Vivitar V2000

The Vivitar V2000 is a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera for the 35mm format. It was manufactured in Japan by the company Cosina. The camera body is made of plastic.

Lens

The Vivitar V2000 features a “K” bayonet mount (also known as a PK mount). This mount allows the use of a wide range of lenses compatible with this standard.

The camera was often offered as a kit with a standard lens, such as a 50mm lens, such as a Vivitar 50mm f/1.8, which has a 49mm filter thread.

Focusing is done entirely manually by turning the focus ring on the lens. The viewfinder, which offers several focusing aids, serves as a focusing aid. The entire viewfinder screen indicates the transition from blur to sharpness, enabling quick focusing.

More precise focusing is aided by a central area containing an outer micro-grid ring that stops shimmering when the focus is correct. Inside this ring is a horizontal split-image indicator that divides the subject horizontally and, when the focus is correct, aligns the two halves.

Exposure Settings

The Vivitar V2000 is equipped with a TTL (Through-The-Lens) exposure metering system at wide aperture. Metering is center-weighted, with the central area of ​​the image field receiving greater weight for metering.

The camera’s metering range extends from EV 3 to EV 19 at ISO 100/21°. Film speed is set manually using the film speed selector, and the range extends from ISO 25 to ISO 1600.

Exposure control is entirely manual. The photographer selects the desired shutter speed using the dial on the top of the camera. Available shutter speeds range from 1 second to 1/2000 second, and there is also a “B” (Bulb) setting for long exposures.

The aperture is set directly on the lens’s aperture ring. To determine the correct exposure, the shutter button is pressed lightly while the film advance lever is in the ready position. Three colored LEDs then appear in the viewfinder: a red + LED indicates overexposure, a green ‘O’ LED indicates correct exposure, and a red ‘-‘ LED warns of underexposure. The photographer then adjusts either the shutter speed or the aperture until the green ‘O’ LED lights up.

Flash System

The Vivitar V2000 features an integrated hot shoe on the pentaprism body. This hot shoe is equipped with a center contact (X-contact) and allows the direct connection of compatible electronic flash units. The camera electronically couples with the attached flash unit, so it fires automatically when the shutter is released.

For flash photography, the shutter speed must be set to 1/125 second on the dial. Faster shutter speeds are not possible and will result in partially exposed images. The aperture must be set manually on the lens according to the flash unit’s specifications, as the camera does not offer automatic TTL flash metering.

Additional Features

The Vivitar V2000 offers some basic, useful additional features. These include a tripod mount on the bottom of the camera for stable shots.

The film advance lever not only advances the film, but also functions as the main switch for the exposure meter and as a shutter release lock. In the slightly extended position, the electronics are active. When the lever is fully engaged, the electronics are switched off, and the shutter release is mechanically locked to prevent accidental exposures.

The camera features mechanical double-exposure protection. Film rewind is manual using the fold-out rewind crank and the rewind button on the bottom of the camera.

A progressive frame counter displays the number of shots taken and is automatically reset when the camera back is opened. An ergonomically shaped handgrip and wrist strap eyelets enhance handling.

Dimensions and Weight

The dimensions of the Vivitar V2000 are 133 x 85 x 50 mm. The weight of the camera body alone, without lens and batteries, is 410 grams. These dimensions and weight make it a relatively compact and lightweight manual SLR camera for its time.

Power Supply

The power supply for the exposure metering system is provided by two 1.5 volt button cells of the type LR44 (eBay / Amazon*) or SR44 (eBay / Amazon*). These are inserted into the battery compartment on the bottom of the camera, which requires a coin to open the cover.

The batteries are stacked on top of each other, with the positive (+) poles facing the battery compartment cover. Battery function can be checked by moving the film advance lever to the ready position and lightly pressing the shutter button. If one of the LEDs in the viewfinder lights up, the power supply is OK.

Since the camera’s shutter is purely mechanical, the camera will also function without batteries, although exposure metering will not be available in this case.

Film Recommendations

The Vivitar V2000 uses standard 35mm film (35mm film) in the format 24mm x 36mm. The camera allows manual adjustment of the film speed in the range from ISO 25 to ISO 1600. A good color film for the camera is Kodak Gold 200*.

Since the V2000 does not have DX detection, the film speed must always be manually adjusted using the corresponding dial according to the film loaded in order to obtain correct exposure metering results.

Quick Operation Guide

1. Insert two LR44 or SR44 batteries, observing the correct polarity, into the battery compartment on the bottom.
2. Check the battery function by slightly extending the film advance lever and half-pressing the shutter button – an LED in the viewfinder should light up.
3. Open the camera back by pulling up the rewind crank. Insert the 35mm film cartridge into the film chamber and press the rewind crank down again.
4. Pull the film leader over the film guide bars, engage the perforation with the teeth of the advance wheel, and insert the film end into a slot on the take-up spool.
5. Operate the film advance lever to advance the film a short distance, then close the back. Advance the film using the advance lever and shutter button until the frame counter reaches ‘1’.
6. Set the correct film speed (ISO value) on the film speed selector.
7. Select the desired shutter speed on the shutter speed dial.
8. Look through the viewfinder and focus on the subject using the focus ring on the lens (use split image or micro-grid).
9. Lightly press the shutter button and adjust the aperture ring on the lens until the green ‘O’ LED in the viewfinder lights up.
10. Press the shutter button fully to take the picture.
11. After each shot, advance the film to the next frame using the advance lever.
12. When the film is full, press the film rewind button on the bottom and rewind the film using the fold-out rewind crank inside the camera. Turn the film cartridge counterclockwise until it is fully back into the cartridge.
13. You can then open the back cover and remove the film.