Vivitar Series 1 28mm f/1.9 Vintage Lens Review Nikon Z6 ProRes Raw

This vintage wide angle lens with a unique build, was part of The SERIES 1 professional line for Vivitar
Does it hold up to it’s 1970’s moniker of being a professional lens?
Can it’s vintage character out weigh it’s vintage aberrations?
Filming Gear:
Nikon Z6: amzn.to/3fSbAL7
Atomos V recorder: amzn.to/3Dmegeu
Fotasy Nikon F to Nikon Z:
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Fotasy Minolta to Nikon Z:
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MD to Leica M
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Nikon to Leica M
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Canon FD to Leica M
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Olympus to Leica M
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Product Photography:
Nikon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D: amzn.to/3H1wIKK
Nikon FTZ Adapter: amzn.to/3fXP3MJ
Audio:
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Studio Lights:
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Neewer CN-160: amzn.to/35aURjR
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[@timskinnercanada]

Wow, your vintage lens reviews are perhaps best I’ve seen on KZbin. I like the nuanced real-world critiques. You’re so right about the build quality on these Series 1 specimens. I don’t have this lens but I fo have a few and I did get the 35-85mm on your recommendation - and I find your impressions to be exactly right. Keep up the great work. Cheers from Canada. :)

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thank you so much for watching! I do like making these video journals of these lenses. The Vivitar 35-85mm stays on my camera. I always find a reason to use it. I try to be as informative and unbiased as I can. But I will admit, the lenses I review are my keepers. I try to find, not just a redeeming quality, but a strong argument for the use of the lens in modern times. I’m glad you enjoy them. Cheers!

[@alanbesedin]

Amazing review 👍👍👍

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thank you! Your IG was very inspiring in making these videos. 👍🏼

[@Snapshott1]

Thanks for doing videos on the original Vivitar Series 1 line up. I've collected al the originals except the CAT lenses. I don't use them much but this video is what I've found with this lens. Character at the wide apertures.

[@pthomas1]

Awaiting one I just found on Ebay hiding in an estate sale camera lot. Enjoyed your review. Concise and thorough. Keep it my up my man!

[@studiotrejo3047]

Sounds like a great find! I’ve gotten some keepers from camera lots. Thank you for the compliments, I do like making them and I will continue making them. Thanks for watching!

[@asalaridze]

Great review! Bokeh on this one is just incredible! Thank you!

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thank you for watching! I do enjoy the bokeh on it. Cheers!

[@sujonmodol5404]

Wow... This is an awesome lens. One day I will find it and grab it.

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thank you for watching! It’s a very fun lens to use and it has a special character many will like. Cheers!

[@albertqss]

I absolutely love this video!

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thank you! You helped make it happen.

[@AlucardRGaming]

Great video, the transition at 0:43 to the knight rider theme is awesome

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thank you for that! The Knight Rider theme is special in my family 😂 More coming, thanks for watching!

[@garystarnes5178]

Great video! The Vivitar 28MM F2.0 Wide Angle Close Focus Is an excellent lens too. Not cheap but the image quality is outstanding! Tack sharp and great color rendition. Highly recommended if you can find a good deal on one.

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thanks for the recommendation! I have been curious to test it out vs the 1.9. I will have to check it out. Thank you for watching!

[@MrGraveful]

Damn this review is fire!

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thank you for watching!

[@classic.cameras]

Just found this lens at a Thrift Store for $33 in F Mount. So excited to use it on my Sony A7iv! Great video!

[@studiotrejo3047]

Wow what a find! Congrats and thank you for watching!

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

I'm watching one on eBay since earlier today :D Tbh I just wanted to see what it was like and your review tells me all I need to know. I don't think I'll bite unless it's really cheap. My go to vintage prime in 28mm is the Cosina f2. It has nice strong flares but it's damn sharp at f2. If I'm not mistaken Cosina used the same lens design in their Voigtländer f2 released a few years back. Thanks for another great review!

[@studiotrejo3047]

Totally understand! I hear great things about the Cósina 28 F2. This one is definitely a specialty lens made for dirtying up the frame. Thanks for watching👍🏼

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

@@studiotrejo3047 I liked the unusual flares but the glowy softness is I bit much. It reminded me of another Series 1 lens. 28-105 f2.8-3.8. I could never tell if I was focused or not. No peeking untill you hit f8 :D

[@studiotrejo3047]

@@LiveMyJourneyTom On this lens the gloryness goes away when you stop it down half a stop. By F/2.8 it's good to go and it will be brighter and sharper than other 28mm that start at 2.8. The 28-105 f2.8-3.8 has different variations so some copies are considered good and others not. I own one and it's very sharp in the center wide open and gets better stopped down. I really like the flares on it and I think I will be reviewing it in the fall.

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

@@studiotrejo3047 interesting. I know about different variations of more well know Vivitars like the S1 70-210. In fact I own 4 of them and they are all dramatically different from. Each other. I think by the design the 28-105 I've had would have been a counterpart the the mediocre 70-210 mk4 made by Cosina. Maybe I'll look for an older one. Have you ever had a chance to test the Tamron 28-105 f2.8? The only copy I've managed to ring was destroyed by fungus ;(

[@LiveMyJourneyTom]

@@studiotrejo3047 that viv 28-105 that you own… is it 67 or 72mm thread size?

[@sszzrr1]

On the ebay, Vivitar 28mm f1.9 is almost expensive as the famous Nikkor 28mm f2 AIS. It looks like a good lens indeed. PS: I think some potrait samples could make the review more popular!

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thanks for watching! I know, this isn’t one of those great cheap find lenses unfortunately. Thanks for the tip.

[@marianosanchez9950]

Really nice video! I liked the images and the detailed review of the lens. I'm currently debating wether to get this Vivitar 28mm 1.9 or an old Sigma 28mm 1.8 EX DG as a stopgapper for the wide angle lens on my Voigtlander mini-kit for Sony. While I wait for them to launch a 24-28mm lens, I want to get a cheap prime that can cover the basis for filmmaking, considering that I expect to use this wide lens no more than 20-30% of the total footage. Do you think that using it from 2.4-2.8 could be reasonable to match some other modern manual lenses for video in overall rendering? Or should I go for a more modern budget option like the Sigma EX DG with aspherical elements in the formula? Thanks!

[@studiotrejo3047]

Thank you for checking out my video! If you want something to match modern manual lenses I would the Sigma if you are talking about a clean image. A vintage lens will have a vintage feel and render a “softer” look even when stopped down. I guess to put it simply it all depends the look you are going for. Filmic or more modern. I hope that helps in your decision. Let me know how it goes!

[@thomasb8063]

I tried it, very beautiful lens.. at 1.9 it's very very soft but at 2.8 it's a razor, at f5.6/f8 it's just perfect! Like all vintage lenses it don't like the sun light in the frame but a part of this it's contrasted and it has beautiful colors

[@studiotrejo3047]

I agree about how it renders at f/2.8 and up. While not perfect at f/2.8 it’s very bright. I’ve used it more than once for projects. It’s a fun lens. Thank you for watching!

[@thomasb8063]

@@studiotrejo3047 thanks you, i just bought the vivitar series 1 200mm f3.0, i hope in a review on your channel

[@studiotrejo3047]

@@thomasb8063 Another great lens. I also have the VS1 200mm f/3. I will review this lens to complete the set of reviews. Stay tuned 👍🏼

[@peterwolftips]

Just considering to selling mine, so I thought I'll check out why I've bought at at the first place. Now you may be has changed my mind lol... I hate these videos (in a good way!) 🤣

[@studiotrejo3047]

I know exactly what you mean. 😆 I have watched other videos of lenses I have and no I don't want to sell. Well maybe you will use it again? Thank you for watching my video!

[@melvinch]

It's basically a lens with a soft filter built-in. 😁

[@studiotrejo3047]

Sounds like an oversimplification but at f1.9 that's the perfect description 😄 Thank you for watching!