Quick answer
The Vivitar 100-500mm f/5.6 Zoom is a short telephoto to super telephoto telephoto zoom lens covering 100-500mm at f/5.6 for the Canon FD mount. Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
About this lens
The Vivitar 100-500mm f/5.6 Zoom is a manual-focus telephoto zoom lens covering 100-500mm at f/5.6 for Canon FD mount cameras. The range suits sports, wildlife, events and portraits.
Vivitar 100-500mm f/5.6 Zoom specifications
- Brand
- Vivitar
- Mount
- Canon FD
- Focal length
- 100-500mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/5.6
- Lens type
- Telephoto Zoom
What can you shoot with the Vivitar 100-500mm f/5.6 Zoom?
At 100-500mm this is a short telephoto to super telephoto telephoto zoom, which typically suits:
- Portraits with a flattering perspective
- Events and weddings
- Isolating subjects from the background
- Sports and action
- Wildlife and birds at moderate distance
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor (adapted mount, so sensor size depends on your camera). Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 100–500mm | 4.1–20.4° | 5–24.4° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 160–800mm | 2.6–12.8° | 3.1–15.4° |
| Micro Four Thirds | 2.0x | 200–1000mm | 2.1–10.3° | 2.5–12.3° |
Frequently asked questions
What mount does the Vivitar 100-500mm f/5.6 Zoom use?
It uses the Canon FD mount, so it fits Canon FD cameras directly and can be used on other systems through a mount adapter.
What is the focal length of the Vivitar 100-500mm f/5.6 Zoom?
It zooms across 100-500mm with a maximum aperture of f/5.6. That makes it a short telephoto to super telephoto lens.
Is the Vivitar 100-500mm f/5.6 Zoom a prime or a zoom lens?
It is a zoom lens covering 100-500mm, so you can reframe without moving. Its maximum aperture is f/5.6.
What is the Vivitar 100-500mm f/5.6 Zoom equivalent on a crop sensor?
On APS-C (1.6x crop) it frames like 160–800mm on full frame, with a 2.6–12.8° horizontal and 3.1–15.4° diagonal field of view. On Micro Four Thirds (2x crop) it frames like 200–1000mm on full frame, with a 2.1–10.3° horizontal and 2.5–12.3° diagonal field of view. These figures are calculated from the focal length and crop factor.
Alternatives for Canon FD from other brands
All Canon FD lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
More Vivitar lenses for Canon FD
All Vivitar lensesOther 100-500mm lenses
Browse by focal length: 100mm lenses, 500mm lenses