Vivitar 220/SL

The Vivitar 220/SL is a classic SLR camera designed for use with 35mm film. It was aimed at amateur photographers seeking a solid and versatile camera without relying on automatic convenience features. The body is all black.

The model was presumably produced by the Japanese company Cosina. It is likely based on the Cosina Hi-Lite 202.

A key feature of the Vivitar 220/SL is its lens flexibility. Thanks to the widely used M42 screw thread, the camera is compatible with an enormous range of interchangeable lenses produced by numerous manufacturers over the decades. This universal thread, originally developed by Carl Zeiss in Jena, allowed for a wide variety of focal lengths and apertures, giving the Vivitar 220/SL user base access to a broad range of photographic possibilities.

Manual focusing via the lens’s focus ring required practice but allowed the photographer to precisely control focus.

The 220/SL featured a built-in through-the-lens (TTL) metering system that measured and determined the correct exposure settings. This system, which supported ISO sensitivities from 25 to 1600, provided a guideline for exposure, with the final decision regarding aperture and shutter speed resting with the photographer. The ability to manually adjust exposure gave the user full creative control over the final image.

Other features included a mechanical shutter that allowed for a wide range of exposure times, including the practical bulb mode for long exposures. The camera was prepared for the use of flash units, both via a hot shoe on the pentaprism and a PC flash connector.

For stable shots, the camera could be mounted on a tripod, and a cable release connector minimized camera shake during long exposures. The built-in self-timer further expanded the camera’s usability.

The camera required a Mallory RM-675 battery (or equivalent) to operate the light meter. However, the mechanical shutter also worked without a battery, underscoring the camera’s reliability in all lighting conditions.

Films for the Vivitar 220/SL

The Vivitar 220/SL is designed for use with standard 35mm film (Type 135). Fortunately, 35mm film is still readily available today, and development is easily done in most photo labs.

Popular options for the 220/SL include Ilford XP2 Super*, a black-and-white negative film developed using the widely used C-41 process, characterized by fine grain and good tonal values. For color photography, the Kodak Ultramax 400* is an excellent choice, a versatile color negative film also developed using the standard C-41 process.

In addition to these examples, there is, of course, a wide selection of other compatible films for the SLR camera.

The camera’s negatives are in the standard format of 24 mm x 36 mm. A typical 35 mm film roll can hold approximately 36 exposures. Manual film advance using a quick-release lever was standard on cameras of this era and required active participation from the photographer.

Since the Vivitar 220/SL is no longer in production, it is now available exclusively on the used market. The price of a used camera depends heavily on its condition and any accessories included. However, a well-maintained Vivitar 220/SL can be an affordable way to enter the world of analog photography with interchangeable M42 lenses.