Vivitar

Last updated
Vivitar
Founded1938;86 years ago (1938) (as Ponder and Best by Max Ponder and John Best)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
FoundersMax Ponder
John Best
ProductsCamera and photographic accessories
Parent Sakar International
Website vivitar.com

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 ]

Contents

Products

A Vivitar digital camera. Vivitar Vivicam S126.jpg
A Vivitar digital camera.

The company's product line has included 35 mm SLR cameras, zoom lenses, flashes, film enlargers, binoculars, digital cameras, night vision products, point-and-shoot cameras, tripods, underwater cameras, smart home technology, health and wellness accessories, and other audio/video equipment.[ citation needed ]

Point and shoot cameras

History

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 Vivitar.svg
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 out perform the optics of camera manufacturers of the day.

Vivitar Series 1 200 mm
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f/3, introduced in the mid-1970s Vivitar Series 1 5965.jpg
Vivitar Series 1 200 mm 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 company Syntax-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 held consumer 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 Vivitar Freelance VivCam 25 jeh.jpg
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]

Vivitar lenses

Vivitar 50mm f/1.4 Auto VMC Vivitar VMC 1.4 50mm.jpg
Vivitar 50mm ƒ/1.4 Auto VMC

Manual focus prime lenses

Vivitar Series 1 90mm f/2.5 macro Macro Lens Vivitar 90mm.jpg
Vivitar Series 1 90mm ƒ/2.5 macro
Vivitar 50mm f/1.8 Vivitar50 1-8.jpg
Vivitar 50mm ƒ/1.8

Manual focus zoom lenses

Vivitar manual focus zoom lenses
UltrawideWideNormalTelephotoUltratelephotoSeriesMakerNotesImage
17-28mm f/4-4.5Samyang
19-35mm f/3.5-4.5Cosina
24-48mm f/3.8Series 1Kiron
24-70mm f/3.8-4.8Series 1Cosina
28-80mm f/3.5-4.5RL editionKoboriMacro focusing zoom MC, 62mm filter size
28-105mm f/2.8-3.8Series 1Cosina
28-200mm f/3.5-5.3Kobori
28-210mm f/3.5-5.6Cosina
28-50mm f/3.8-4.8RL editionKomine
28-70mm f/3.5-4.8Cosina
28-85mm f/2.8-3.8KironVari-focal zoom Vintage Canon AE-1 35mm SLR Film Camera With Vivitar 28-85mm Lens, First Microprocessor-Equipped SLR, Manufactured From 1976 - 1984, Both Lens And Camera Body Made In Japan (14966928393).jpg
28-85mm f/3.5-4.5Kobori
28-90mm f/2.8-3.5Series 1Komine Vivitar Series 1 28-90.jpg
35-70mm f/2.8-3.8Komine
35-70mm f/3.5Komine
35-85mm f/2.8Series 1KironVari-focal zoom
35-105mm f/3.5TokinaClose focus, fixed-mount and TX versions available
35-200mm f/3-4.5KoboriMacro
55-135mm f/3.5TokinaT4 mount Vivitar 55-135mm F3.5 T4 lens 03.jpg
70-150mm f/3.8Kiron1 and 2-touch zoom
TokinaTX mount
70-210mm f/2.8-4Series 1KomineEarly versions
CosinaLater versions. Lens review
70-210mm f/3.5Series 1Kiron67mm versions
Tokina62mm versions. Lens review Vivitar 70-210mm 7249.jpg
70-210mm f/4.5KoboriMacro
70-210mm f/4-5.6Cosina
75-205mm f/3.8Kiron1- and 2-touch Vivitar 75-205 mm f-3.8 MC Macro Focusing Zoom DB15.jpg
75-205mm f/3.5-4.5TokinaMacro focusing
75-260mm f/4.5TokinaT4 & TX mounts Nikon Lens on Canon Body- Vivitar 75-260mm f4.5.jpg
75-300mm f/4.5-5.6Kobori
80-200mm f/4TokinaTX
80-200mm f/4.5Kiron, Komine, and KoboriDifferent models. Manufacturer distinguished by serial number.
85-205mm f/3.8KironPreset T-mount and automatic diaphragm fixed-mount versions
90-230mm f/4.5TokinaT4 and close-focus TX versions
90-180mm f/4.5Series 1KironFlat Field
100-200mm f/4Komine
100-300mm f/5TokinaTX mount
100-500mm f/5.6-8Cosina
120-600mm f/8Kobori Lens review
650-1300mm f/8-16SamyangT-mount

Auto focus lenses

Teleconverters

2x macro teleconverter for Nikon F-mount Vivitar zoom teleconverter.jpg
2x macro teleconverter for Nikon F-mount

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. Wolf, John C. (1980). The Vivitar Guide . New York, New York: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. ISBN   0-87165-065-7. LCCN   80-51117.
  2. Hand, A. J. (December 1979). "How to choose an electronic flash". Popular Science. pp. 89–92, 141. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  3. Keppler, Herbert (February 1990). "SLR notebook | The ubiquitous 283: an amateur flash that pros have made into a cult". Popular Photography. pp. 24–28. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  4. Syntax-Brillian Press Release
  5. "Sakar Acquires Vivitar Brand, Expanding Footprint in Camera Business" Archived 2009-01-12 at the Wayback Machine . Reuters, August 25, 2008
  6. Sakar Acquires Vivitar Brand, Expanding Footprint in Camera Business Archived 2009-01-12 at the Wayback Machine Reuters, August 25, 2008
  7. Sakar acquires Vivitar brand and IP, CNET news, August 25, 2008
  8. Sakar Rolls Out 3 New Vivitar Cameras & Digital SLR Lens Series January 8, 2009]
  9. OLPC announces XO Tablet coming to select Walmart stores later in 2013, by Edgar Alvarez, Engadget, January 8th, 2013
  10. XO Tablet Hands On Review: WOW!! OLPC Finally Got It Right!, One Laptop Per Child News, by Wayan Vota on August 4, 2013.