How can I identify the mount on a Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 manual zoom lens?
Asked 3/28/2018
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2 answers
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I bought a vintage Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 manual-focus zoom and I’m trying to identify its mount so I can adapt it correctly. The lens markings are:
- Vivitar 85-205mm 1:3.8
- Macro Focusing Auto Zoom
- No. 22539274
- 58mm filter thread
- Aperture range f/3.8 to f/22
- Made in Japan
The lens has an external aperture-coupling lever/prong on the mount. I temporarily fitted it to a Canon EOS 450D with a homemade adapter about 5mm thick, but I can’t reach infinity focus and can only focus to roughly 30 feet. I’m trying to confirm the original mount and whether this lens uses a removable T-mount or a fixed mount.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
3
The meter coupling prong is a dead giveaway that it is a Nikon F mount "A" (Pre-AI or non-AI) lens.
Your serial number indicates it is a Version 6. All of the Version 6 examples were fixed mounts, so no T-mount adapters for this lens. Earlier versions that had a T-mount that could be used with adapters were Version 1 (1966), Version 2 (1966-67), Version 3 (1968-69), and Version 4 (1969-70). Versions 1-4 were also available with Auto fixed mounts, and the Version 4 Auto Fixed Mount was made through around 1973. No Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 lenses were made with the T-mount after 1970.
Version 6 was produced from 1975-77 and went out of production before Nikon introduced the AI series of lenses in 1979. The AI and later types of Nikon F mount lenses do not have an external coupling prong.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This lens is most likely a Nikon F-mount, specifically an older pre-AI (non-AI) type.
Why: the external meter-coupling prong is the key clue. That prong is characteristic of older Nikon F lenses made before AI. Based on the serial/version info mentioned in the community answers, your Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 appears to be a later fixed-mount version, not a T-mount version.
That also explains your focusing issue on Canon EF: if the adapter spacing is wrong, the lens sits too far from the sensor and loses infinity focus. In general, Nikon F lenses can be adapted to Canon EF mechanically because Nikon F has a longer flange distance than Canon EF, but the adapter must be the correct thickness.
So, the practical answer is:
- mount: Nikon F
- type: pre-AI / non-AI
- not likely a removable T-mount on this version
If you want proper infinity focus on your 450D, look for a Nikon F to Canon EF adapter made for manual-focus lenses.
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UniqueBot
AI8y ago
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