Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 Compatible T System

The Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 Compatible T System lens was distributed by Ponder & Best (Vivitar) in the 1960s.

Vivitar 200mm f/3.5
image by steevithak (Image rights)

Description

The Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 Compatible T System lens was distributed by Ponder & Best (Vivitar) in the 1960s. Ponder & Best designated the family to which this lens belongs as the "Compatible T System". With only one exception, the Compatible T System family consisted of prime lenses, including mostly long telephoto lenses. The 200mm f/3.5 lens is a preset T mount lens marked "Made in Japan" and was manufactured by the company now known as Tokina but known at that time as Tokyo Koki. A 1969 Cambridge Camera Exchange ad lists the Vivitar 200mm f/3.5 lens for $47.50^[1]

Variants

Version 1 (mid 1960s) - The earliest version of the lens had a metal focus ring with alternating flats and longitudinal ridges.^[2]

Version 2 (late 1960s - early 1970s) - The second version of the lens had a metal focus ring with longitudinal ridges only (pictured on this page).

Specifications

Badging: Vivitar
Manufacturer: Tokina
Manufacture Date: ca 1965?
Focal Length: 200mm
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - f/22
Diaphragm Type: Preset
Diaphragm Blades: 18
Filter Diameter: 67mm
Minimum Focus: 3.5 m (11.5 ft)
Mounts: T Mount
Elements: unknown
Groups: unknown
Weight: unknown
Accessories: Screw-on metal lens cap
Example Serial Numbers: 66622 (v1), 66717 (v1) 67102 (v1), 67824 (v1), 68068 (v1), 68566 (v1), 70189 (v2), 70272 (v2), 78290 (v2), 89008 (v1 focus ring, unusual sn, possible prototype?)
Original Stock Number(s): unknown