Vivitar Series 1 (???)

[mdude85]

I seem to be hearing some good stuff coming out about the Vivitar Series 1 19-35 f3.5-4.5, even though Vivitar lenses have generally a bad reputation. What does everyone think? Someone on another review equated the 19-35 as the "50 mm 1.8 of wide angle zooms."

[DaveG]

I seem to be hearing some good stuff coming out about the Vivitar Series 1 19-35 f3.5-4.5, even though Vivitar lenses have generally a bad reputation. What does everyone think? Someone on another review equated the 19-35 as the "50 mm 1.8 of wide angle zooms."

I had a Vivitar Series One 200 mm f3 (!) that was very good optically but packed it in mechanically after just a couple of years of moderate use. The diaphragm started to stop down asymmetrically and I figured it was only a matter of time before the whole thing seized up. The original cost, plus the cost to have this repaired would have been very close to what a Nikkor lens would have cost in the first place. Since then it's been my personal policy to put Nikkor lenses on Nikons and Canon lenses on Canons.

Vivitar used to be King of the Brand X lenses in the 1970's and 80's, but have been passed by the Tamron, Tokina and Sigma's. So if I was looking to get a non Canon lens, I'd look to one of those company's premium lens lines first.