Vivitar: an Affordable Brand
When we talk about Vivitar, we think of affordable, decently made photographic equipment that is inferior in quality to the major traditional brands (Nikon, Canon, Olympus, etc.).
While this is true for much of the equipment produced under the Vivitar name, it has not always been the case.
Series 1: Vivitar ln Pursuit of Excellence
Series 1 was meant to be a serious alternative to the big names
The Series 1 range of lenses produced by Vivitar in the 1970s and 1980s is considered to be high-end equipment, matching the performance of the best lenses of the time while being sold at lower prices.
These lenses were appreciated for their build quality, optical performance, and versatility (macro, zoom, landscape).
Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f3.5
One example is the Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f3.5:
According to the Vivitar catalog of the time, this zoom lens produces “photographic images indistinguishable from those taken with fixed focal length lenses” [1] by offering “very good definition and excellent contrast from one end of its focal range to the other”[1], while also offering macro capabilities with a magnification ratio of 1:2.2.
A demanding set of requirements
To achieve this goal, Vivitar invested heavily in the design of its lenses, seeking the optimal optical formula. In particular, Vivitar used computer-aided design, a technique that was still emerging at the time.
The American brand called on renowned lens manufacturers (Kiron, Tokina, Komine, etc.) to achieve the best possible manufacturing quality while keeping production costs reasonable.
A fleeting period in the history of Vivitar
The pace set by other manufacturers, the difficulty of maintaining such high standards, and the arrival of autofocus in the 1980s, which required significant R&D investment, led Vivitar to abandon the high-end camera market.
The American brand subsequently decided to focus on selling mid-range and entry-level camera equipment:
The Vivitar V6000 and the Vivitar 19mm F3.8 lens produced in the 1980s, featured in two blog posts, are decent and affordable photographic equipment, but their quality does not match that of the Series 1.
Vivitar Series 1 lenses today
The objectives of the Series 1 are still relevant today to be adapted on digital cameras.
While they no longer offer the best performance, they remain excellent, inexpensive alternatives for those who want to purchase a lens at a (very) reasonable price without compromising too much on quality or having a vintage look.
Sources :
https://elekm.net/downloads/Vivitar%20Series%201.pdf
Leave a Reply