Vivitar XV-11

The Vivitar XV-11 is a 35mm analog single-lens reflex (SLR) camera dating back to the 1980s. It was manufactured in Japan. The Chinon company was presumably responsible for its production. This fact is noteworthy given that Cosina typically manufactured a large portion of Vivitar’s SLR cameras.

The Vivitar XV-5 is a model with identical features.

Lens

The Vivitar XV-11 comes standard with a 50mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.9. This lens allows for shooting in a wide range of lighting conditions and also provides good depth of field.

The camera uses a quick-release bayonet (Pentax K-mount), allowing for the attachment of a wide range of compatible lenses, including wide-angle, telephoto, and zoom lenses.

Exposure Settings

The Vivitar XV-11 features a TTL (Through-The-Lens) metering system, which uses center-weighted integral metering. This system uses a silicon blue photocell.

The exposure is indicated in the viewfinder using three LEDs: one indicates overexposure, another indicates correct exposure, and the third indicates underexposure. Lightly tapping the shutter button starts the metering process, which automatically deactivates after about 15 seconds to conserve battery power.

The camera offers manual exposure modes. Exposure times between 1 second and 1/1000 of a second can be selected, supplemented by a bulb setting for long-exposure shots. The shutter is a Seiko (MFC) model.

Flash System

The Vivitar XV-11 has a hot shoe that enables X-sync at 1/60 of a second. To take photos in low-light conditions, an electronic flash can be mounted on this hot shoe. The camera’s flash synchronization is set to 1/60 of a second, although flash photography is also possible with slower shutter speeds.

Additional Features

The Vivitar XV-11 features a self-timer with a delay of approximately 10 seconds. A thread is also provided for attaching it to a tripod. A memo holder is located on the back for taking notes about the film being used.

Power Supply

The Vivitar XV-11 requires two 1.5V batteries, either alkaline (A-76) (eBay / Amazon*) or silver oxide (EPX-76, MS-76, RS-76, G-13), or suitable alternatives. Ensure that the batteries are inserted with the negative terminal facing up. The power supply is required for the exposure metering system. An LED indicator indicates the battery status.

Film Recommendations for the Vivitar XV-11

The Vivitar XV-11 can use films with an ASA/DIN rating of 25 to 1600 ASA (equivalent to DIN 15 to 33). The Kodak Gold 200* is an excellent choice for color photography. If you prefer black and white photography, you can use the Ilford Delta 400*.

The film speed is set manually. This camera does not automatically detect the DX code. The exposure counter automatically counts the exposures per film roll and returns to the starting position “S” after the back is opened.

Quick Operation Guide

1. Insert two 1.5V batteries.
2. Pull the rewind knob up to open the camera back.
3. Place a 35mm film cartridge in the designated compartment and insert the film tab into the take-up spool.
4. Continue to advance the film until the counter shows “1.”
5. Adjust the film speed (ASA/DIN) according to the information on the film packaging.
6. Set the desired shutter speed using the control dial.
7. Set the aperture using the ring on the lens.
8. Focus on the subject using the viewfinder image.
9. Activate the exposure metering by lightly pressing the shutter button and Watch the LEDs in the viewfinder.
10. Adjust the aperture until the green LED lights up.
11. Take the photo by pressing the shutter button all the way down.
12. After the last shot, rewind the film by pressing the rewind button and turning the crank.
13. Open the camera back and remove the exposed film.