Vivitar Corporation is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of photographic and optical equipment originally based in

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. Since 2008, the Vivitar name serves as Sakar International's house brand for digital imaging, optics, mobile accessories, and audio products.

Products

The company's product line has included 35 mm SLR cameras,

zoom lens A zoom lens is a system of camera lens elements for which the focal length (and thus angle of view) can be varied, as opposed to a fixed-focal-length (FFL) lens (''prime lens''). A true zoom lens or optical zoom lens is a type of '' parfocal ...

es, flashes, film enlargers,

binoculars Binoculars or field glasses are two refracting telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point in the same direction, allowing the viewer to use both eyes (binocular vision) when viewing distant objects. Most binoculars are sized to be held ...

digital cameras A digital camera, also called a digicam, is a camera that captures photographs in digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film or film stock. Digital cameras are now ...

night vision Night vision is the ability to see in low-light conditions, either naturally with scotopic vision or through a night-vision device. Night vision requires both sufficient spectral range and sufficient intensity range. Humans have poor night v ...

products,

point-and-shoot camera A point-and-shoot camera, also known as a compact camera and sometimes abbreviated to P&S, is a still camera (either film or digital) designed primarily for simple operation. Most use focus free lenses or autofocus for focusing, automatic syste ...

s, tripods, underwater cameras,

smart home technology Home automation or domotics is building automation for a home. A home automation system will monitor and/or control home attributes such as lighting, climate, entertainment systems, and appliances. It may also include home security such as ...

, health and wellness accessories, and other audio/video equipment.

Point and shoot cameras

*ViviCam 55 *ViviCam 7122 *ViviCam 3735

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 Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. 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 World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, 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. Vivitar

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 outperform the optics of camera manufacturers of the day. Vivitar Series 1 5965

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 is a manufacturer of high-end Optics, optical glass, optical precision equipment, cameras, video and electronic related equipment, based in Nakano, Nagano, Nakano, Nagano prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. History Cosina is the successor ...

. 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 is a Japanese multinational electronics manufacturer, headquartered in Kadoma, Osaka, Kadoma, Japan. It was founded in 1918 as in Fukushima-ku, Osaka, Fukushima by Kōnosuke Matsushita. The company was incorporated in 1935 and renamed and c ...

called the Vivitar 260. The flash was acclaimed 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, 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 A public company is a company whose ownership is organized via shares of share capital, stock which are intended to be freely traded on a stock exchange or in over-the-counter (finance), over-the-counter markets. A public (publicly traded) co ...

Syntax-Brillian Corporation for US$26 million in

stock Stocks (also capital stock, or sometimes interchangeably, shares) consist of all the Share (finance), shares by which ownership of a corporation or company is divided. A single share of the stock means fractional ownership of the corporatio ...

and was operated as a wholly owned

subsidiary A subsidiary, subsidiary company, or daughter company is a company (law), company completely or partially owned or controlled by another company, called the parent company or holding company, which has legal and financial control over the subsidia ...

. On August 21, 2008, subsequent to its filing for

bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the deb ...

, parent company Syntax-Brillian completed the sale of the Vivitar

brand name A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's goods or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create and ...

and

intellectual property Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, co ...

privately held A privately held company (or simply a private company) is a company whose Stock, shares and related rights or obligations are not offered for public subscription or publicly negotiated in their respective listed markets. Instead, the Private equi ...

consumer electronics Consumer electronics, also known as home electronics, are electronic devices intended for everyday household use. Consumer electronics include those used for entertainment, Communication, communications, and recreation. Historically, these prod ...

maker Sakar International, based in

Edison, New Jersey Edison is a Township (New Jersey), township located in Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated in Central Jersey, Central New Jersey within the core of the state's Raritan River, Raritan Valley r ...

. Sakar did not purchase Vivitar's equipment, facilities or

accounts receivable Accounts receivable, abbreviated as AR or A/R, are legally enforceable claims for payment held by a business for goods supplied or services rendered that customers have ordered but not paid for. The accounts receivable process involves customer on ...

. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Current operations

In August 2008, Sakar announced plans to position Vivitar as a brand for its current mass retail

digital camera A digital camera, also called a digicam, is a camera that captures photographs in Digital data storage, digital memory. Most cameras produced today are digital, largely replacing those that capture images on photographic film or film stock. Dig ...

s in the midprice range of $70–$300, along with certain camera accessories. New Vivitar-branded products such as

digital photo frame A digital photo frame (also called a digital media frame) is a picture frame that displays digital photos without the need of a computer or printer. The introduction of digital photo frames predates tablet computers, which can serve the same p ...

s are also planned, as well as potential licensing opportunities. 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. 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.XO Tablet Hands On Review: WOW!! OLPC Finally Got It Right!
One Laptop Per Child News, by Wayan Vota on August 4, 2013.

Vivitar lenses

Manual focus prime lenses

*Vivitar Series 1 7mm ƒ/3.5 Fish-eye CS (for

APS-C Advanced Photo System type-C (APS-C) is an image sensor format approximately equivalent in size to the Advanced Photo System film negative in its C ("Classic") format, of 25.1×16.7 mm, an aspect ratio of 3:2 and Ø 30.15 mm field d ...

digital sensors only, a rebadged Samyang 8mm ƒ/3.5 from 2009) *Vivitar Series 1 13mm ƒ/2.8 (rebadged Samyang 14mm ƒ/2.8, released in 2010) *Vivitar 17mm ƒ/3.5 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 19mm ƒ/3.8 (made by

) *Vivitar 20mm ƒ/3.8 (82mm filter, made by Kiron) *Vivitar 21mm ƒ/3.8 T4 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 24mm ƒ/2 (52mm filter version made by Komine, 55mm made by Kiron) *Vivitar 24mm ƒ/2.8 (Cosina) *Vivitar 24mm ƒ/2.8 T4 (67mm filter, made by Tokina) *Vivitar 24mm ƒ/2.8 TX (58mm filter, made by Tokina) *Vivitar Series 1 28mm ƒ/1.9 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 28mm ƒ/2 "Close Focus"(49mm filter version made by Komine) *Vivitar 28mm ƒ/2 (55mm by Kiron) *Vivitar 28mm ƒ/2.5 (62mm or 67mm filter, made by Kiron) *Vivitar 28mm ƒ/2.5 TX (58mm filter, made by Tokina) *Vivitar 28mm ƒ/2.8 T4 (58mm filter, made by Tokina) *Vivitar Close Focus 28mm ƒ/2.8 *Vivitar 28mm ƒ/2.8 (made by Komine) *Vivitar 28mm ƒ/2.8 TX (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 35mm ƒ/1.4 (made by Samyang, released in 2011) *Vivitar 35mm ƒ/1.9 (made by Komine) *Vivitar 35mm ƒ/2.5 TX (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 35mm ƒ/2.8 *Vivitar 35mm ƒ/2.8 T4 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 50mm ƒ/1.4 VMC (49mm filter made by Cosina) *Vivitar 50mm ƒ/1.7 (Cosina) *Vivitar 50mm ƒ/1.8 (Cosina) *Vivitar 50mm ƒ/1.9 (Cosina) *Vivitar 50mm ƒ/2.0 (49mm filter) *Vivitar 55mm ƒ/1.2 VMC (Cosina) *Vivitar 55mm ƒ/2.8 Macro (made by Komine) *Vivitar Series 1 85mm ƒ/1.4 Aspherical IF (made by Samyang, released in 2009) *Vivitar 85mm ƒ/1.8 T-mount *Vivitar 90mm ƒ/2.5 Macro (1:1 macro, made by Komine) *Vivitar 90mm ƒ/2.8 Macro (1:1 macro, made by Komine) *Vivitar Series 1 90mm ƒ/2.5 1:2 Macro, 1:1 achieved with dedicated extender, nicknamed the ''Bokina'' (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 100mm ƒ/2.8 Macro (made by Kiron) *Vivitar Series 1 105mm ƒ/2.5 macro (1:1 macro, made by Kiron) *Vivitar 105mm ƒ/2.8 T4 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 135mm ƒ/1.5 professional T-mount *Vivitar Series 1 135mm ƒ/2.3 (made by Komine) *Vivitar 135mm ƒ/2.5 TX (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 135mm ƒ/2.8 (made by Komine) *Vivitar 135mm ƒ/2.8 close-focusing 1:2 Macro (made by Komine) *Vivitar 135mm ƒ/2.8 T4 & TX (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 135mm ƒ/3.5 T4 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 135mm ƒ/3.5 T-mount *Vivitar 200mm ƒ/3.5 (early models made by Kiron, later models made by Komine) *Vivitar 200mm ƒ/3.5 T4 & TX (made by Tokina) *Vivitar Series 1 200mm ƒ/3 (made by Komine) *Vivitar Series 1 200mm ƒ/3.5 Auto Focus (made by Cosina) *Vivitar 250mm ƒ/4.5 T4 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 300mm ƒ/5.5 T4 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 300mm ƒ/5.6 (made by Olympus) *Vivitar 300mm ƒ/5.6 (made by Komine) *Vivitar 400mm ƒ/5.6 *Vivitar 400mm ƒ/5.6 IF TX (made by Tokina) *Vivitar 400mm ƒ/6.3 T4 (made by Tokina) *Vivitar Series 1 450mm ƒ/4.5 aspherical mirror T-mount *Vivitar 500mm ƒ/8 *Vivitar Series 1 500mm ƒ/8 mirror T-mount (released in 2009, made by Samyang) *Vivitar 500mm ƒ/6.3 T-mount (non-mirror) *Vivitar 600mm ƒ/8 T-mount (non-mirror) *Vivitar Series 1 600mm ƒ/8 solid cat T-mount (made by Perkin-Elmer) *Vivitar Series 1 800mm ƒ/8 mirror T-mount (released in 2009, made by Samyang) *Vivitar Series 1 800mm ƒ/11 solid cat T-mount (made by Perkin-Elmer)

Manual focus zoom lenses

Auto focus lenses

*Vivitar Series 1 19-35mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 (made by Cosina) *Vivitar Series 1 28-70mm ƒ/2.8 (Sigma) *Vivitar Series 1 28-70mm ƒ/3.5-4.8 SC (self-contained; requires three

AAA batteries The AAA battery (or triple-A battery) is a standard size of dry cell battery. One or more AAA batteries are commonly used in low-drain portable electronic devices. A zinc–carbon battery in this size is designated by IEC as R03, by ANSI C1 ...

to operate) *Vivitar Series 1 28-105mm ƒ/2.8-3.8 MC (Cosina) *Vivitar 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 *Vivitar 28-105mm ƒ/2.8-4.0 *Vivitar Series 1 28-210mm ƒ/4.2-6.5 *Vivitar 28-300mm ƒ/4-6.3 (Cosina) *Vivitar 35-70mm f3.5-4.5 *Vivitar Series 1 75-200mm ƒ/4.5 SC (self-contained; requires three AAA batteries to operate) *Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm ƒ/2.8 (Sigma) *Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm ƒ/2.8-4.0 *Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm ƒ/2.8-4.0 APO *Vivitar 70-210mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 (Cosina) *Vivitar Series 1 70-300 ƒ/4.5-5.6 *Vivitar 100mm ƒ/3.5 Macro (made by Cosina) *Vivitar 100-300mm ƒ/5.6-6.7 (Cosina) *Vivitar 100-400mm ƒ/4.5-6.7 (Cosina) *Vivitar 200mm ƒ/3.5 (self-contained; requires three AAA batteries to operate) (Komine and Cosina)

Teleconverters

*1.5×

teleconverter A teleconverter (sometimes called tele extender) is a secondary lens mounted between a camera and a photographic lens which enlarges the central part of an image obtained by the lens. For example, a 2× teleconverter for a 35 mm camera, 35 ...

*2× macro-focusing teleconverter. This featured a ring which, when turned, changes the close-focusing distance, and will give a 1:1 magnification when used with a 50mm lens (similar to an

extension tube An extension tube, sometimes also called a closeup tube or an extension ring, is used with interchangeable lenses to increase magnification. This is most often used in macro photography. Construction The tube contains no optical elements; ...

, but variable and having lenses). *3× teleconverter

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.vivitar.com
Archived website showing most recent products offered prior to sale of brand name on 7/21/2008

History of Vivitar Company
Photography equipment manufacturers of the United States Manufacturing companies established in 1938 1938 establishments in California American companies established in 1938 Companies based in Santa Monica, California