Vivitar Corporation is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of photographic and optical equipment originally based in Santa Monica, California.[citation needed] Since 2008, the Vivitar name serves as Sakar International's house brand for digital imaging, optics, mobile accessories, and audio products.[citation needed]
Ponder & Best, Inc. was founded by Max Ponder and John Best in 1938 to distribute photographic products, and had its corporate headquarters in Los Angeles.[1]:ix Max Ponder headed the sales department, while John Best ran the operations side of the company. Ponder and Best first imported German-made photo equipment. After World War II, the partnership began to import cameras and photographic equipment from Japan. They were instrumental in the introduction of many brands into the American market, including Mamiya/Sekor 35mm cameras, OM-System 35mm equipment, Kobena 8mm movie cameras, Sankyo/Komura wide-angle/telephoto adapter lenses and a full line of photographic darkroom equipment imported from many manufacturers throughout Japan and later Taiwan. They were also the sole U.S. distributor for Olympus products at this time.
Lenses and flashes
Ponder and Best were the first to gain acceptance for lenses with interchangeable mounts, allowing customers to use the same lens on different manufacturers' camera bodies.
Original Vivitar logo, used until 2016
In the early 1960s, the partners created the "Vivitar" brand to compete with major lens manufacturers. The company commissioned experienced lens designers and reputable Japanese optical lens manufacturers such as Kino Precision to produce their lens designs. By carefully positioning their limited product line with key photo retailers, they quickly built a reputation for good-quality lenses at modest prices. The retailers found that they could make good margins while giving good value. As their reputation grew, many contract lens manufacturers sought them out to carry their products under the Vivitar brand. In the 1970s, Vivitar introduced the Series 1 lenses. These computer-designed lenses were priced relatively low and claimed to outperform the optics of camera manufacturers of the day.
Vivitar Series 1 200mm f/3, introduced in the mid-1970s
After the success of its aftermarket lens line, Vivitar later introduced its own line of 35mm film cameras manufactured by Japanese companies such as Cosina. These include the Cosina-made Vivitar SLR and the Vivitar 35ES/EE series of rangefinder cameras.
Vivitar also offered a new type of semi-professional flash unit from National/Panasonic called the Vivitar 260.[dubious–discuss][citation needed] The flash was acclaimed[according to whom?] for its innovative design, but criticized for its use of expensive 9-volt batteries. Recognizing the problem, Max Ponder travelled to Japan to meet with the manufacturer, offering suggestions for improvements based on the feedback received from customers. The improved flash was introduced in 1970 as the Vivitar 283, which became the most popular professional and enthusiast flash unit,[2][3] outselling all its competitors combined and selling 3,000,000 units by 1973. In production for over 30 years, it was twice returned to production in response to customer demand after having been discontinued. There was also the model 285, which featured a zoom head to cover different focal length lenses and a built-in variable power setting. Earlier made-in-Japan Vivitar flashes have a trigger voltage of 250 V, which can damage the circuits of some digital cameras. Newer units made in China and Korea are low-voltage units producing 5 to 12 volts. The 283 and 285 have a removable sensor; an optional remote sensor cord makes off-camera automatic flash possible.
After Ponder and Best
After the deaths of Max Ponder and John Best, company ownership was transferred to a variety of owners. Some digital compact cameras were launched but were not successful. In November 2006, the corporation was purchased by the public companySyntax-Brillian Corporation for US$26 million in stock and was operated as a wholly owned subsidiary.[4] On August 21, 2008, subsequent to its filing for bankruptcy, parent company Syntax-Brillian completed the sale of the Vivitar brand name and intellectual property to privately heldconsumer electronics maker Sakar International, based in Edison, New Jersey. Sakar did not purchase Vivitar's equipment, facilities or accounts receivable. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.[5]
Current operations
Low-end digital camera sold in 2011
In August 2008, Sakar announced plans to position Vivitar as a brand for its current mass retail digital cameras in the midprice range of $70–$300, along with certain camera accessories. New Vivitar-branded products such as digital photo frames are also planned, as well as potential licensing opportunities.[6][7] In January 2009 Sakar introduced three new Vivitar-branded cameras and a digital SLR lens series. The products are Sakar's first Vivitar-branded items since acquiring the brand.[8] In addition to other electronics products, in 2013 they announced and then shipped the $150 XO Tablet, a 7-inch Android tablet designed for children, with a bilingual English/Spanish interface.[9][10]
2× macro-focusing teleconverter. This featured a ring which, when turned, changes the close-focusing distance, and will give a 1:1 magnification when used with a 50mm lens (similar to an extension tube, but variable and having lenses).
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