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Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5
Series E vs Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4
Weight: 19oz & 30.2oz
7 aperture blades
Filter Sizes: 52mm & 62mm
This isn't apples to apples. The Vivitar has more range and more size.
This is by no means an exhaustive fest, but a quick shootout of two
lenses with cult followings.. The Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm comes in a
lot of different versions, this one is a Komine version. Both lenses
can be picked up for about $50 used. There is a
nice data page here for the Vivitars.
These images were shot back to back on a tripod with remote release and fast enough shutter to stop slight motion (1/2000 to 1/500). White balance was set to daylight. Shot on a 24mp Sony A7. Mouse over to compare images.
Both lenses wide open, the Nikon at f/3.5 and the Vivitar at 2.8
Corners wide open.
f/4 corners
On to f/5.6
Corners
At f/8
Corners at f/8
Nikon 150mm f/8 vs Sony Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 at f/4
Corners of the Nikon and Sony Zeiss
In the end I'm surprised at how much better the petite Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E is when compared to the Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4. I expected some subtle differences, perhaps I have a bad copy of the Vivitar, it's hard to say with lenses this old. Regardless I've been impressed by the Nikon 75-150mm time and time again, impossible to beat at the prices they go for.
Weight: 19oz & 30.2oz
7 aperture blades
Filter Sizes: 52mm & 62mm
This isn't apples to apples. The Vivitar has more range and more size.
These images were shot back to back on a tripod with remote release and fast enough shutter to stop slight motion (1/2000 to 1/500). White balance was set to daylight. Shot on a 24mp Sony A7. Mouse over to compare images.
A nice clear day for our
test scene, visibility over thirty miles.
Both lenses wide open, the Nikon at f/3.5 and the Vivitar at 2.8
Corners wide open.
Moving on to f/4 in the
center. The Vivitar improves slightly, I just left the Nikon at f/3.5
and it still smokes the Vivitar
Series 1.
Corners
On to f/5.6
f/5.6 corners
Corners
On to f/5.6
f/5.6 corners
I would think the Vivitar
images were out of focus, except they were manually focused at 10x
magnification.
Now at f/8
f/8 corners
Now at f/8
f/8 corners
Well at 70mm this
is a true testament to the legendary Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E.
Perhaps this is a bad copy of the Vivitar or it improves at 150mm, the
weakest focal length of the Nikon. Side by side it looks like the
Vivitar 150mm is a bit tighter than the Nikon at 150mm. Purple fringing
abounds on the Vivitar and red on the Nikon.
150mm f/4f/4 corners
On to f/5.6
Corners
At f/8
Corners at f/8
Nikon 150mm f/8 vs Sony Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 at f/4
Corners of the Nikon and Sony Zeiss
In the end I'm surprised at how much better the petite Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E is when compared to the Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/2.8-4. I expected some subtle differences, perhaps I have a bad copy of the Vivitar, it's hard to say with lenses this old. Regardless I've been impressed by the Nikon 75-150mm time and time again, impossible to beat at the prices they go for.