Vivitar Series 1 50th Anniversary Lens Set

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The Vivitar Series 1 50th Anniversary lens set is a rare, gold-plated set of lens made by Cosina.



Description

To celebrate their 50th anniversary in 1988, Vivitar commissioned a limited edition set of two Series 1 zoom lenses. The lenses, a 28-105mm f/2.8-3.8 zoom and 70-210mm f/2.8-4.0 zoom, were manufactured by Cosina, made of gold-plated brass, and delivered in custom-made wood cases lined with black velvet. Some say a total of 50 sets were made, others say a total of 200 sets were made with 50 sets each for the four major countries in which Vivitar operated at the time. We hope that by documenting the sets below, we will eventually gather enough evidence to say for certain how many sets were made. In the United States, the sets were marked 'Vivitar Corporation', in France they were marked 'Hanimex-Vivitar France', in Germany they were marked 'Hanimex-Vivitar Deutschland Gmbh', and in the UK they were marked 'Vivitar United Kingdom Ltd'. The lenses in each set are numbered (e.g. 3 of 50) on the outer edge of the lens barrel and the serial number on the front badge is the number of the set (e.g. No.3). They were never sold to the public but given to Vivitar officials and select dealers. Over the years, some sets have passed from their original owners into the used market where they command high prices from collectors.

Sets containing lenses with Nikon AIS mount, Minolta MD mount, Pentax K mount, and Olympus OM mount have been documented. It is not known if other mounts existed.

Known Sets

  • Hanimex-Vivitar Deutschland GMBH (Germany) - set 1 of 50 - Pentax K mount[1]
  • Vivitar United Kingdom Ltd. (UK) - set 4 of 50 - Pentax K mount[2]
  • Unknown badge - set 5 of 50 - Nikon mount[3]
  • US - Vivitar Corporation - set 15 of 50 - Nikon AIS mount[4]
  • Vivitar United Kingdom Ltd. (UK) - set 18 of 50 - Pentax K mount[5]
  • Hanimex-Vivitar France - set 23 of 50 - Minolta MD mount[6]
  • Hanimex-Vivitar Deutschland GMBH (German) - set 24 of 50 - Minolta MD mount[7]
  • Hanimex-Vivitar Deutschland GMBH (German) - set 25 of 50 - Minolta MD mount[8]
  • Vivitar Corporation (US) - set 29 of 50 - Nikon AIS mount[9]
  • Unknown badge - set 30 of 50 - Minolta MD mount (set split up, no box)[10]
  • Vivitar United Kingdom Ltd. (UK) - set 31 of 50 - Pentax K mount[11]
  • Hanimex-Vivitar Deutschland GMBH (German) - set 35 of 50 - Olympus OM[12]
  • Vivitar Corporation (US) - set 36 of 50 - Nikon AIS mount[13]
  • Vivitar Corporation (US) - set 37 of 50 - Nikon AIS mount[14]
  • Vivitar United Kingdom Ltd. (UK) - set 38 of 50 - Pentax K mount[15]


Photos


References

  1. eBay auction, fq123, September 2012
  2. Rocky Cameras: Gold Vivitar Series 1 50th Anniversary Pentax PKA
  3. [1]
  4. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/331522580125
  5. personal set belonging to Fwcetus
  6. Christie's auctions: Vivitar 50th Anniversary lens ste
  7. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/311326193241
  8. eBay auction, photoalps, October 2012
  9. eBay auction, igorcamera, January 2012
  10. Flickr photo by Donny Tam: Golden Optics
  11. Flickr set by user camerawiki: Vivitar 50th Anniversary Set
  12. http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/390428161881
  13. eBay auction, Kevin Cameras, September 2012
  14. Cameraquest: Vivitar Gold 50tth Anniversary Lenses
  15. eBay auction, lisapink09, September 2012