How do you identify a camera lense?

Does it look like this?
lens on Ebay

The big question is going to be what kind of mount does it have on it.

I'm not all that familiar but I think there are basically 2 mounting systems for lenses on 35mm cameras.

that is almost it.

but the diffrence is

on the picture , where it says meter / feet, my numbers are higher.

the actual piece where the glass is, seems almost twice the size of the one pictured..

but yes. That is the brand, and it is a small one just like that..

there is only one "mount" bracket on the back..

Here's some info to help you identify the mount.
camera mounting systems

By mounting system, I meant which type of camera the lens fits on. It looks like there were more than 2 types.

A 28mm wide angle lens is pretty common.

It looks like Wiki has some info on lens mounts too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_mount

What t means is that its a 3rd-Party manufacturor lens. As such lenses typically are produced in such manner as fit a variety of camera makes and models, looking at the front of the lens likely will tell you nothing of wjhat camera system the lens fits. Some lenses of that sort are made with interchangeable mounts, whereby a required seperate attachment mounts to the rear of the lens providing compatability with a specific camera, others with fixed or dedicated mounts suited to a particular camera. In the neighborhood of the rear of the lense should be some letters identifying the camera for which the lens is configured.

That said, generally lenses of the sort you sem to have, which can be anywhere from perfectly serviceable all the way down to thoroughly unsatisfactory right out of the box, depending on brand and series (Vivitar is a reasonably well regarded brand overall, but within the brand's series quality ranges by series from mediocre to outstanding), will have relatively little rsale value, and less yet if they are intended for older, roughly pre-1980, non-auto-focus/auto metering cameras.

If you can locate and report the markings at the back of the lens, ans/or if you can provide a couple fair-sized, sharp, clear, detailed, closeup pictures of the back of the lens, I almost certainly will be able to tell you what camera its for.

There it is then.

It has a Minolta MC mount and is a 28mm lens.

That should be all you need to try to sell it.

On the other had, I, who have two old nikkormats which need some attention, value those old cameras. They tended to be sturdy items. If you pick up such an oldie yourself one day, then you'd have a wide angle lens for it.

I think this one is for a Minolta.

He also had an old Nikon F and a Nikon 2020, and it doesnt fit either of them...

So, truthfully, I have no clue ,im just guessing at Minolta.

OK - so I didn't see the pics before I posted. Anyhow, if you could provided a clearer pic more or less closer but from roughly the same angle as that middle pic - with the lettering near that red dot legible, that oughtta clinch it.

Oh, and regardless what camera its for, that particular lens is from Vivitar's entry-level line; cheap when new (<$50.00 in the '70s & 80s), very little value now.

Sorry.

I have 2 big programs running on my puter now, and my posting is slow.

I am taking pictures ( better ones ) right now.

Will post them as soon as I am done..

The "MC" on the lens front bezel signifies the lens is Multi-Coated; it hasn't anything to do with the mount. That said, it might be a Minolta MC mount - but from the rear prespective view I can see, there are other possibilities as well.

The camera I'd really like to get my hands on is my father's old Argus, the camera I learned on. External light meter. Stolen, in the seventies. By a director - I conjecture - with a theater group associated with our old gallery. Um, either that or my then business partner's son.

Wish I'd been savvy enough back then to check the pawn shops.

at least 2 more coming...

one more..

Last one.


Are those good angles?

It's a Minolta M/MD mount lens - roughly mid '70s, very early '80s vintage. Used, undamaged, working condition retail in the $10-$20 range, with $20 being pretty ambitious.