Vivitar FD 75 - 210 mm f3.5 Series 1 mounting issues

Thomas Smet

Thomas Smet

Veteran
I hope somebody can help me out.

I just bought a an old Vivitar 75 - 210mm f3.5 Series 1 lens that I hoped to use my Fotodioz adapter with for my GH1. I currently use the adapter with a Canon FD 50mm f1.8 lens and it works perfectly. No issues at all mounting the lens to my GH1. With the Vivitar however I cannot get the lens to mount at all. The lens lines up in the adapter but it will not turn to lock in place. I have tried everything I could think of outside of beating it in with a sledge hammer. I understand it uses a Breech lock mount which is supposed to be slightly different.

Anybody know of any tricks to get this thing mounted. I only payed $30.00 for the lens so it isn't a huge loss but I would like to use it. The thing is a beast and weighs a ton so I'm not sure just how much I will use it but sometimes I need a bit longer then 50mm.

Thanks for your help.
 
THat is correct it uses a Breech lock FD mount which is supposed to work with the Fotodiox adapter. They are apparently very similar. The lens fits but it will not turn. Almost as if it isn't going in far enough to be able to turn. If I tilt the lens slightly I can get one side to turn in the adapter but of course this will not work since the other sides are not in there. So it looks like I am just off by a sliver.
 
thats what I thought but the silver ring does not turn. It seems to be stuck. I can feel it wiggle a tiny bit but it will not turn. Do I have to loosen the two little screws on the silver ring?
 
If you are unable to get it to lock in place, it may not be hitting the release spring. Look at the rear of the Vivitar's 3 mounting slots for FD/FL without a rear cap, on the red marking point side you will notice there is a silver strip under that breech lock. Once a lens or cap seats properly into it, it will release the breech to be turned and lock. Blurry photo but just took right now from my Vivitar 70-210. on the 12 o clock position of the lens, you see the philips screw head? to the left of it is where the cap, mount, adapter has to rest on, it's like a spring mechanism. Test your out with a jeweler's flat head.

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Hey guys I just got it to work. There was a little tiny silver pin on the inside of the mount that was stuck. I used a tiny screw driver to push the pin and then I could turn the silver ring easily. This lens is awesome although a bear to use on my GH1. I think I may still buy a M43 longer lens at some point but at least I finally have a long lens to use on a tripod. A very sturdy tripod.
 
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