Voightlander Vito 11 - loose lens ?

[lloydy]

I've got a very nice Vito2 in front of me, the 35mm film, folding camera, Skopar lens and Synchro Compur shutter. Everything looks good except the lens has a bit of sideways movement when looking down from the top - it moves fractionally both ways and returns to the center. There is about 2 mm of movement at the front of the lens, and little resistance. I think the bellows is returning the lens to center. There is no up and down movement at all.



If anyone has one of these can they look at theirs and see if it is a normal thing ? or if anyone knows how to fix it I'd be very happy.

Also, if anyone has one for spares I would love to get the tiny plastic button for one of the folding release tabs.

[Stephen]

Most Vito owners are after the small black plastic buttons!.... The lens does float about a bit, try checking the arms at top and bottom are square, and they have not been bent open a bit. As long as the lens faces forwards in a true plane, and does not kick when the release is pressed, then all will be OK.

Stephen.

[lloydy]

Everything looks ok, and square. The cover seems square to the body and it opens up and clicks into place. But I just have this doubt that the lens support plate is clicked in as well - but I don't know if it should either ?
The lens does sit right, and I haven't tried a film in it yet ( it won't work without a film or turning the wind on spool )but I have got an exposed roll for testing so I'll throw it in later.

I thought I might be asking for hens teeth with the plastic tab, I guess I'll just have to make a matching pair out of something.

It's not my camera at the moment, my friends girlfriend has dumped a pile of stuff here for me to sort out / repair / clean and sell. But I like this Vito, and the Canon A1, and the nice Vivitar 135 lens......

[Stephen]

I have checked over my Vito 1, and the play is far smaller than your example, and I cannot see where it can be made worse, as the pins are trapped at the end of the grooves quite firmly. There is a bit of float, but mainly around the pivoting point of the pin, not sideways. Are the struts firmly anchored to the body and door? Is the pivot pin in both sides, top and bottom, are they worn?

Mine was all re-assembled from scratch, it was a basket case in parts, so each bit got adjusted as the assembly proceeded.
I doubt if a small amount of side movement will matter, test the shutter does not shift it, you can fool the mechanism to allow firing without a film by turning the roller. If it does move as the release is pressed it may need further more intrusive investigation.

Because the bellows were repaired before my ownership of the remains, they are stiff, and closure of the front needs a gentle push on the lens rim to get it to close neatly.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

Also a General tip about those small tabs that are missing, you can slip offcuts of electrical heat shrinking plastic sleeve, (matt black), over each metal stub, shrink with heat from match or lighter etc., and then trim to size with scalpel, or knife.
A double layer can be used to get the right thickness. Obviously it will be rounded, not squared, but is very neat, and extremely durable.

Stephen

[Peltigera]

I just had a look at my Vito II and the lens is held very securely - if I push hard, I can move the shutter about one millimetre towards to lens door, but it does require a hard push. My Vito II has a Pronto shutter, rather than a Compur, but I doubt that will make any difference. My Vito I is equally secure.