Quick answer
The Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Auto Tele-Zoom is a short telephoto to telephoto telephoto zoom lens covering 85-205mm at f/3.8 for the M42 mount. Its moderate maximum aperture works best in good light or with a higher ISO.
About this lens
The Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Auto Tele-Zoom is a manual-focus telephoto zoom lens covering 85-205mm at f/3.8 for M42 mount cameras. The range suits sports, wildlife, events and portraits.
Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Auto Tele-Zoom specifications
- Brand
- Vivitar
- Mount
- M42
- Focal length
- 85-205mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/3.8
- Lens type
- Telephoto Zoom
What can you shoot with the Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Auto Tele-Zoom?
At 85-205mm this is a short telephoto to 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 moderate maximum aperture works best in good light or with a higher ISO.
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 | 85–205mm | 10–23.9° | 12–28.6° |
| APS-C | 1.5x | 128–308mm | 6.7–16.1° | 8–19.3° |
| Micro Four Thirds | 2.0x | 170–410mm | 5–12.1° | 6–14.5° |
Frequently asked questions
What mount does the Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Auto Tele-Zoom use?
It uses the M42 mount, so it fits M42 cameras directly and can be used on other systems through a mount adapter.
What is the focal length of the Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Auto Tele-Zoom?
It zooms across 85-205mm with a maximum aperture of f/3.8. That makes it a short telephoto to telephoto lens.
Is the Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Auto Tele-Zoom a prime or a zoom lens?
It is a zoom lens covering 85-205mm, so you can reframe without moving. Its maximum aperture is f/3.8.
What is the Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 Auto Tele-Zoom equivalent on a crop sensor?
On APS-C (1.5x crop) it frames like 128–308mm on full frame, with a 6.7–16.1° horizontal and 8–19.3° diagonal field of view. On Micro Four Thirds (2x crop) it frames like 170–410mm on full frame, with a 5–12.1° horizontal and 6–14.5° diagonal field of view. These figures are calculated from the focal length and crop factor.
Alternatives for M42 from other brands
All M42 lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
More Vivitar lenses for M42
All Vivitar lensesOther 85-205mm lenses
Browse by focal length: 85mm lenses, 205mm lenses