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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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 Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:49 am Post subject: Any opinions on the Voightlander Vitomatic II? |
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Big Dawg wrote:
Just wondered as I some how slipped up and got one for about 40 bucks including shipping. Any Ideas if it should be a keeper or a trader?
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David
Joined: 13 Apr 2011
Posts: 1869
Location: Denver, Colorado
Expire: 2013-01-25
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:18 am Post subject: |
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David wrote:
I have a Vito Automatic I, which is a contemporary, I think? If the aperture weren't broken (busted spring), it would be a decent performer. Here are four photos I took with it:
So, as you can see, pretty good color rendering. These are scanned from printouts, too. I felt that it captured cooler colors with more accuracy (except when a scene was saturated with coolness) and warmer colors with more vibrance. I suspect the II has a slightly better lens than the I simply because many of those older camera series worked that way -- e.g., Voigtlander Perkeos.
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David
Joined: 13 Apr 2011
Posts: 1869
Location: Denver, Colorado
Expire: 2013-01-25
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:21 am Post subject: |
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David wrote:
As for keeper or trader, totally your call for whether it fits your collection or can or can't provide a niche service in your gear box. If I can ever figure out how the heck to get the lens on my Vito Automatic I open so I can replace the spring, I'll probably sell mine. These old Vitos are very difficult to open. Or I'm a dufus. I won't rule that out.
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
| David wrote: |
| As for keeper or trader, totally your call for whether it fits your collection or can or can't provide a niche service in your gear box. If I can ever figure out how the heck to get the lens on my Vito Automatic I open so I can replace the spring, I'll probably sell mine. These old Vitos are very difficult to open. Or I'm a dufus. I won't rule that out. |
You are not a Dufus David. Just a matter of not knowing. We are all ignorant just because we do not know. You can't cure stupid but ignorance is easily cured by a little knowledge. One reason we are all here! 
The seller says the shutter release doesn't work but if you set the timer then the shutter works as the timer counts down. I wonder...does it need film in the camera for the shutter to cock? 
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scsambrook
Joined: 29 Mar 2009
Posts: 2167
Location: Glasgow Scotland
Expire: 2011-11-18
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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scsambrook wrote:
Yes, it does need a film in order to tension the shutter by winding on. Not sure about what he's saying about the self-timer firing it when the release is jammed - you can only set the timer going by pressng the release button !. Maybe it's only got a partial travel . . . Anyway, you'll know soon enough. Fixing a sticky release button ought not to be hard.
Vitomatic II can have either Color-Skopar or f2 Ultron. Viewfinders can sometimes get misty and the rangefinder image goes indistinct. I had a IIIb with ultron that was virtually unuseable 'cos of that, and I couldn't find anyone willing to have a go at fixing it. But that was in England. They are great little cameras, solid and feel like they were milled from a block of steel.
Fingers crossed for you!
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Stephen
Equipment: Pentax DSLR for casual shooting, Lumix G1 and Fuji XE-1 for playing with old lenses, and Leica M8 because I still like the optical rangefinder system. |
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
| scsambrook wrote: |
Yes, it does need a film in order to tension the shutter by winding on. Not sure about what he's saying about the self-timer firing it when the release is jammed - you can only set the timer going by pressng the release button !. Maybe it's only got a partial travel . . . Anyway, you'll know soon enough. Fixing a sticky release button ought not to be hard.
Vitomatic II can have either Color-Skopar or f2 Ultron. Viewfinders can sometimes get misty and the rangefinder image goes indistinct. I had a IIIb with ultron that was virtually unuseable 'cos of that, and I couldn't find anyone willing to have a go at fixing it. But that was in England. They are great little cameras, solid and feel like they were milled from a block of steel.
Fingers crossed for you! |
Thanks for that info...Here are a few photos of the camera.
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Nesster
Joined: 24 Apr 2008
Posts: 5883
Location: NJ, USA
Expire: 2014-02-20
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Nesster wrote:
these are beautiful and heavy little cameras -- I bought 2 of them early on in my antique mania, and between them I managed 2 frames before a freeze up. Still have them though, with the idea of possibly unfreezing one at some point... plus they make excellent flash stands 
Best of luck with yours... I so want to use one!
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-Jussi
Camera photos
Print Photographica
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estudleon
Joined: 15 May 2008
Posts: 3754
Location: Argentina
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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estudleon wrote:
Hi.
Skopar lens in the RF cameras isn't the best of them. In SRL it's a better lens.
The selenium meter doesn't work fine, if it works.
It has a small wheel with a notch in which the film does pressure and it is allowed that it should close the shutter.
It is not difficult to disarm the lens, I have done several times in the past.
The rangefinder is not very sure.
I used voigtlander in a lot of time and was a collector of the brand. Hmmmm ................. Prominent II is the RF voigtlander to go for.
Rino
_________________
Konica 2,8/100
CZJ: 4/20, 2,4/35, 1,8/50 aus jena, 3,5/135MC, Pentacon 1,8/50
Pentax S-M-C-1,4/50
Helios 44-3
Mamiya 2,8/135
Misc. : jupiter 9
Stuff used:
A) SRL
Alpa 10 D - kern macro Switar 1,9/50 -black, Kilffit apochromat 2/100.
Asahi pentax spotmatic super takumar 1,4/50
Contaflex super B tessar 2,8/50 Pro-tessar 115
Leica R3 electronic summicron 2/50 elmarit 2,8/35
Konica Autoreflex 3 (2 black and chrome one), TC, T4. 2,8/24, 3,5/28 not MC and MC, 1,8/40, 1,4/50, 1,7/50 MC and not MC, 1,8/85, 3,2/135, 3,5/135, 4/200
Minolta XG9 2,8/35, 2/45, 3,5/135
Nikkormat FTn 1,4/50, 2,8/135
Fujica ST 801, 605, 705n. 3,5/19, 1,4/50, 1,8/55, 4/85, 3,5/135.
Praktica MTL 5 and a lot of M42 lenses.
Voigtlander. Bessamatic m, bessamatix de luxe, bessamatic cs, ultramatic and ultramatic cs.
Skoparex 3,5/35, skopagon 2/40, skopar 2,8/50, skopar X 2,8/50, super lanthar (out of catalogue) 2,8/50, dinarex 3,4/90, dinarex 4,8/100, super dinarex 4/135, super dinarex 4/200, zoomar 2,8/36-83, portrait lens 0, 1 and 2. Curtagon 4/28 and 2,8/35
Canon AV1, 1,8/50
Rolleiflex SL35 and SL35 E. 2,8/35 angulon, 2,8/35 distagon, 1,4/55 rolleinar, 1,8/50 planar, 4/135 tessar, 2,8/135 rolleinar, x2 rollei, M42 to rollei adap.
Etc.
RF
Yashica Minister III
Voightlander Vito, vitomatic I, Vito C, etc.
Leica M. M2, M3 (d.s.) and M4. Schenider 3,4/21, 2/35 summaron 2,8/35 (with eyes). Summicron 2/35 (8 elements with eyes), 2/35 chrome, 2/35 black, 1,4/35 pre asph and aspheric - old -, 2/40 summicron, 2,8/50 elmar, 2/50 7 elements, 2/50 DR, 2/50 - minolta version, 1,4/50 summilux 1966 version, 1,4/75 summilux, 2/90 large version, 2/90 reduced version of 1987, 2,8/90 elmarit large version, 4/135 elmar. |
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dof
Joined: 04 Feb 2009
Posts: 339
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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dof wrote:
The camera in the photos is a IIa not a II.
I have a IIa and love it. |
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estudleon
Joined: 15 May 2008
Posts: 3754
Location: Argentina
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:21 am Post subject: |
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estudleon wrote:
The vitomatic I is very solid. And the skopar should be better than in the newer versions. Not the ultron of course.
Rino
_________________
Konica 2,8/100
CZJ: 4/20, 2,4/35, 1,8/50 aus jena, 3,5/135MC, Pentacon 1,8/50
Pentax S-M-C-1,4/50
Helios 44-3
Mamiya 2,8/135
Misc. : jupiter 9
Stuff used:
A) SRL
Alpa 10 D - kern macro Switar 1,9/50 -black, Kilffit apochromat 2/100.
Asahi pentax spotmatic super takumar 1,4/50
Contaflex super B tessar 2,8/50 Pro-tessar 115
Leica R3 electronic summicron 2/50 elmarit 2,8/35
Konica Autoreflex 3 (2 black and chrome one), TC, T4. 2,8/24, 3,5/28 not MC and MC, 1,8/40, 1,4/50, 1,7/50 MC and not MC, 1,8/85, 3,2/135, 3,5/135, 4/200
Minolta XG9 2,8/35, 2/45, 3,5/135
Nikkormat FTn 1,4/50, 2,8/135
Fujica ST 801, 605, 705n. 3,5/19, 1,4/50, 1,8/55, 4/85, 3,5/135.
Praktica MTL 5 and a lot of M42 lenses.
Voigtlander. Bessamatic m, bessamatix de luxe, bessamatic cs, ultramatic and ultramatic cs.
Skoparex 3,5/35, skopagon 2/40, skopar 2,8/50, skopar X 2,8/50, super lanthar (out of catalogue) 2,8/50, dinarex 3,4/90, dinarex 4,8/100, super dinarex 4/135, super dinarex 4/200, zoomar 2,8/36-83, portrait lens 0, 1 and 2. Curtagon 4/28 and 2,8/35
Canon AV1, 1,8/50
Rolleiflex SL35 and SL35 E. 2,8/35 angulon, 2,8/35 distagon, 1,4/55 rolleinar, 1,8/50 planar, 4/135 tessar, 2,8/135 rolleinar, x2 rollei, M42 to rollei adap.
Etc.
RF
Yashica Minister III
Voightlander Vito, vitomatic I, Vito C, etc.
Leica M. M2, M3 (d.s.) and M4. Schenider 3,4/21, 2/35 summaron 2,8/35 (with eyes). Summicron 2/35 (8 elements with eyes), 2/35 chrome, 2/35 black, 1,4/35 pre asph and aspheric - old -, 2/40 summicron, 2,8/50 elmar, 2/50 7 elements, 2/50 DR, 2/50 - minolta version, 1,4/50 summilux 1966 version, 1,4/75 summilux, 2/90 large version, 2/90 reduced version of 1987, 2,8/90 elmarit large version, 4/135 elmar. |
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Big Dawg
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 2530
Location: Thach Alabama
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 4:46 am Post subject: |
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Big Dawg wrote:
| estudleon wrote: |
Hi.
Skopar lens in the RF cameras isn't the best of them. In SRL it's a better lens.
The selenium meter doesn't work fine, if it works.
It has a small wheel with a notch in which the film does pressure and it is allowed that it should close the shutter.
It is not difficult to disarm the lens, I have done several times in the past.
The rangefinder is not very sure.
I used voigtlander in a lot of time and was a collector of the brand. Hmmmm ................. Prominent II is the RF voigtlander to go for.
Rino |
Thanks Rino.
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Big Dawg |
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scsambrook
Joined: 29 Mar 2009
Posts: 2167
Location: Glasgow Scotland
Expire: 2011-11-18
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:27 am Post subject: |
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scsambrook wrote:
I don't want to seem contentious, but I think the f2.8 Color Skopar in the Vitomatic IIa is a pretty good lens, certainly as good as anything else you'll find in a contemporary German fixed-lens CRF camera. The f2.8 Xenar on the Retina IIIs might be even better, but that's an interchangeable lens with helical focusing. Now, I'd better be careful with what follows because I'm not actually 100% sure if it does apply to the Vitomatic - !
What slightly takes the edge off the performance of the lenses on many of the 1950s/60s German fixed-lens "quality" models seems to be the front=cell focusing set up. This is supposed to cause a [very] slight reduction in performance at the closer distances. At least, that's what I recall from the semi-technical writing in the photo press back then. I think the Vitomatic has a front-cell focusing but I can't recall with certainty. If you want to check, open the camera back, set the shutter to B and press the release: hold it it down and rotate the focusing mount whilst looking at the rear element - if it moves to and fro, then its a helical or rectilinear mounting. You may need three hands to do that. Maybe Mrs BigDawg could assist - 
The IIa is, for me at least, a nicer camera than the III series where the release was moved to the front of the body and usually feels even worse than the trigger pull on a Luger pistol. The RF spot might get indistinct but, oh, isn't that huge lifesize viewfinder just gorgeous? 
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Stephen
Equipment: Pentax DSLR for casual shooting, Lumix G1 and Fuji XE-1 for playing with old lenses, and Leica M8 because I still like the optical rangefinder system. |
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scsambrook
Joined: 29 Mar 2009
Posts: 2167
Location: Glasgow Scotland
Expire: 2011-11-18
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| Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 9:37 am Post subject: |
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scsambrook wrote:
| estudleon wrote: |
Hi.
I used voigtlander in a lot of time and was a collector of the brand. Hmmmm ................. Prominent II is the RF voigtlander to go for.
Rino |
Can't argue with that, Rino, but it's something you either love or hate if you take pictures with it I had one in the 1980s with the Ultron lens. everything worked perfectly and I loved the 1:1 viewfinder, but the focusing wheel on the top plate was really awkward. The heavy spring loading meant it was really easy to shift one way, but really hard the other. And I kept gripping the lens mount to try to focus . . . silly me. I kept it for a few months and sold it . . . only to buy it back a year later. The lens was good, Kodachromes were really indistinguishable from from my Summicron on the M2 I had at the same time. But I used it less and less and eventually sold it again.
_________________
Stephen
Equipment: Pentax DSLR for casual shooting, Lumix G1 and Fuji XE-1 for playing with old lenses, and Leica M8 because I still like the optical rangefinder system. |
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