matty
Lifetime Member
Posts: 126
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Vito Bs
Jul 26, 2013 17:49:14 GMT -5
Post by matty on Jul 26, 2013 17:49:14 GMT -5
Waiting for Voigtlander Vito Bs must be a bit like waiting for buses, nothing comes for ages and then two come along together. One of my wife's friends used to work for a professional photographer doing publicity shots for British car manufacturers back in the fifties and sixties, she said she had a few cameras if I was interested. One of them was this: Voigtlander Vito B with the Colour Skopar 50mm/f3.5 lens and the Prontor SVS shutter, in lovely condition with lens hood, uv filter and a rangefinder, all it needs is the inside of the hood refinishing. The serial number suggests it is from 1956. The day after I found this at a local car boot: A little rougher with a dint in the filter ring but still in useable condition, same lens, same shutter but with the EV scale, serial suggests a 1958 date. £20 in the same package as the Sigma SA7 I've posted about. I'm definately keeping the Vito from my wife's friend, she only offered it to me because she knew I'd appreciate it and its nice to have a little history to the camera, I might sell on the second. Incidently the lady has folders with numerous prints of the work she helped with back in the day, she has promised to let me see them. The only thing she regrets is not holding onto the Leica she was lent. Matty
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Vito Bs
Jul 27, 2013 4:56:22 GMT -5
Post by Peltigera on Jul 27, 2013 4:56:22 GMT -5
These are my favourites. The second camera I bought (for collecting purposes) was a Vito B. Everything about them is just right. The only improvement I would make would be the addition of a light meter and so I use my Vitomatic II more than my Vito B. Both are good conversation starters when I am about town.
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Vito Bs
Nov 25, 2013 4:14:30 GMT -5
Post by paulhofseth on Nov 25, 2013 4:14:30 GMT -5
And there is auxiliary stuff such as the closeup lens + the adjustable parallax corrector shifting viewfinder picture to match from 80 to 22 cm closeups.
p.
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daveh
Lifetime Member
Posts: 4,696
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Vito Bs
Nov 25, 2013 5:22:21 GMT -5
Post by daveh on Nov 25, 2013 5:22:21 GMT -5
I have a Vito B in a brown ERC. They do feel nice in hand. As was mentioned a while back, many people think the wind on/shutter is faulty on them - they won't work without a film in place to move the mechanism on. Mine actually didn't work because the shutter blades had rusted. Cigarette lighter fluid released them a year or so back and they are still free now. I did find strip-down instructions and photos on , I think, flickr.
When current (1960s) we had a later model with the bright frame finder, The looks and feel were not as neat, but it probably was easier in use.
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Vito Bs
Apr 24, 2014 18:04:28 GMT -5
Post by philbirch on Apr 24, 2014 18:04:28 GMT -5
Matty, where did you find the info about the serials? I have a couple of Vito B's myself.
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Vito Bs
Apr 24, 2014 18:04:39 GMT -5
Post by philbirch on Apr 24, 2014 18:04:39 GMT -5
Matty, where did you find the info about the serials? I have a couple of Vito B's myself.
Edit: problems with the forum tonight
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Vito Bs
Apr 25, 2014 15:23:21 GMT -5
Post by Peltigera on Apr 25, 2014 15:23:21 GMT -5
The Vito Bs themselves do not have serial numbers but the lenses do. You can download a list of Voigtlander lens serial numbers here
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Vito Bs
Apr 25, 2014 18:55:45 GMT -5
Post by philbirch on Apr 25, 2014 18:55:45 GMT -5
Thanks, I've looked, so the number for the year I take it is the first serial of that year so for 1957 the number 430300 is the first and I guess 4514000 is the first of 1958 so anything between the two is 1957. Am I correct?
Many thanks for your reply!
how can I download this as an xls doc?
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Vito Bs
Apr 26, 2014 10:52:53 GMT -5
Post by Peltigera on Apr 26, 2014 10:52:53 GMT -5
Yes, that is how the table works. To download it, you need to click on the downwards pointing arrow below the word 'File' at the top left - or type CTRL+s.
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Vito Bs
Apr 26, 2014 19:15:58 GMT -5
Post by philbirch on Apr 26, 2014 19:15:58 GMT -5
Got it, thanks. very useful. Probably!
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Vito Bs
Apr 27, 2014 4:05:12 GMT -5
Post by Peltigera on Apr 27, 2014 4:05:12 GMT -5
You can make it useful by buying lots of Voigtlander cameras. Just saying.
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Vito Bs
Apr 27, 2014 13:13:20 GMT -5
Post by philbirch on Apr 27, 2014 13:13:20 GMT -5
You can make it useful by buying lots of Voigtlander cameras. Just saying. Yes, it would be useful to ensure my collection is within the bounds of 1954 - 1957. I'm pretty sure my Vito ll is in the range but I can't see a serial on the body or the lens. Its probably inside. I'll check when I've finished the film. I have 5 Voigtlanders now I think, so I'm getting there.
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matty
Lifetime Member
Posts: 126
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Vito Bs
Apr 29, 2014 6:09:37 GMT -5
Post by matty on Apr 29, 2014 6:09:37 GMT -5
Hello Phil, I was going by the lens serial number as has been pointed out. I'm not sure how close the lens date matches the camera manufacture date and haven't been able to find any definate answers to this which is why I was a bit vague in the original post. The second Vito has now moved on, swapped for a Fed 4 (I know, I'm a soft touch when it comes to Russian cameras.) The original Vito has got a part used film in it, I had hoped to finish it in Whitby this last weekend but the weather was terrible for pictures, I used digital for the few shots I took. Matty
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Vito Bs
Apr 29, 2014 12:28:13 GMT -5
Post by philbirch on Apr 29, 2014 12:28:13 GMT -5
MY vito ll has a built in accessory shoe, definitely making it the latest model of its namesakes. So within my collection parameters.
I've got a FED 3 if you're interested in trade. Possibly a Smena 2A too
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matty
Lifetime Member
Posts: 126
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Vito Bs
May 29, 2014 10:29:36 GMT -5
Post by matty on May 29, 2014 10:29:36 GMT -5
Hello Phil, First chance I've had to post anything for a while, been a little busy with work, poorly missus and mad puppy. Thanks for the offer, I've got a FED 3 (one of the few things I've bought from a proper dealer.) I would be interested in the Smena but I don't have much in your collecting time frame. The only thing that pops to mind is a Photax Blinde IIIVA with the Boyer Serie VIII lens, as far as I can find out this model was released in 1955 so might fit in with your collection's time frame.
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