Pre-Owned - Vivitar 35-105mm f/3.5 Close Range Zoom (Olympus OM mount)

Pre-Owned - Vivitar 35-105mm f/3.5 Close Range Zoom (Olympus OM mount)

The Vivitar 35-105mm f/3.5 Close Range Zoom (Olympus OM mount) is a vintage, all-metal multi-coated zoom lens manufactured in the mid-1970s. A highly regarded version of this lens was built by Tokina (identified by serial numbers starting with 37). It is widely recognized for its fast, constant f/3.5 aperture and a unique, mechanical close-focus design.

Key Specifications

• Focal Range: 35–105mm (covers wide-angle, standard, and short telephoto portrait lengths).

• Aperture Range: Constant f/3.5 to f/16.

• Optical Layout: 14 elements in 8 groups, multi-coated.

• Filter Size: 72mm front filter thread.

• Weight & Size: Approximately 700g (24.7 oz); roughly 4 inches long at infinity focus.

• Focus Mechanics: Normal manual focusing limits down to about 4 to 4.5 feet.

The "Special Trick" Close-Focus Feature

The defining trait of the 1976 vintage model is its mechanical macro system. Reviewers on platforms like YouTube and TikTok note that when you rotate the zoom ring to the 35mm wide end, you can pull down / engage a specific ring segment to unlock a close-focus mode. This extends the lens barrel by an extra inch, shifting the focal elements into a macro state that reduces the minimum focusing distance to roughly 11.4 inches (29cm) at a 1:5 magnification ratio.

Performance & Character

• Image Quality: At f/3.5, the lens displays softer rendering, slight color fringing, and chromatic aberration in high-contrast spaces. However, stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 sharpens the image dramatically and eliminates most aberration.

• Bokeh: It uses 6 aperture blades, yielding distinct "nuts and bolts" hexagonal bokeh geometry when stepped down past f/3.5.