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Model history (2)

Specification

Sources of data

• Manufacturer's technical data.
• Vivitar Wide Angle, Telephoto, and Zoom Lenses for 35mm SLR Cameras booklet (May 1968).

Manufacturer description

f1.5 135mm!!

Here is the fastest 135mm telephoto lens made! Despite its remarkable speed the lens has a barrel diameter of only 4 inches, height of 5 1/2 inches and weighs 4 lbs., 3 ozs. Optically it is quite sophisticated with 7 elements in 6 groups. Minimum focusing distance is 6 feet.

It is immediately available in a compatible "T" mount to fit practically all 35mm SLR cameras. It can also be used with both 16mm and 35mm motion picture cameras. The preset lens has full and half stops from f 1.5 to f 22.

From the Camera 35 magazine (August/September 1967)

SUPER-LENS!

VIVITAR'S INCREDIBLE f/1.5 135mm TELE

This lens stands by itself. True, there are 135mm lenses available which will run rings around this one in terms of resolution power. And you'd certainly have no trouble finding a lens of this focal length lighter in weight and smaller in size. But nowhere - we repeat, nowhere - will you find another 135mm telephoto capable of delivering this Vivitar's incredible speed. With a maximum aperture of f/1.5, here is a piece of glass that will let you probe nearly two full stops deeper into darkness than you could with an f/2.8 lens.

How important is this extra speed? Well, if it's a question of getting a picture vs. not getting a picture, it's all-important. True, the Vivitar design does sacrifice some resolving power. But with an f/2.8, your alternative would be to push your film those two stops - and how much resolving power does pushed film lose (not to mention image quality and grain structure)? We suspect that photojournalists will take to this super-speed-tele concept like ducks to water, especially if they shoot a lot of color.

But be forewarned: this is no general purpose lens. First, it's huge - five inches long, four inches wide, weighing a hefty four pounds, eight ounces. Second, it's pre-set. But this should present no problem, since you'd be foolish to use (and pay the price for) a lens specifically designed for speed at any but its widest apertures. If you're an f/8 man, you'll be happier with another optic.

Ditto for you outdoor types. A lens with this much glass area gives less than optimum performance under a bright sun, due to inevitable flare. Even inside, use a lens-hood.

Mechanically, this Vivitar is superb. But this is to be expected, since the lens was originally made for NASA, to rigid government specifications. It lists for less than $600.

From the editor

Vivitar ad says the lens consists of 7 elements in 6 groups, while "Vivitar Wide Angle, Telephoto, and Zoom Lenses for 35mm SLR Cameras" booklet (May 1968) indicates 6 elements in 4 groups. We believe that "6 elements in 4 groups" was in fact the optical formula of the 135/1.8 introduced in 1967, and not the 135/1.5!

Notes

• Independent-brand lenses were made for 35mm film SLR cameras by companies that competed with the camera manufacturers. Some came from factories that made lenses under their own brand names (Angenieux, Kiron, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina). Many others were national and international marketing organizations (Kalimar, Panagor, Rokunar, Soligor, Starblitz) that bought lenses from anonymous manufacturers. One firm — Vivitar — actually designed its own lenses and accessories, which were then subcontracted to manufacturing firms. Still others were private labels, sold only by specific photo specialty shops (Cambron, Quantaray, Spiratone).
• The actual manufacturer of a Vivitar lens can be identified by the first digits of the serial number: 09 - Cosina, 13 - Schneider-Kreuznach, 19 - Sigma, 22 - Kino Precision Industries, 25 - Ozone Optical, 28 - Komine, 32 - Makina Optical, 33 - Asanuma, 37 - Tokina, 42 - Eugen Bauer, 44 - Perkin Elmer, 47 - Chinon, 51 - Tokyo Trading, 56 - Kyoe Shoji, 61 - Samyang, 6x - Olympus, 75 - Hoya, 77 - Kobori, 81 - Polar, 9x - Cosina. This numbering system, however, was used by Vivitar only between 1969 and 1991 (approx.).

Lenses with similar focal length