I picked up nice vintage Vivitar 28mm f2.8 Vintage Lens (SN28933252) at a thrift store for $8. Manufactured by Komine in Japan (based on the first two numbers in the serial number: 28), sometime between the late 1970s and mid‑1980s.
I adapted the lens to my Samsung NX1 camera, utilizing a Minolta-to-NX mount adapter (see photo of camera and lens below).
The NX1 camera uses an APS-C sized sensor, so the crop factor is 1.5. Thus, the 35mm camera equivalent of this 28mm full-frame on the Samsung NX1 camera equivalent to a 42mm focal length.
The following photos were taken mostly at f5.6 or f8, except where noted. All image are presented 'as-photographed' and no in-camera filters or effects were employed.
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The photo below was taken at f2.8 to get an idea of the background bokeh. To me the background at this open aperture looks a little too sharp; thus somewhat distracting from the overall image.
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The images shown here to me were sufficiently sharp with the color representation quite natural reflecting realism, rather than a 'cinematic' look.
The 42mm equivalent focal length makes it a good street photography lens, and I was pleased with the result.
I would like to try some sunset, blue-light, night shots and black and white to round out the evaluation of this lens.
Notes: Vivitar is a brand name under the American camera, lens and photographic accessory distribution company known as Ponder and Best.
Komine was part of a group of Japanese firms (including Tokina, Kiron, Cosina, Tomioka) that quietly built lenses for Western brands. Komine was known for its quality optical and mechanical manufacturing.
But unlike some competitors:
• Komine never built a strong brand identity,
• never sold lenses under their own name,
• and left very little corporate documentation and was out of business around 1993
