameras?

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Yep!

[@auroraindigo1217]

looks like it has a grey tone, do you have any black n white phoots?

[@herbie.e]

Really really good, I'd like to see a video where you go out somewhere trying to find one of these lenses, might give people an idea of how and where you get them.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

That would be interesting! Most of the time I just find whatever at the yard sales aroud me. I really like to do these tests, because when you buy the lens, usually you have no idea what it will look like.

[@herbie.e]

I'm happy that you seem interested, you can get some good gear in yard sales.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Practically Practical.2 yes, like tripods

[@MajorTomWorkshop]

That's a really great reivew, but the lens doesn't look good to me at all. The contrast and sharpness are really low which means we deal with glass of low quality. Found one with a 22x serial for around $45, not sure if I should get it...

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Who likes the elaborate intro?

[@TheFilmLook]

The music was awesome!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

The Film Look Thanks!!

[@danielgunz2364]

Nate's Film Tutorials it was Clockwork Orange-ish , good stuff mate

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Never watched it, so that's surprising

[@TheUndeadGaucho]

The intro was awesome! Great video.

[@vikmanphotography7984]

Reviewing FF lenses only on M43 makes me sad. The corners are where all the lens character is at!

[@scorpionHexen]

Nate I wonder if you could post a pic of the mount of the lenses. I have a similar lenses with the serial number only changing in the last 4 digits. And I want to use with my m4/3 cam. Thanks!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

I cannot post a picture, but mine was a Minolta md mount, so this adapter works like a treat! amzn.to/317ozz9

[@fernRes7495]

Hi Net, I found very informative your video. I just purchased the same lens; when I purchased the lens came with a Tx-mount. I have a panasonic g7 camera. I can't figure out what adapter do I need for that kind of mount. Just wondering if the adapter link you post it is the same for it. I will appreciate your advise.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

I haven’t heard of t mount. But this adapter should work Fotodiox Lens Mount Adapter - T-Mount (T/T-2) Screw Mount SLR Lens to Micro Four Thirds (MFT, M4/3) Mount Mirrorless Camera Body www.amazon.com/dp/B003EAVUO8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SIf2BbBDWXR81

[@CarlosGomez-jh6ip]

Hi guys! Does anyone know if this lens has radioactive elements?

[@jorgem50]

Using my Canon 50mm f1.8 fd lens I shoot at f2 which provides very sharp images. At f1.8 it's very soft which I do not like.

[@ThBreadMan]

I got one form a pawn shop a year ago and been using it with my Nikon d5100 and I love it I have took some of my best photos with that lens

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Thanks for sharing! Such a good lens

[@ThBreadMan]

@@NatesFilmTutorials hopefully I can pick up another one

[@paulstevenson200]

Your film work is phenomenal. If you dispense with the awful muzak you could make real progress.

[@kwokcheryin7640]

Bro，thank u for your video，I want to know if this lens contains radiation like takumar.

[@Agounet]

Thank you for your review. I was hesitating between a Vivitar 28mm f / 2.5 MD or a Minolta W. Rokkor 28mm f / 2.8 MD. I found both for around $ 50 on eBay but couldn't make up my mind.

[@nitablackwood6301]

Two months late but the minolta 28mm 2.8 is great. I had the vivitar 28mm 2.8 it sucked. But the vivitar 24mm 2.8 is beautiful

[@Agounet]

@@nitablackwood6301 Do not worry. Advice is always appreciated. In the meantime I happen to have purchased a Minolta MD W. Rokkor 28mm f / 2.8 and 35mm f / 2.8 since then. I haven't developed any photos yet, but I really appreciate the compactness and build quality of these lenses. I hesitated between the MC and MD versions, but it would be a shame to miss out on the semi-automatic features.

[@caldera878]

Nice lens and be careful to not point the camera too long directly to the sun for the flare examples. The sensor could get damaged!

[@keeszondervrees8787]

Dear Nate, you can also chance the F-stops on your digital camera to 1/2 stops. Yes? Good luck and thanks for this review. I have the same lens, but that is a Panagor lens, also made by Kiron (Japan) in the '70s.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Good point!

[@raid_or_die8962]

SOMONE PLEASE HELP! I bought a lens at a thrift store and it dosent have ømm on it, its (auto vivitar wide-angle 28mm 1:2.8 no. 3707752) spent 5 bucks is there any chance i get my money back off this??

[@punkrachmaninoff]

If you like this, you should see the Vivitar 'Series 1' 24mm f2.0 on APS-C (or fullframe)...

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Ooohh I need to check that out

[@agape3936]

so, can i mount that onto a bmpcc6k (EF Mount) or would i need a speedbooster or anything? great video!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Nope! As long as you have an EF adapter on your vintage lens, you’re good to go

[@agape3936]

@@NatesFilmTutorials what mount to mount would that be?

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

It depends what lens you have. For mine it’s Pentax K to EF

[@ghettotherapy-pov679]

Oh n link to that hood lens lol

[@mattboozer1569]

I have the same exact lens. I shoot it with my sony A6300 all the time and love it! I did put it on my full frame and it turned it into a macro lens. I don't know if I need to use a different adapter or what but it works awesome with a crop sensor.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Out of curiosity, can you see more of the circle lens flare?

[@saadomar1101]

there is a f2.0 from vivitar 28mm. Wonder how good that would do ?

[@philhodgkinson1460]

It's not so brilliant at f2. but stop down f4/5.6/f8 and it's wonderful lens very sharp and the colours!!!

[@Mcdashiznit]

I got the same lens 10 bucks nice lens

[@ghettotherapy-pov679]

Agrrrrrrr had mine for a month and having darnest problem of finding right adapter for EOS. Help a Viv lover out bro

[@michelcury]

Did you find the adapter? 😅

[@punkrachmaninoff]

very kubrickian intro my dude... you're going to be jelly af, but i have the RARE fd mount vivitar 28mm f2 close focus!!

[@acevalerio6130]

hi do you know what mount do i need for vivitar 28fd to om mount?

[@A1Bokeh]

do you still have and use this lens? intro was sweet!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

I do! I play with it every now and then. Still like it

[@A1Bokeh]

@@NatesFilmTutorials nice man I love lenses that can give a more vintage look..i used to mostly be concerned with sharpness.. A video on the lenses you like to use and why would be pretty sweet

[@NorCal-yeti]

Uhh Vivitar Series 1 are excellent lens

[@bernidre]

Wait, this lens has macro as well?

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Not exactly macro, But can focus fairly close.

[@sixsoxsex1]

is it radioactive?

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

probably..

[@longlee1100]

the day is now my friend. 5d mark 2 going for 500$ lol

[@clarreligei]

Found mine for $400 with shutter count under 2k.

[@casadepistola]

The lens cost $40 in total. ROI: Just fantastic!

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

Sure is!

[@HackMyControlSystem]

For a few seconds, I thought I was watching a Stanley Kubrick film.

[@NatesFilmTutorials]

haha, I was searching up Holst's music which inspired John Williams to create the score for Star Wars. So it kind of stuck.

[@FosterMedia]

100 euros in germany already.

[@A1Bokeh]

def is not 25 dollars on ebay =(

[@dynamax1041]

Hii friend. Its a radioactive lens ?

[@kwokcheryin7640]

Bro，thank u for your video，I want to know if this lens contains radiation like takumar.