In article <5fiqcg$6c4@mtinsc05.worldnet.att.net>, Lirpa@no spam.net says...

>This lens is still being sold, under the Tokina brand name as the Tokina ATX
>90mm/2.5. A comparison of the lens construction diagrams show them to be
>identical. I asked Tokina about it years ago. They danced around the
>question but did admit that they made lenses for Vivitar. I tried this lens
>once in a store. With the lens barrel fully extended, and the macro extender
>attached, this lens looks more like a 300mm telephoto than a 90mm lens. :)
>You are right, this is probably one of the sharpest lenses ever made.

Hmmm, an excellent macro the 90mm f2.5 Series I is, but it is not
without problems. I find its tendency to flare when used at normal
distances unacceptable - and while sharp, several Nikkors in the same
FL range outperform it in both resolution and contrast. Still, I have
one, and use it - with its 1:1 adapter in place, it is about the best
standard-type higher-than-1:1-magnification base lens that I have seen,
and gives fine images when on teleconverters, tubes, etc. to provide
up to about 2.5X magnification (at f11-16). For magnifications lower
than about 1:1, I prefer any of the current Micro-Nikkors...
Thanks for letting us know about the Tokina version (and I'm curious
if Tokina replaced the smooth truncated conical rear element spacer
with one that is less reflective [my guess about what causes the
Vivitar flare problem...]).
Hope This Helps