About Us

Over 100 years of innovation

From the earliest silver emulsions and flash powder to motion pictures, video and digital imaging Smith-Victor has always been one of the brightest and best.

Smith-Victor is the dream of every photo and video hobbyist, enthusiast, amateur, and student, offering a wide range of economically priced yet reliable products in lighting, studio support equipment, tripods, and accessories for the home and budget studio, as well as location. Product lines cover the gamut: lighting (LED, hotlights, fluorescent), light modifiers (umbrellas, softboxes, etc.), light tents, studio supports, posing stools and tables, clamps, cases, shooting tables, photo and video tripods, Morris Company slave strobes and triggers, and a wide variety of studio and lighting accessories. Smith-Victor has been steadfastly serving photographers since 1874. It is oldest brand in the photo industry, with many of our products made in U.S.A.

Meet an equipment manufacturer that has passed the test of time, with unique lighting systems and powerful accessories will make your photos stand out.

Who We Are

Smith-Victor is a company with a long history, wrapped up in the history of the United States from the late 19th century and all through the changes of the 20th century. Our history also intertwines with the development of photography and all the changes in technology that took it from the earliest silver emulsions and flash powder into motion pictures, video and now digital imaging.

In 2004 Smith-Victor moved to a brand new 96,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Bartlett, Illinois, about 20 miles northwest of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. In this facility we design, engineer and manufacture the Smith-Victor product line. The facility also houses all sales, administrative and warehousing operations.

“WE HAVE A SIMPLE MISSION, TO PROVIDE BEST QUALITY PRODUCT & SERVICES TO EVERY CUSTOMERS.”

Our Milestones

1874. ESTABLISHED

We started in Chicago, IL manufacturing photographic accessories such as camera stands, posing stools, and darkroom equipment.

1909. EPANSION

In 1909 we built a plant in Griffith, IN to manufacture the first, viable flash lamp system with powder that was 24 times brighter than the before.

1920s. FLASH BULBS

Flash photography was still very dangerous when compared to today’s standards. Luckily, a new solution was just around the corner, flash bulbs.

1950. LIGHTING FOR HOME MOVIES

In the 50’s we lighted America’s home movies with the Smith-Victor light bar. Then in the 70’s we designed the lights necessary for home video.

Today, Smith-Victor is a division of PromarkBRANDS, Bartlett, Illinois, where we continue to make excellent lighting solutions for photography and video production.

PromarkBRANDS, the leading MANUFACTURER of equipment and accessories for photography, videography, and digital imaging. PromarkBRANDS other brands include Cool-Lux, Dot Line, Logan, Norman, Photogenic, Photoflex, Quantum Instruments, Radiopopper, Smith-Victor, and Speedotron. PromarkBRANDS is a company deeply steeped in a tradition of support for our customers.

We place great emphasis here at PromarkBRANDS on the quality and diversity of the BRANDS we own. That’s why we’ve incorporated BRANDS in our name.

We help make pictures and video look their best and we also want you to look your best. At Smith-Victor we developed the first viable powder flash system. 100 Years later our Cool-Lux LK2020 was chosen by NASA as the first video light on the Space Shuttle and also nominated for an Oscar. Radiopopper designed the world’s first radio TTL flash system. Honeywell chose Smith-Victor to help light Boeing 747 jet wings. We help the NBA slam-dunkers look their best with arena lighting powered by our legendary Speedotron 2405 which is used in the most demanding lighting situations in the World. And we’ll always provide the best products and service to every one of our customers no matter what the situation.

Our Brands

1890

1903

1935

1939

1963

1975

1977

1995

1890

James Smith started Smith-Victor in the late 1800’s in Chicago by inventing the first reliable flash system for photography. Today 40 miles west of the old plant we still make some of the worlds finest lighting systems and accessories for professionals and hobbyists alike

1903

Serving photographers since 1903, Photogenic offers a full line of user-friendly, versatile monolights and lightweight power supplies and heads for flash photography.

1935

For the traditionalist, Logan continues to offer a full-line of organizing, viewing, and storage accessories for slides, transparencies, and negatives dating back to 1939—and proudly made in U.S.A.

1939

Portrait photographers throughout the country depend upon our Brown Line for the highest quality lighting possible while our Black Line system fills the needs of the most demanding commercial shooter

1963

Established in 1963, Norman has garnered a place in the hearts and minds of professional still photographers as contemporary in its styling and unswerving in meeting today’s challenges, delivering quality results from one moment to the next.

1975

At Quantum, we strive to bring our customers the best flash equipment for their needs in the form of lighting kits, combining power, portability, versatility and ease of use

Quantum Instruments
A division of PromarkBRANDS
1268 Humbracht Circle
Bartlett, IL 60103-1631 USA
Tel: (800) 989-0505
Email: Quantum Help

1977

Since 1978, Cool-Lux has established itself as the gold standard in broadcast and video lighting and accessories, with many products made in U.S.A and all fully serviced here in Bartlett.

Please contact us if you have questions or need more information.
Email: Sales@Cool-Lux.com
Phone: (800) 223-2589 • Fax: (630) 830-2525

1995

Manufacturer of the world’s first radio TTL flash system, RadioPopper aspires to design the most reliable and versatile lighting control products for photographers worldwide