Equipment
Vivitar
800 F8
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This is a fun lens produced in the late 1960s. Almost 3 feet in length (when assembled), this is really a "long focus" lens consisting of a barrel with focus collar and a 2 element, 1 group doublet in front. This is not a light weight piece of glass.
While F8 would be considered slow by today's standards, the lens holds its own for surfing photographs. In fact, most of the early surf shots were taken with lenses of similar optical construction.
I purchased this lens used in the early 70's from a photographer who did assignments for Vivitar. I have never seen or read about another Vivitar 800 mm lens of this type.