Pekka Buttler, 03/2026
Specifications
The table below summarizes the lens’ key specifications (measurements based on pictured, last version of the lens):
| Brand: | Vivitar | Lens name | 135 MM 1:3.5 Auto VMC |
| Focal length(s)1 | 135 mm | Angle-of-view2 | 18° |
| Maximum Aperture | f/3.5 | In Production | 1980s |
| Lens mount (this lens) | Pentax K | Other lens mounts | none |
| Length3 | 69,7 mm | Diameter44 | 61,8 mm |
| Filter ring diameter | 49 mm | Weight | 311 grams |
| Lens element count | 5 | Lens group count | 4 |
| Aperture blades (S/R/C)5 | 6 S | Focus throw | 210 ° |
| Minimum focusing distance | 148 cms | Maximum magnification | 1:9,0 |
| Has manual aperture ring | YES | Has Manual focus ring | YES |
| Aperture mechanism type | Automatic | Aperture click stops 6 | 3.5-5.6-8-11-16-22 |
Further notes:
• This is a rather ordinary exemplar of the f/3.5 subclass of 135 mm lenses.
• The lens features an integrated, pull-out lens hood.
Centre: Vivitar 135 mm f/3.5 Focused at MFD with hood retracted
Right: Vivitar 135 mm f/3.5 Focused at MFD with hood extended
Historical notes
• There is a wide range of 135 mm f/3.5 lenses sold under the Vivitar name. Please see more below.
• In the late 1970s Vivitar co-operated with Cosina in a line of Cameras and lenses to be sold under the Vivitar brand. This was the XV line of cameras and especially for this camera lineup Vivitar co-operated with Cosina for a custom line of lenses. These are referred to as the XV lenses and are made up from 8 primes (from 28 mm to 200 mm) as well as a 28–50 zoom.
Versions and variations
As mentioned, 135 mm f/3.5 lenses were not unusual in the Vivitar lens lineup (although 135 mm f/2.8 lenses were even more usual). The table below will summarise some key facts about the slower Vivitar 135 mm focal length lenses:
| Manufacturer | Rough era | Focus ring | Filter mm | Mount type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokina | 1964-75 | metal, ribbed | unknown | T-system7 type 1 | Preset lens |
| unknown | 1964-75 | unknown | 46 mm | T-system type 2 | Preset lens |
| Kino Precision | ca 1968 | metal, ribbed | 52 mm | Fixed (M42, Canon FL, Nikon F) | DOF-scale on silver background |
| Kino Precision | ca 1969 | metal, ribbed | 52 mm | Fixed (unknown) | DOF-scale on black background |
| Tokina | late 60s | metal, ribbed | 49 mm | Fixed (unknown) | |
| Tokina | late 60s | metal, ribbed | 49 mm | T-4 | |
| Cosina | 1980s | Rubber, pyramids | 49 mm | Pentax K | [this lens] |
As is obvious from the table, the 135/3.5 lenses were quite normal in the early days of Vivitar. It does however seem that this lens was the only 135/3.5 Vivitar to feature a rubber focus ring.
History of Vivitar
Vivitar initially was the trade name used by Ponder & Best Inc. until Ponder & Best changed its name to Vivitar Corp. From the 1960s to the early 2000s the company contracted various (mostly Japanese) optical and electronics manufacturers to manufacture photographic gear to be branded as Vivitar.
You can read more details in the Vivitar company profile.
Adapting
n.B! The following applies to all non-electronic Pentax K mount lenses.
If you want to natively mount this lens you need to find a functioning Pentax K mount SLR (or a dSLR) camera. Luckily that should be relatively easy as Pentax K film bodies were produced in their millions and most of them – especially those manufactured by Pentax – have a good reliability record. Alternatively, you can use this lens natively on any Pentax dSLR.
Adapting this lens to a mirrorless, full-frame digital camera is a breeze thanks to the lens having full manual controls (aperture ring, focus ring). You simply need a dumb adapter from Pentax K to your mirrorless system.
Due to the medium flange focal distance used by the m42 mount (45,46 mm), whether you can adapt this lens to other than Pentax’ dSLR mounts depends on which dSLR mount: Canon EF, and Four Thirds can mount Pentax K lenses using a simple adapter ring. Minolta/Sony A and Nikon F on the other hand are not as problem-free, and – to retain anything near infinity focus – the adapter will necessitate corrective optics. In all cases, your camera will work only in stop-down metering.
Footnotes
- Focal length is (unless stated otherwise) given in absolute terms, and not in Full-frame equivalent. For an understanding of whether the lens is wide/tele, see ‘Angle-of-view’. ↩︎
- Picture angle is given in degrees (based on manufacturers’ specs) and concerns the diagonal picture angle. Rule of thumb:
> 90 ° ==> Ultra-wide-angle
70–90 ° ==> Wide-angle
50–70 ° ==> Moderate wide-angle
40–50 ° ==> ‘Standard’ or ‘normal’ lens
20–40 ° ==> Short tele lens
10-20 ° ==> Tele lens
5-10 ° ==> Long tele lens
< 5 ° ==> Ultra-tele lens ↩︎ - Length is given from the mount flange to the front of lens at infinity. ↩︎
- Diameter excludes protrusions such as rabbit ears or stop-down levers. ↩︎
- S=straight; R=rounded; C=(almost)circular at all apertures. ↩︎
- Numbers equal aperture values on aperture ring; • intermediate click; – no intermediate click. ↩︎
- The “T-system” was Vivitar’s naming for lenses based on the T mount ↩︎