Production
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Country
Japan (Cosina copies noted as 'made in Japan'); OM copy unconfirmed
Optical
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Updated
Jul 12, 2026
Vivitar Vivitar 24mm f2.8
Olympus OM · 24mm · f/2.8
Compiled from 1 real reviews · AI-assisted · accuracy-checked · Updated 12 Jul 2026
Overview
The Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 belongs to Vivitar's classic era, when the brand was not a manufacturer but a marketer that commissioned lenses from a rotating cast of Japanese optical houses and sold them under its own name across every popular SLR mount of the day, including Olympus OM. Because of this sourcing model, 'the' Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 is really several different lenses. The reviews here document at least two distinct builds: an early close-focusing version made by Komine (identifiable by 28xxxxx serials, a 49mm filter thread, and offered in Pentax K, M42 and PKA), and a later Cosina-built version (9-prefix serials, made in Japan, roughly 0.19m minimum focus, and fitted with electronic 'A' contacts on the Pentax variant). No established collector nickname or jargon term is evidenced in these reviews, so none is claimed. The lens earns its quiet following the honest way: it is cheap on the used market (reviewers report paying $12–$60), it is light and well-handling, and — in the Cosina form especially — it delivers surprising sharpness and unusually clean colour correction for a budget third-party wide. As one reviewer put it, it is 'actually amazing considering the vintage and the prices it goes for.' Note that the reviews below describe the Pentax-mount siblings; the specific maker of the Olympus OM copy is not confirmed in this evidence.
Verdict: This is a cheap, light, honest vintage wide-angle for the photographer who wants a characterful 24mm without spending much. In its Cosina form it punches well above its price — sharp in the center with remarkably clean colour and no fringing — provided you accept soft corners until f/5.6 and weak infinity borders. In its Komine close-focus form it is a softer, gentler rendering tool that shines for close work, non-distracting bokeh and infrared. Buy it for value, easy handling and pleasant colour, not for clinical edge-to-edge perfection — and check the individual copy, because these vary.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Soft and non-distracting, rated well by users, especially on the softer Komine close-focus copies.
Color
Punchy colors, with the Cosina version noted for excellent color correction and virtually no fringing.
Sharpness wide open
Cosina copies very sharp in center with corners firming up by f/5.6 but weak infinity borders; Komine copies soft throughout.
Flare resistance
Good flare control, listed as a positive with no problematic ghosting or veiling reported.
Contrast
Not directly characterized; 'punchy colors' implies decent contrast but specifics unknown.
Community Insights
What people love
- Exceptional value — an inexpensive full-frame 24mm, with reviewers reporting prices from around $12 to $60 and rating value 9–10.
- On the Cosina copies, genuine sharpness and an almost complete lack of colour fringing even in extreme-contrast scenes.
- Good flare control and a useful close/minimum focus distance for a wide-angle.
- Light weight and pleasant handling, making it an easy walk-around wide for nature and landscape.
- The softer Komine copies render soft, non-distracting bokeh and are noted as working well for infrared photography.
What people dislike
- Corners are slightly soft until stopped down to about f/5.6.
- Weak borders at long distance and infinity, limiting critical edge-to-edge landscape work.
- The Komine close-focus copies can be soft throughout — 'not sharp at any focal length' per one owner.
- Some plastic in the construction, and noticeable copy-to-copy variation (one reviewer's first copy was clearly flawed before a second copy performed well).
Pro Tips
- Stop down to about f/5.6 to firm up the corners; wide open, treat it as a sharp-center, soft-edge lens.
- Don't rely on the extreme borders for critical infinity/landscape detail — compose important subject matter away from the frame edges, or use it for closer subjects where it is stronger.
- Lean into the softer copies' gentle rendering for portraits, close focus and non-distracting backgrounds rather than fighting it.
- Its good flare control lets you shoot confidently toward bright light; the strong colour correction also means high-contrast, backlit scenes stay clean of fringing on the better copies.
- The close/short minimum focus makes it capable for near-subject and detail work — take advantage of that reach.
Compatible Adapters
Real adapters from our shop that fit this lens mount.
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 · ฿950 · In stock
Standard · ฿990 · In stock
Standard · ฿1,250 · In stock
Standard · ฿890 · Out of stock
Olympus OM Lenses to Nikon Z Mount Camera Adapter
Standard · Out of stock
Olympus OM Lenses to Canon EOS R Mount Camera Adapter
Standard · Out of stock
Sample Photos
Sources (1)
Web research
This is a cheap, light, honest vintage wide-angle for the photographer who wants a characterful 24mm without spending much. In its Cosina form it punches well above its price — sharp in the center with remarkably clean colour and no fringing — provided you accept soft corners until f/5.6 and weak infinity borders. In its Komine close-focus form it is a softer, gentler rendering tool that shines for close work, non-distracting bokeh and infrared. Buy it for value, easy handling and pleasant colour, not for clinical edge-to-edge perfection — and check the individual copy, because these vary.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/vivitar-cosina-24mm-f28.htmlhttps://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/vivitar-24mm-f2-8-auto-aperture-mc-close-focusing.html