May 20 - 1:20pm EDT   Sakar has taken the unusual step of reissuing a film SLR, the Vivitar V3800N. The camera is meant to serve as a cheap, 35mm alternative to modern DSLRs, and uses a traditional focal-plane shutter. Features include a 10-second timer, shutter speeds ranging from 1 to 1/2000, and support for film rated between ISO 25 and 3200. Multiple exposures can be combined in-camera, and an X Contact hotshoe allows for the use of external flash. [full story]

March 3 - 5:00pm EST   At the PMA show in Las Vegas today, Sakar has debuted a range of Vivitar-branded digital and video cameras and matching add-ons. The new products represent the first to be released from the brand since it was purchased by Sakar last year. The Vivitar V8400P is an 8.1-megapixel shooter capable of taking photos at depths up to 30 feet. It has an 8x digital zoom and a 2.4-inch LCD screen. The 32MB of internal memory can be expanded via an SD memory card slot. The shockproof camera can capture videos and will cost just short of $130 when it is released. [full story]

July 8 - 5:05pm EDT   Low-cost Olevia LCD TV maker Syntax-Brillian yesterday filed for Chapter 11 reorganization and announced it will sell off its Vivitar digital camera business, reports say. The voluntary decision to enter bankruptcy protection also includes a proposed sale of the company's assets to Olevia International Group, which was newly created and co-owned by TCV Group, a supplier for Syntax. The sale would include Olevia International Group taking on $60 million of Syntax-Brillian's secured debt. [full story]

March 28 - 4:00pm EDT   Vivitar today provided early details of a new pocket video camera that will represent the company's first real move into HD. The DVR565HD will record video at a native 720p and encode the resulting video directly to H.264 that allows it to fit a large amount of footage to a small amount of space. Like Sanyo's Xacti line and standard-definition Vivitars, the 565HD will store movies on SD cards (up to 4GB) rather than bulkier DV tape or DVDs. An HDMI output will let the camera play back content at up to 1080i without having to first upload video to a computer. [full story]