KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

Regarding lenses, I see all the usual suspects mentioned all the time, camera specific, as well as Sigma, tameron etc, but I rarely see "Vivitar" talked about, and very few ad's for them either. Their cost seems very reasonable compared with the other makes available, so I was wondering if any of you own/use, or have any experience with them, or if they are any good? Thanks in advance,
Ray.

gwilliams6

Unlike the past for SLR and DSLR cameras, Vivitar really isn't making new lens lines for most camera platforms today. Just go to B&H and search Vivitar Lenses and see that they really have a few T-mount long lenses, a few accessory lenses and a few specialty lenses like fisheye lenses and a wide lens here or there .

Not a real competitor to Sigma, Tamron, Samyang/Rokinon, Zeiss , Viltrox, Meike and others nowadays.

Cheers

Soul Dr. Loc: Beautiful Shenandoah Valley

Vivitar products are usually not on par with major camera brands. Hence their cheaper prices.
I speak from experience from trying some of their lenses when I didn't know any better in my earlier photography endeavors.

Will

gwilliams6

"Vivitar, a once storied camera brand known for quality flashes and third-party lenses, isn't what it used to be. The imprint is now owned by Sakar, a company that has built its reputation on low-cost products of questionable quality, manufactured to spec and imported from China. "

https://www.pcmag.com/news/vivitar-not-what-it-used-to-be
Jun 22, 2018

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

Back in the 70s Vivitar sold some very good lenses in their Series 1 line. Vivitar designed the lenses and had them manufactured by other lens companies. Some of the best were manufactured by Cosina and Kiron. Some of these lenses are still popular today.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I had a couple of those “Series One” lenses back in the. ‘70’s
The 70-210 was actually quite good!
And the higher end shoe-mount flashes were great.
Not what they used Rob for sure.

User ID

Vivitar is not real. Just a label. Always was, even in the best of times. The name (word) itself almost blatantly announces that. Its just a marketing and distribution organization. Was very successful in many past decades. But that was now and this is then ... BTW, exactly same story for Soligor.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You have an EF / EF-S mount camera. Does Vivitar even make lenses for this lens mount? That's a possible reason.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Today Vivitar isn't making very much that's worth owning.

They have never made their own lenses... always outsourced and put their name on lenses made by other companies.

In the distant past there were some good lenses... maybe even great... that were sold under the Vivitar name. Their flashes were darned good, too.

But today it's another matter. They simply don't offer much... and what they do is almost undoubtedly outsourced to the lowest bidder. When I look at B&H for lenses under the Vivitar brand name I find three "t-mount" preset lenses... those are fully manual telephotos with really low quality optics. Very slow to shoot with and difficult to focus. I wouldn't expect much from a 500mm lens that costs under $90! They also offer a couple 2X teleconverters... one for Nikon F-mount, the other for Canon EF mount (both DSLR/SLR mounts that are being phased out in favor of new mirrorless Z and RF mounts). They also offer a $90 50mm for Sony e-mount... best guess is that it's a relabeled Yongnuo... or maybe a very similar lens being sold under Meike and Opteka brand names (but probably not made by either, since both of them are re-labellers, too, much like Vivitar).

You'll also find Vivitar filters and auxiliary lenses... typically among the least expensive in their relative categories. A kit of three 72mm filters for $15? Bet those are great!

They even offer a digital camera... 16MP point n shoot for $30. Hope you like pink!

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I have 2 Vivitar lenses that I have kept. And they are really good.

The first is the Vivitar 55mm f2.8 macro, made by Komane.
And the 2nd is the Vivitar 90mm, f2.8, also made by Komane.

Actually also have a more modern Vivitar lens. And this is an 85mm f2 and is a rebrand of Rokinon/Samyang. I think Vivitar just put their name on it.

KindaSpikey Loc: English living in San Diego

Thanks for all your replys. I'm really ignorant regarding this subject, and you've all answered my question perfectly! Have a great day guys,
Ray.

DAN Phillips Loc: Graysville, GA

I still have a Vivitar 400mm lens since the '70's; it is a very good lens for a 49mm screw in Pentax body. In my case a Mamiya. At one time they also had SLRs' with their name. Not bad for the money.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Vivitar lens design is about 10 generations out of date. If you like the price, go ahead and buy one. Will you be pleased, that's the real question.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Look up Vivitar.
They sell toy robots, hair brushes, human anatomy kits, vanity mirrors etc.
The Series 1 lenses are (were) excellent.
The 70-210 was incredibly popular and well built.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you do see Vivitar, I'm sure it's not the same company that was selling products in the 1970s. Like Abe's of Maine, it's probably gone through several owners. Imagine Vivitar going up against Tamron, etc.