Vivitar

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2286175142_fe81b5d7fa.jpg
Vivitar, perhaps best known as a lens brand
image by Chris Lilley (Image rights)


Vivitar is an American distributor of photographic equipment.

History

Originally founded as Ponder & Best, Inc., the company was established in Los Angeles in 1938 as a distributor of photographic products by the German immigrants Max Ponder and John Best.[1] Ponder and Best fled to LA from Germany after Hitler rose to power.[2] The pair started out selling photographic equipment from the trunk of their car. Ponder acted as the saleman and Best wrote invoices from the back seat as Ponder retrieved the merchandise from the trunk.[3]

Though not a manufacturer itself, Vivitar sold camera equipment under its own label for much its history and had lenses manufactured to its own design specifications. From the late 1960s through 1970s, Vivitar's success was largely due to their strategy of providing high quality lenses for SLR cameras at prices lower than the major camera manufacturers.[4] By selling lenses in higher volumes, Vivitar believed they could match the quality of the camera maker's lenses at lower cost. Early Vivitar lenses bear the label "P & B Vivitar" referring to the original company name of Ponder & Best. Later lenses were labelled "Vivitar Professional" and later just "Vivitar".

In the mid 1970s, Vivitar decided on a new strategy. Up until now, they had selected lenses designed and built by other manufacturers and rebadged them as Vivitar lenses. Now they set out to create designs for high-quality lenses to their own specifications. They would still outsource the manufacture of the lenses to other companies but the designs were commissioned by Vivitar. These new lenses were badged as Vivitar Series 1 lenses. Vivitar relied on the American company Opcon Associates of Standford, CT for the initial Series 1 lens designs. Founder and chief designer at Opcon was Ellis Betensky, who had previously worked for Perkin-Elmer on projects such as the Sky Lab Zoom Telescope. Due to Betensky's associations with Perkin-Elmer, Opcon was able to access the latest computer technology for use in the Series 1 design work, leading to highly complex optical designs unlike any previous zoom lenses. Betensky originated the idea of altering the air space between lens elements as the focus changed, resulting in close focusing capabilities that far exceed other lens designs of the era.[5]

The corporate name was changed to Vivitar Corp. in 1979 based on the success of its leading brand name.[1] Over the years, Vivitar became a multinational manufacturing and marketing company with subsidiaries in Japan, West Germany, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland.[1].

In 1985, Vivitar was purchased by Australian company, Hanimex Group, a subsidiary of Australian real estate developer, Chase Group. The year before Hanimex took over, Vivitar lost five million US dollars. The year after the takeover Vivitar experienced a four million dollar profit. By 1988 Vivitar has reached 100 million US dollars in annual sales.[6] A real estate slump in the late 1980s forced Chase Group to sell several of its business. Vivitar and Hanimex were sold to UK-Based Gestetner PLC (itself owned by Ricoh) in early 1990. In March of 1990, John Bourne was named president of Vivitar.[7] After Gestetner took over, Vivitar shifted it's focus from high-end lenses and flashes, to hand-held, point-and-shoot cameras.[8]

In 1993, Concord Camera Corp, a manufacturer of pocket cameras, attempt to buy Vivitar from Gestetner PLC but was unable to finalize the purchase when increasing financial losses prevented them from coming up with the required cash in time. Concord's President, Victor M. Chernick, was president of Vivitar from 1986 through 1989. At this time Vivitar had 120 employees.[9]

The 1994 Northridge earthquake[10] damaged Vivitar's primary facilities in the San Fernando Valley and caused the loss of product stock. This is said by some to be responsible for the final demise of the Vivitar Series 1 lenses, which were already suffering a decline in sales due to Gestetner's new focus on selling point-and-shoot cameras and Vivitar's decision not to pursue auto-focus technology.[11] Vivitar subsequently moved to Thousand Oak, CA.[12]

On September 30, 1996, Plaza Create Co Ltd of Japan, acquired Vivitar Inc. from Gestetner PLC. In January 1997, President and CEO of Vivitar, Alex Wijnen, announced the company would be split into two divisions: the Photographics and Optics Division, and the Electronics and Digital Imaging Division.[13]

On February 24, 1998 Douglas E. Howe was named president of Vivitar.[14]

The company was bought on November 21, 2006 by Syntax-Brillian Corp.[15] Two years later, after Syntax-Brillian filed for bankruptcy on July 8, 2008, Sakar International acquired the Vivitar brand and intellectual property on August 21, 2008 by. The deal did not include Vivitar's equipment or facilities.[16]

Film cameras

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Vivitar SLR manufactured by Cosina
image by Aldo Rafael Altamirano (Image rights)
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Vivitar CV35
image by John Kratz (Image rights)
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Vivitar A35 Splash Proof
image by Steve Harwood (Image rights)
4885803126_66b328d31b_m.jpg
Vivitar 35EF
image by xjx1998 (Image rights)
3686122275_79244e8f98_m.jpg
Vivitar Point 'N Shoot
image by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights)
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PN2011
image by Tony Kemplen (Image rights)

P&B Lenses

  • P&B Anastigmat 50mm f/3.5 enlarger lens
  • P&B Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 enlarger lens
  • P&B Anastigmat 150mm f/4.5 enlarger lens

P&B Vivitar Lenses

  • P&B Vivitar 35mm f/2.8, T-Mount
  • P&B Tele Vivitar 135mm f/3.5, Exakta/Topcon mount
  • P&B Tele Vivitar 200mm f/3.5, 19 blade iris, Exakta/Topcon mount
  • P&B Vivitar Auto 2x Tele Converter Model A-1
  • P&B Vivitar Auto 2x Tele Converter Model 2A-2, Exakta/Topcon mount
  • P&B Vivitar Auto 2x Tele Converter Model 2A-3, Nikon mount
  • P&B Vivitar Auto 3x Tele Converter Model 3A-1, M42 mount

Vivitar Professional Lenses

  • Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5 T-Mount (rare)
  • Vivitar Professional 180mm f/2.8 (rare)

Vivitar Lenses

  • Vivitar MC Auto Wide 17mm f/3.5, 72mm filter size
  • Vivitar 17mm f/3.5, 67mm filter size
  • Vivitar 19mm f/2.8
  • Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 20mm f/3.8
  • Vivitar 21mm f/3.8, 72mm filter size
  • Vivitar 21mm f/3.8, 67mm filter size
  • Vivitar 24mm f/2.0
  • Vivitar Auto 24mm f/2.8 (at least 3 variants)
  • Vivitar 28mm f/1.9
  • Vivitar 28mm f/2.0 Compact
  • Vivitar 28mm f/2.0 Close Focus
  • Vivitar Preset Wide 28mm f/2.5
  • Vivitar Auto Wide 28mm f/2.5, 67mm filter size
  • Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 28mm f/2.5, 62mm filter size
  • Vivitar Preset Wide 28mm f/2.8
  • Vivitar Auto Wide Angle 28mm f/2.8
  • Vivitar MC Wide Angle 28mm f/2.8, 49mm filter size
  • Vivitar Auto Wide 28mm f/2.8 (at least 3 variants)
  • Vivitar Auto XV-Zoom 28-50mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Vivitar Zoom 28-70mm f/3.5-4
  • Vivitar Zoom 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6
  • Vivitar Zoom 28-70mm f/3.9-4.8
  • Vivitar RL Edition 28-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Macro Focusing Zoom MC, 62mm filter size
  • Vivitar Zoom 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Vivitar Zoom 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5
  • Vivitar Zoom 28-200mm f/3.5-5.3
  • Vivitar Zoom 28-210mm f/3.5-5.3
  • Vivitar Zoom 28-210mm f/3.5-5.6
  • Vivitar Macro-Zoom 28-210mm f/3.5-5.6
  • Vivitar 35mm f/1.9 Auto Wide-Angle (built by Komine)
  • Vivitar Preset Wide 35mm f/2.8
  • Vivitar 35mm f/2.8 49mm filter size
  • Vivitar 35mm f/2.8 52mm filter size (built by Tokina)
  • Vivitar Preset Wide 35mm f/3.5
  • Vivitar 35-70mm f/2.8-3.8 MC Macro Focusing Zoom, 55mm filter size
  • Vivitar 35-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Macro Focusing Zoom 52mm
  • Vivitar 35-105mm f/3.5 Close Range zoom
  • Vivitar 50mm f/1.7
  • Vivitar 50mm f/1.9, 49mm filter size
  • Vivitar 50mm f/2.0, 49mm filter size
  • Vivitar 55mm f/1.2
  • Vivitar 55mm f/1.4
  • Vivitar 55mm f/2.8
  • Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 zoom
  • Vivitar 70-210mm f/4-5.6 zoom
  • Vivitar 70-210mm f/4.5 MC Macro Focusing Zoom, 52mm filter size
  • Vivitar SMS 70-210mm f/4.5 MC Macro Focusing Zoom, 6 blade iris, 52mm filter size
  • Vivitar SMS 70-210mm f/4.5 zoom, 52mm filter size
  • Vivitar 75-205mm f/3.5-4.5 zoom (built by Tokina)
  • Vivitar 75-205mm f/3.8 Close Focusing Auto Zoom, 52mm filter size
  • Vivitar 75-250mm f/3.8-4.5 zoom
  • Vivitar 75-260mm f4.5 Auto Zoom
  • Vivitar 80-200mm f/4.0 Macro Focusing Zoom MC, 55mm filter size
  • Vivitar 85mm f/1.8
  • Vivitar 85-205mm f/3.8 zoom
  • Vivitar 90mm f/2.5
  • Vivitar Auto 90mm f/2.5 Macro
  • Vivitar Auto 90mm f/2.8 Macro
  • Vivitar 90-230mm f/4.5 Close Focus zoom
  • Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 Macro
  • Vivitar 100mm f/2.8
  • Vivitar 100-300mm f/5.0 Close Focusing Auto Zoom
  • Vivitar 105mm f/2.8
  • Vivitar 120-600mm f/5.6-8
  • Vivitar 135mm f/2.5
  • Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 Auto Telephoto (built by Komine)
  • Vivitar 135mm f/2.8, 55mm filter size
  • Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 close-focus 1:2 Macro (built by Komine)
  • Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 T4 and TX (built by Tokina)
  • Vivitar 135mm f/3.5 T4 (built by Tokina)
  • Vivitar 135mm f/3.5 (built by Komine)
  • Vivitar 180mm f/3.5
  • Vivitar 200mm f/3
  • Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 (at least 4 variants)
  • Vivitar 200mm f/4
  • Vivitar 250mm f/4.5
  • Vivitar 300mm f/5.5
  • Vivitar 300mm f/5.6
  • Vivitar 400mm f/5.6
  • Vivitar 400mm f/6.3
  • Vivitar 500mm f/6.3
  • Vivitar 500mm f/8 Mirror lens Macro Focusing (marked "Made in Korea")
  • Vivitar 2x macro focusing tele converter MC
  • Vivitar Automatic Tele Converter 2x-3 Nikon
  • Vivitar Auto 2x Custom Tele Converter 2x-4 FL-FD
  • Vivitar Auto 2x Custom Tele Converter 2x-5
  • Vivitar Automatic Tele Converter 2x-7

Vivitar Series I lenses

Vivitar Series I lenses represent the top-tier products in Vivitar history. Most of these were unusual, original designs subcontracted to a variety of lens manufacturers.

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Vivitar 600mm f8 Solid Catadioptric Lens
image by pointnshoot (Image rights)
  • 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 (made by Cosina)
  • 24-48mm f/3.8 zoom
  • 28-90mm f/2.8 zoom
  • 28-105mm f/2.8 zoom
  • 35-85mm f/2.8 variable focus
  • 70-210mm f/3.5 zoom
  • 90-180mm f/4.5 Flat Field Macro Zoom
  • 28mm f/1.9
  • 90mm f/2.5 macro with 1:1 optical converter
  • 100-500mm f/5.6-8 Close Focusing Zoom, 67mm filter size
  • 105mm f/2.5 macro 1:1
  • 135mm f/2.3
  • 200mm f/3
  • 400mm f/4.5 mirror lens
  • 450mm f/4.5 mirror lens
  • 600mm f/8 Solid Cat mirror lens (Perkin-Elmer mfg.)
  • 800mm f/11 Solid Cat mirror lens (Perkin-Elmer mfg.)
  • Vivitar Series 1 Commemorative Lens Set (rare) - A special set of two lenses made to mark Vivitar's 50th anniversary (1938-1988). The set included special polished brash versions of the Series 1 28-105mm f/2.8 zoom and 70-210mm f/3.5 zoom. Each lens included a lens cap with the Vivitar Series 1 logo in gold. A wooden case was included. Only 50 commemorative sets were made. The lenses in each set are numbered. They were never sold to the public but given to Vivitar officials and select dealers.

Flash units

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Vivitar 283 Flash
image by Martin Taylor (Image rights)
  • Vivitar 102 Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 151 Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 152 Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 181 Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 192 Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 200 Auto Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 202 Auto Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 215 Auto Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 225 Auto Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 252 Auto Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 253 Auto Electronic Flash
  • Vivitar 265 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 271 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 272 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 273 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 281 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 283 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 285 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 285HV Auto Zoom Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 292 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 365 Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 530 FD Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 550 FD N Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 550 FD C/R Auto Thyristor Flash
  • Vivitar 626AF Ni Auto Focus Illuminator Flash
  • Vivitar 728 Auto Focus Flashgun


Digital cameras

  • Vivitar DSC 350
  • Vivitar ViviCam 10
  • Vivitar ViviCam 10b
  • Vivitar ViviCam 20
  • Vivitar ViviCam 2655
  • Vivitar ViviCam 2775
  • Vivitar ViviCam 2795
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3200
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3305
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3315
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3330
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3340
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3345
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3350
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3355
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3500
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3540
  • Vivitar ViviCam 355
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3550
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3555T
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3610
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3615
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3620
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3625
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3630
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3632
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3635
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3640
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3655
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3665
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3675
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3695
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3705
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3715
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3725
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3730
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3735
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3740
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3745
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3746
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3750
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3755
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3765
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3815
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3825
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3826 (aka Vivitar V3826)
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3915
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3930
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3935
  • Vivitar ViviCam 3945s
  • Vivitar ViviCam 40
  • Vivitar ViviCam 4000
  • Vivitar ViviCam 4100
  • Vivitar ViviCam 5
  • Vivitar ViviCam 50
  • Vivitar ViviCam 55
  • Vivitar ViviCam 60

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Company outline of the Vivitar UK website (Web Archive version, 31 May 2007).
  2. ↑ Yet Another Buyer Sets its Sights on Vivitar
  3. ↑ Vivitar Clicking Away at 50
  4. ↑ Vivitar Clicking Away at 50
  5. ↑ Cult Lenses
  6. ↑ Yet Another Buyer Sets its Sights on Vivitar
  7. ↑ [1]
  8. ↑ Yet Another Buyer Sets its Sights on Vivitar
  9. ↑ Yet Another Buyer Sets its Sights on Vivitar
  10. ↑ Wikipedia: 1994 Northridge Earthquake
  11. ↑ MFlenses: Previous Vivitar Techs
  12. ↑ LA Times: The Road to Recovery: Brick by Brick
  13. ↑ Vivitar Splits into 2
  14. ↑ Douglas E. Howe Named President of Vivitar Corp
  15. ↑ Company history of the Syntax-Brillian website (Web Archive version, 22 August 2007).
  16. ↑ News release at the Vivitar website.

Bibliography

  • Wolf, John C. The Vivitar Guide. ISBN 9780871650658.

Links

In English:

In French:

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