Vivitar Corporation is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of photographic and optical equipment originally based in Santa Monica, California. 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 lenses, flashes, film enlargers, binoculars, digital cameras, night vision products, point-and-shoot cameras, tripods, underwater cameras, smart home technology, health and wellness accessories, and other audio/video equipment. Point and shoot cameras ViviCam 55 ViviCam 7122 History The company was founded in 1938 as Ponder and Best by Max Ponder and John Best. 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, 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. 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. 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 out perform the optics of camera manufacturers of the day. 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. 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 called the Vivitar 260.