Vivitar 35ES first photos

Greyscale

Greyscale

Veteran
Local time
5:08 PM
Joined
Jul 26, 2010
Messages
5,381
What a sweet little shooter this little Vivitar is. Sharp, sharp lens, and seems to meter OK using silver oxide batteries.

5688566660_a4a67478af_b.jpg


5687997979_41e3e6bc37_b.jpg


5688568674_50323e9698_b.jpg


5687999847_d96bf60298_b.jpg


5688000671_e3b03aa113_b.jpg


5688001281_26521aca96_b.jpg
 
I've been thinking about picking up another compact RF to compliment my Olympus RC (something with a faster lens) and this Vivitar crossed my mind. Fair to say that you are pretty satisfied with it? Of course it seems like finding one may be a little bit of a hunt.
 
VTHokiEE said:
I've been thinking about picking up another compact RF to compliment my Olympus RC (something with a faster lens) and this Vivitar crossed my mind. Fair to say that you are pretty satisfied with it? Of course it seems like finding one may be a little bit of a hunt.
Click to expand...
Yes, I like this little Vivitar very much, it just feels right to me. Fast lens, great ergonomics, outstanding build quality and finish (the best of any of the compact rangefinders that I have yet tried, although the Minolta Hi-Matic E was close), and so pretty. I think it is well worth seeking one out.
 
Watsa Bokeh like though? ;) J/K :)

Seriously though, isn't that a Shutter Priority camera? How do you get low aperture "effects" with it? Undeniably sano pics though...
 
It being shutter priority shouldn't have any effect on lens apertures, as metering is metering. The problem is w/ the leaf shutter, as you're limited by the available top shutter speeds. Compared to an SLR for example w/ a top shutter speed of 1/2000 to 1/8000, there just isn't much shutter speed available for open aperture shots in bright light. In low light or w/ slow film you're good to go, but then you have to be concerned about your subject being blurred from low shutter speeds. The lens on that camera looks great.
 
Last edited:
Steve M. said:
Compared to an SLR for example w/ a top shutter speed of 1/2000 to 1/8000, there just isn't much shutter speed available for open aperture shots in bright light.
Click to expand...

I think it's more approprite to compare FL RF's to SLR's of same era. What max. speeds they did have - 1/500, 1/1000? Maybe even 1/2000 were there. Well, not that it's important.

But there's a solution for mentioned application - ISO100 film + yellow filter, that shoud work to some reasonable extent. Or even pulling or bying more expensive sub-ISO100 film. Or stronger filter, over all that.
 
Cosina made this and the other little RF for Vivitar and Konica. There were slight changes to the shape of the top deck, but the two models are otherwise mechanically identical (Vivitar vs. Konica).

Excellent little cameras with very good lenses. And I like what you've done with it. Really nice photos.
 
I've come across an scale-focus version of the ES on eBay, the Vivitar 35EF. And I am tempted to bid on it. It is very similar to the Konica C35EF, but with the top deck like the ES.
 
I'd hold off on the Vivitar 35EF Greyscale. I purchased one on eBay about a year or so ago for a grand total of $7...and I'm glad that that was all I paid. I found the build quality to be much inferior to that of the 35ES and 35EE. The camera is larger overall than the 35ES, and the top plate is not enamel painted, but rather a black (anodized?) aluminum. It just felt/feels much cheaper to me.
 
jmca21 said:
I'd hold off on the Vivitar 35EF Greyscale. I purchased one on eBay about a year or so ago for a grand total of $7...and I'm glad that that was all I paid. I found the build quality to be much inferior to that of the 35ES and 35EE. The camera is larger overall than the 35ES, and the top plate is not enamel painted, but rather a black (anodized?) aluminum. It just felt/feels much cheaper to me.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up. the BIN price was way to steep to take a flyer on it anyway.
 
Reviving this thread to sing the praises of the Vivitar 35es. I often bring it along when I'm shooting my Leica...the Vivitar is a great back-up!

Here's some shots from the last roll:

U26723I1361334863.SEQ.4.jpg


U26723I1361334862.SEQ.3.jpg


U26723I1361334862.SEQ.2.jpg
 
These were my two go-to set-ups for the "Decisive Challenge" photography contest this weekend. The Vivitar is a nice little shooter...fast in use and good image quality.

U26723I1387155614.SEQ.0.jpg
 
The Vivitar ES is the sibling model to the Konica Auto S3. Both were made by Cosina.

I have one, but the lens is loose. I revisit it every six months or so to try to figure out how to tighten the lens.

You have some very nice shots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom