Vivitar 35mm F1.9 M42

An unusual and rare lens, it’s both wide and fast allowing for low light photography.

Unlike the common and widely available 2.8 version this is an F1.9 model its designed for low light photography at a wide focal length, the reason why lenses like this are rarer regardless of manufacture is its much more expensive to produce a fast wide angle with the need for the greater number of optics and the initial research and development.

Due to Vivitar’s interesting way to manufacture lenses they would contract different lens manufacturers to produce there design and while the same two lens might look identical the may in fact be produced by two different companies and the only distinguishing identity to that manufacturer is the first two digits of the serial.     

This examples serial number starts with 28 and thus Komine.

The vivitar is such a wonderful lens to use, Iv used it for a couple of years adapting it to a canon 5D and to be able to use depth of field with a wide angle like one does with fast primes is most rewarding .

Its ideal for all types of photography, landscape, still life, groups, indoor.

This example is in the M42 screw mount meaning is can be mounted to a native m42 mount lens like the pentax spotmatic.

Alternatively in a modern context it can be adapted to digital via an adapter such as canon eos or to mirrorless cameras such as the  EOS M, Olympus OMD, sony nex ect.

Overall Condition:  Very Good.

External condition: Good because the metal ridged focus ring is metal the paint on the sharp edges has rubbed very lightly to show a little bit of the metal. Also the leading edge of the hyper focal length scale has paint wear. 

Operational condition: Fully operational

Aperture: clean and crisp

Focus ring: smooth

Optically: Clean, free from fungus, scratches and haze.

Lens NO: 28404560