Voigtlander Vitessa L

[jennyandernie]

There are some cameras that are wonderful pieces of engineering, a delight to use, interesting to own, beautiful to look at and give very good results.

In my opinion the Voigtlander Vitessa L is one of these gems.

If you have never seen one of these beautifully crafted german rangefinders they are a barn door design with a post on the top plate which you pressdown to advance the film. The post can be locked in the closed position when the camera is not in use.

Our model has a 50 mm 6 element f2 Ultron lens and a selinium cell light meter.

Here is a shot of the camera and a couple of photos I took on a recent trip to Warwick Castle. Unfortunately the day was cloudy with dull flat light.

Ernie

[GeneW]

Ernie, I've never seen one of these but I really like its looks. With that second smaller window at the top I assume it has a coupled rangefinder. And 50/2 -- that's fast by any standards and from your photos it looks plenty sharp too. Hmmm. I've memorized the name. If I ever stumble across one at a reasonable price, I think it'll be a done deal!

Gene

[jack]

The Voigtlander Vitessa T was my first 35mm, It is the same as the L without the light meter. It currently sits in a box waiting to be restored. It was a very good camera and easy to carry. Took a lot of pictures of pretty girls when I was 16 to 19 years old with it.

Jack

[nikonbob]

I have seen two and passed on the good reasonbly priced one. What was I thinking? Maybe next time. Ernie you are so right in your comments on that beauty.

Bob

[Rachel]

Ernie,

I drooled over a Vitessa L at a local camera fair last year but at £250 or thereabouts is was much more than I could afford

[mickeyobe]

I just took this last weekend with my Vitessa N. It is the first time I have used it. What a gem!
It is easy to carry and a great pleasure to use, once I got used to the rather long stroke required on the shutter release. I just arched my forefinger a little more than I usually do.
As you can see the results are not too bad.
Vitessa N. Color-Skopar 50mm f3.5 lens. Film, Fuji 100 ASA. Exposure by sunny 16.

This is one of the side entrances (Yes. Doors.) of Toronto's Old City Hall.

Mickey

[GeneW]

It's a little hard for me to see this one properly Mickey because I have to scroll all around. It doesn't fit on my screen. But the detail looks excellent -- very sharp lens. Old City Hall is quite an impressive building. Sounds like you're having a lot of fun with Vitessa!

Gene

[mickeyobe]

Gene,

Your wish is .....

Mickey

[GeneW]

Thanks Mickey. It's nice to be able to see it all at once! This size really shows how the pink cast in the stones contrasts with the wooden doors. Those light fixtures (cast iron?) look like they weight a metric tonne each!

Gene

[Just Plain Curt]

I have a few Voigtlanders but mainly Vito B's, BL, Automatics, C's etc. Looks like I'll need to step up and find me one of these Vitessas before they're all snapped up. Great work Mickey and Ernie.