Good enough! Vivitar 70-210 1:4.5 MC Macro Focussing Zoom

Cost: 17$ (average market price $35)

As a no core manufacturer brand, I wasn't expecting to much. Although the lens is made of solid metal, the front barrel was a little wobbly. And the lens is kind of narrow for a big zoom lens of that time, resulting in a rather slow 4.5 maximum aperture. But it actually performed better then I expected, once I compensated with some extra ISO.

Very easy to focus, even for small subjects as a bird in an open sky (below picture of the Osprey was cropped extensively). Push and pull type, and when in focus, it remains in focus when zooming in or out. Good and fast enough to take a reasonable sharp picture of a heron in flight. I don't think that the other photographers in the reserve, using mouth watering 500mm Canon lenses, were that much better. I was also reasonable for Macro with a nice smooth Bokeh (red flower below) and enough detail to see the pollens on the bee's body.

All in all, a nice lens. Nothing to rave about, and it will not win beauty contests, but better then the price I paid would indicate. Will need to try some of the other Vivitar lenses I own.

RMC, or Rainbow Multi Coated, stands for a multiple of chemical coatings for lens surfaces with minimum light loss. The result is a dramatic improvement in both color fidelity and brightness and the elimination of flare and ghost images.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 70-210mm
Maximum Aperture: F4.5
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Pentax PK
Optics: 8 Elements, 12 Groups
Blades: 6
Focussing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 160cm (110cm in macro mode)
Filter Size: 52mm
Weight: 530g
Length: 135mm
Production: 1980's
Serial Number: 77331609
Made in: Japan (by Kobori)
More information on: Vivitar Corporation
More information on: Kobori Manufacturing, Inc

Samples:
All pictures taken with the Lens Turbo II adapter

1/800s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/2000s - ISO800 - Handheld

1/640s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/640s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/640s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1000s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1000s - ISO800 - Handheld

1/100s - ISO800 - Handheld

1/1250s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1250s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1250s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/1000s - ISO800 - Handheld

1/1250s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/200s - ISO800 - Handheld



1/1600s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/125s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

1/4000s - ISO800 - Handheld - Cropped

References:
Pentax Forums
All Photo Lenses