Production
-
Country
Japan (Komine-built)
Optical
Floating-element design (element count unknown).
Updated
Jul 15, 2026
Vivitar Vivitar : 28 mm, f2.8
M42 · 28mm · f/2.8
Compiled from 4 real reviews · AI-assisted · accuracy-checked · Updated 15 Jul 2026
Overview
The Vivitar 28mm f/2.8 in M42 mount is best understood not as a single lens but as a family of optics sold under Vivitar's badge — Vivitar being a marketing house (Ponder & Best) that commissioned lenses from various Japanese manufacturers rather than building them itself. The version reviewers care about, and the one most sought after in M42, is the Komine-built 'Close Focus' model. The 'Close Focus' name is not a nickname but an actual designation printed on the barrel — owners stress that it must literally say 'Close Focus' to be the right lens, because it is frequently confused with the ordinary Vivitar 28mm f/2.8. This model earned a small cult following for two reasons. First, its floating-element design lets it focus much closer than a typical wide-angle of its era — down to roughly 0.23 m for about 1:5 magnification — turning a modest 28mm into a capable close-up tool for flowers and detail work, with reviewers noting the optics are actually better up close. Second, it is a character lens: neutral, accurate colours, pleasant bokeh, and a warm, film-like glow in strong light. Community members half-affectionately note it is 'famous' for ghosting and flare — that reputation is the closest thing it has to established jargon; there is no romantic 'Bokeh King' or swirl nickname attached to it.
Verdict: This is a character-driven compact wide-angle for photographers who value rendering and close-focus versatility over corner-to-corner clinical sharpness. If you want the Komine 'Close Focus' version specifically, it rewards you with neutral colour, smooth bokeh, a warm film-like glow in strong light, and a genuinely useful near-macro reach — provided you shoot it in good light, hood it against its famous flare, stop down to f/4–5.6 for the centre, and accept soft corners. It is a poor choice for anyone needing high contrast or sharp edges wide open, but a delightful one for the vintage-look shooter and detail hunter.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Smooth, pleasant bokeh, unusually good for a compact wide-angle.
Color
Neutral, accurate colours, though strong-light flare can add a warm cast.
Sharpness wide open
Sharp in the centre from about f/3.3, peaking around f/4–5.6, with corners staying soft; notably good up close via the floating element.
Flare resistance
Prone to dramatic flare and ghosting, 'famous' for it, so a hood is recommended.
Contrast
Somewhat low contrast, so it renders best in bright light.
Vignetting
Some vignetting wide open that clears when stopped down.
Community Insights
What people love
- The close-focus ability — roughly 0.23 m for about 1:5 magnification via a floating element — makes a wide-angle usable for detail shots of flowers and larger subjects, and the optics are reportedly at their best up close.
- Neutral, accurate colour rendition that reviewers single out as a strength.
- Smooth, pleasant bokeh unusual expectations for a compact wide-angle.
- A warm, film-like glow in strong light that gives images vintage character.
- Compact, light (~160g), mostly-metal build that is easy to carry.
What people dislike
- Strong tendency to flare and ghost in bright or direct light — the lens is 'famous' for it and really needs a hood.
- Corners stay soft even when stopped down.
- Somewhat low contrast, so results can look flat unless shot in bright light.
- Wide-open vignetting until stopped down.
- Easy to buy the wrong lens — the desirable Komine 'Close Focus' version is frequently confused with the ordinary Vivitar 28mm f/2.8.
Pro Tips
- Shoot in bright light — reviewers repeatedly note the low contrast means strong illumination makes it render at its best.
- Use a lens hood; the lens flares and ghosts dramatically in strong or direct light, and a hood tames it while preserving the warm glow.
- Stop down to roughly f/4–5.6 for peak centre sharpness; expect corners to stay soft regardless.
- Stop down a little to clear the wide-open vignetting when you need even illumination.
- Exploit the close-focus range (~0.23 m, ~1:5) for detail shots of flowers and larger subjects — the optics are reportedly at their sharpest up close.
- If you want the vintage look, position a strong light source in or near the frame and let the flare add warmth rather than fighting it.
Compatible Adapters
Real adapters from our shop that fit this lens mount.
Standard · ฿325 · In stock
Standard · ฿325 · In stock
Standard · ฿325 · In stock
Standard · ฿325 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿1,250 · In stock
Standard · ฿890 · Out of stock
Standard · ฿890 · Out of stock
Sample Photos
Sources (4)
Vivitar 28mm f/2.8 Close Focus M42 — MFLenses Forum
Showcase — Vivitar 28mm f/2.8 Close Focus (Komine) | Mu-43
Vivitar (Komine) Close Focus 28mm F2.8 Lens Reviews — Pentax Lens Review Database
Web research
This is a character-driven compact wide-angle for photographers who value rendering and close-focus versatility over corner-to-corner clinical sharpness. If you want the Komine 'Close Focus' version specifically, it rewards you with neutral colour, smooth bokeh, a warm film-like glow in strong light, and a genuinely useful near-macro reach — provided you shoot it in good light, hood it against its famous flare, stop down to f/4–5.6 for the centre, and accept soft corners. It is a poor choice for anyone needing high contrast or sharp edges wide open, but a delightful one for the vintage-look shooter and detail hunter.
https://forum.mflenses.com/vivitar-28mm-f-2-8-close-focus-m42-t40449.htmlhttps://www.mu-43.com/threads/vivitar-28mm-f-2-8-close-focus-komine.28784/https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/vivitar-28mm-f-2-8-close-focus.html