Vivitar V50

Vivitar V50 image by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights)

The Vivitar V50 is a manual focus 35mm SLR camera distributed by Vivitar. Like all Vivitar 35mm SLRs, it was manufactured for Vivitar by Cosina, however unlike most, it was not made in Cosina's Japanese manufacturing facility. Instead, Cosina had it manufactured in China, most likely by Seagull (based on similarities in appearance to other Seagull-made cameras). The camera is similar to the Minolta X-300, Seagull DF-300 and Safari DF-300 cameras. All these were made in China. The Vivitar V50 is unique among Vivitar 35mm SLRs in that it uses a Minolta MD lens mount instead of the more common Pentax M42 screw mount or Pentak K bayonet mount.

Specifications

Vivitar V50 image by jarofdays (Image rights)

• Badging: Vivitar
• Manufacturer: Cosina of Japan (partnered with Seagull in China)
• Lens mount: Minolta MD
• Shutter: Quart-controlled horizontal traverse cloth curtain
• Shutter speeds: 4 to 1/1000 sec. (auto), 1 to 1/1000 sec. (manual), plus "B"
• Meter: TTL center-weighted averaging, silicon photocell
• Exposure modes: Aperture priority (AUTO) or Manual (M)
• Self-timer: Electronic, 10 sec, LED signal
• ISO range: 12 - 3200 in 1/3 EV increments
• Flash: Hot shoe with X-Sync at 1/60
• Battery: 1.5V LR44/SR44 (2)
• Weight: 470 g (16.5 oz)

Variants

The follolwing cameras are all copies of the Minolta X-300 (Minolta X-370):

• Centon DF-300
• Soligor SR-300 MD
• Kalimar KX 5000
• Vivitar V50
• Seagull DF-300
• Carena DF-300
• Carena SX-300
• Safari DF-300
• Texer EX-3
• Zenit DF-300
• Revue DF-300
• Samyang DF-400x

Links

• OrphanCameras.com: Vivitar V-50 user manual
• collection-appareils.fr: Vivitar V50 (in French)