Vivitar

Vivitar Corporation

Company type	Private (under Sakar International)
Industry	Photographic and optical products
Founded	1938
Founder	Max Ponder, John Best
Headquarters	Santa Monica , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Cameras, lenses, flashes, film enlargers, binoculars, digital cameras, night vision devices, tripods, underwater cameras, smart home gadgets, health and wellness accessories, audio and video equipment
Owner	Sakar International (since 2008)
Website	www.vivitar.com

Vivitar Corporation is a company specializing in the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of photographic and optical products, originally headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Since 2008, Vivitar has functioned as the house brand for Sakar International, offering a range of digital imaging devices, optical products, mobile accessories, and audio equipment.

Products

The range of Vivitar products encompasses 35mm SLR cameras, zoom lenses, flashes, film enlargers, binoculars, digital cameras, night vision devices, point-and-shoot cameras, tripods, underwater cameras, smart home gadgets, health and wellness accessories, along with audio and video gear.

Point and shoot cameras

• ViviCam 55
• ViviCam 7122
• ViviCam 3735

History

Founded in 1938 by Max Ponder and John Best, Ponder & Best, Inc. began as a photographic product distributor based in Los Angeles. While Ponder directed sales efforts, Best managed operational aspects. The company initially imported photographic equipment from Germany but transitioned to Japanese imports following World War II. They played a key role in introducing several brands to the U.S. market, including Mamiya/Sekor 35mm cameras, OM-System gear, Kobena 8mm movie cameras, Sankyo/Komura lenses, and a variety of darkroom supplies sourced from Japan and Taiwan. During this era, Vivitar also served as the exclusive U.S. distributor for Olympus products.

Lenses and flashes

Ponder & Best were innovators in developing lenses with interchangeable mounts that allowed photographers to use one lens across multiple camera brands.

In the early 1960s, they established the Vivitar brand to rival leading lens manufacturers. Collaborating with skilled lens designers and Japanese producers like Kino Precision, Vivitar introduced a focused product line through select photographic retailers. This approach quickly earned a reputation for delivering high-quality lenses at affordable prices. Retailers benefited from attractive profit margins while providing value to customers. This success attracted numerous contract manufacturers to produce lenses under the Vivitar label. In the 1970s, Vivitar launched the Series 1 line—computer-engineered optics offered at competitive prices that claimed superior performance compared to many camera manufacturers’ lenses.

Building on their aftermarket lens achievements, Vivitar expanded into producing 35mm film cameras manufactured by Japanese firms such as Cosina, including models like the Cosina-made Vivitar SLR and the Vivitar 35ES/EE rangefinders.

Vivitar also made significant advancements in flash technology. Initially collaborating with National/Panasonic, they released the semi-professional Vivitar 260 flash unit. After receiving customer feedback about its expensive 9-volt batteries, Max Ponder liaised directly with the Japanese manufacturer to enhance the design. The improved Vivitar 283 flash debuted in 1970 and quickly dominated the market—selling over three million units by 1973 and outselling all competitors combined. Its production spanned more than three decades with several reissues driven by continued demand. The model 285 introduced features such as a zoom head and adjustable power settings. Earlier Japanese-manufactured flashes had high trigger voltages (250 V) that posed risks to digital cameras; however, newer models produced in China and Korea utilize low-voltage triggers (5–12 V). Both versions include detachable sensors and optional remote sensor cables for off-camera automatic flash operation.

Post-Ponder and Best Era

After the passing of founders Max Ponder and John Best, the company experienced several ownership transitions. Efforts to introduce digital compact cameras did not succeed. In November 2006, public company Syntax-Brillian Corporation purchased the firm for US$26 million in stock, operating it as a fully owned subsidiary. Following Syntax-Brillian’s bankruptcy filing, the Vivitar brand along with its intellectual property were sold in August 2008 to Sakar International, a private consumer electronics company based in Edison, New Jersey. This transaction excluded Vivitar’s physical assets, including equipment, facilities, and outstanding receivables, with the financial terms kept confidential.

Present-Day Operations

Under Sakar’s management, Vivitar was repositioned as a mid-tier brand targeting mass retail markets, emphasizing digital cameras priced between $70 and $300 along with related camera accessories. The company also aimed to broaden its product range by entering the digital photo frame market and exploring additional licensing agreements. In January 2009, Sakar introduced three new Vivitar-branded cameras and a digital SLR lens lineup—marking the first new products released under the brand since acquisition. Further diversifying its offerings, Sakar launched the XO Tablet in 2013, a 7-inch Android device tailored for children featuring bilingual English and Spanish support, retailing at $150.

Manual Focus Prime Lenses

• Vivitar Series 1 7mm ƒ/3.5 Fish-eye CS (designed for APS-C sensors; rebranded Samyang 8mm ƒ/3.5, 2009)
• Vivitar Series 1 13mm ƒ/2.8 (rebranded Samyang 14mm ƒ/2.8, 2010)
• Vivitar 17mm ƒ/3.5 (manufactured by Tokina)
• Vivitar 19mm ƒ/3.8 (produced by Cosina)
• Vivitar 20mm ƒ/3.8 (82mm filter thread; Kiron)
• Vivitar 21mm ƒ/3.8 T4 (Tokina)
• Vivitar 24mm ƒ/2 (52mm filter Komine version; also available as 55mm Kiron)
• Vivitar 24mm ƒ/2.8 (Cosina)
• Vivitar 24mm ƒ/2.8 T4 (67mm filter Tokina)
• Vivitar Series 1 28mm ƒ/1.9 (Tokina)
• Various Vivitar 28mm models include Close Focus ƒ/2 (Komine), ƒ/2 (Kiron), ƒ/2.5 TX (Tokina), ƒ/2.8 T4 and TX variants (Tokina), Close Focus ƒ/2.8, plus standard versions by Komine and Tokina
• Vivitar 35mm selections: ƒ/1.4 (Samyang, 2011), ƒ/1.9 (Komine), ƒ/2.5 TX and ƒ/2.8 T4 (Tokina), along with standard ƒ/2.8 models
• Vivitar 50mm primes: includes ƒ/1.4 VMC, ƒ/1.7, ƒ/1.8, and ƒ/1.9 variants from Cosina; also a ƒ/2.0 model
• Vivitar 55mm lenses: featuring ƒ/1.2 VMC and ƒ/2.8 Macro versions by Komine
• Vivitar Series 1 85mm ƒ/1.4 Aspherical IF (Samyang, 2009)
• Macro lenses include Vivitar 90mm ƒ/2.5 and ƒ/2.8 Macro from Komine; Series 1 90mm ƒ/2.5 with "Bokina" extender by Tokina
• Macro and telephoto range includes Vivitar 100mm and Series 1 105mm macro lenses from Kiron; additional Series 1 and standard telephoto lenses available in multiple focal lengths by Komine, Tokina, and Kiron
• Long-range telephoto primes encompass Series 1 models at 200mm with autofocus options; extended focal lengths include Series 1 mirror lenses up to 800mm and solid catadioptric designs produced by Samyang and Perkin-Elmer

This comprehensive assortment illustrates Vivitar’s diversified approach through collaborations with prominent manufacturers such as Tokina, Cosina, Kiron, Komine, Samyang, Olympus, and Perkin-Elmer—enabling a competitive presence within the manual focus prime lens market catering to both amateur enthusiasts and professional photographers alike.

Manual focus zoom lenses

Vivitar manual focus zoom lenses

Ultrawide	Wide	Normal	Telephoto	Ultratelephoto	Series	Manufacturer	Remarks	Image
17-28mm Template:F/4-4.5						Samyang
19-35mm Template:F/3.5-4.5						Cosina
	24-48mm Template:F/3.8				Series 1	Kiron
	24-70mm Template:F/3.8-4.8				Series 1	Cosina
	28-80mm Template:F/3.5-4.5				RL edition	Kobori	Macro focusing zoom MC, filter diameter 62mm
	28-105mm Template:F/2.8-3.8				Series 1	Cosina
	28-200mm Template:F/3.5-5.3					Kobori
	28-210mm Template:F/3.5-5.6					Cosina
	28-50mm Template:F/3.8-4.8				RL edition	Komine
	28-70mm Template:F/3.5-4.8					Cosina
	28-85mm Template:F/2.8-3.8					Kiron	Vari-focal zoom lens
	28-85mm Template:F/3.5-4.5					Kobori
	28-90mm Template:F/2.8-3.5				Series 1	Komine
	35-70mm Template:F/2.8-3.8					Komine
	35-70mm Template:F/3.5					Komine
	35-85mm Template:F/2.8				Series 1	Kiron	Vari-focal zoom lens
	35-105mm Template:F/3.5					Tokina	Close focusing with fixed-mount and TX variants available
	35-200mm Template:F/3-4.5					Kobori	Macro capability
		55-135mm Template:F/3.5				Tokina	T4 mount type
			70-150mm Template:F/3.8			Kiron	Available in one and two-touch zoom versions
						Tokina	TX mount version
			70-210mm Template:F/2.8-4		Series 1	Komine	Earlier models
						Cosina	Later models
rowspan=2	rowspan=2	rowspan=2	rowspan=2 70–210 mm f/3.5	rowspan=2	Series 1	Kiron	67 mm filter versions
Tokina	62 mm filter versions
		!70–210 mm f/4.5		Kobori	Macro variant
		!70–210 mm f/4–5.6		Cosina
		!75–205 mm f/3.8		Kiron	One and two-touch zoom types
		!75–260 mm f/4.5		Tokina	T4 and TX mount options
		!75–300 mm f/4.5–5.6		Kobori
		!80–200 mm f/4		Tokina	TX mount only
		!80–200 mm f/4.5		Kiron, Komine, Kobori	Multiple models differentiated by serial numbers.
		!85–205 mm f/3.8		Kiron	Preset T-mount and automatic diaphragm fixed-mount types.
		!90–230 mm f/4.5		Tokina	T4 and close-focus TX mount variants.
		!90–180 mm f/4.5		Series 1	Kiron	Flat Field optical design.
		!100–200 mm f/4		Komine
		!100–300 mm f/5		Tokina	TX mount version.
	100–500 mm f/5.6–8		Cosina||
	120–600 mm f/8	Kobori|| Lens evaluation available.
	!650–1300 mm f/8–16	Samyang|| T-mount lens.

Autofocus Lenses

• Vivitar Series 1 19-35mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 (manufactured by Cosina)
• Vivitar Series 1 28-70mm ƒ/2.8 (produced by Sigma)
• Vivitar Series 1 28-70mm ƒ/3.5-4.8 SC (self-powered; operates on three AAA batteries)
• Vivitar Series 1 28-105mm ƒ/2.8-3.8 MC (Cosina-made)
• Vivitar 28-80mm ƒ/3.5-5.6
• 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 ƒ/3.5-4.5
• Vivitar Series 1 75-200mm ƒ/4.5 SC (self-powered; requires three AAA batteries)
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm ƒ/2.8 (Sigma)
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm ƒ/2.8-4.0 including APO variants
• Vivitar 70-210mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 (Cosina)
• Vivitar Series 1 70-300mm ƒ/4.5-5.6
• Vivitar 100mm ƒ/3.5 Macro (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-powered; requires three AAA batteries), produced by Komine and Cosina

Teleconverters

• 1.5× teleconverter
• 2× macro teleconverter with adjustable close-focus capability, allowing for life-size (1:1) magnification when paired with a 50mm lens
• 3× teleconverter