Vito II teardown

[KoNickon]

Some months ago I got a Vito II in rough shape -- folding mechanism is jammed open; shutter fires only at B and 1/300; lens needs to be cleaned internally (rust on the shutter leaves and aperture). Bellows are in bad shape too. Camera was probably on display for years and this is the result. Thought I'd try and get it working, though it came with a bunch of other cameras in similar condition so it cost me basically nothing.

Can someone point me toward a good set of step by step instructions for taking it down? I've managed to remove the lens assembly (pretty uncomplicated, though that's as far as I can get).

I already have a Vito II in nice shape which does help in terms of seeing how the folding mechanism should work, but that only helps so much. Thanks!

 

[Muggins]

Assuming the shutter is a Compur or a Prontor there should be info on line - I'd check out Chris Sherlock's Retina videos and find the closest matching shutter.

He doesn't seem to have done a folding Vito but he has done a Perkeo II that might give you some clues?

Sorry, the best I can do.

 

[KoNickon]

Assuming the shutter is a Compur or a Prontor there should be info on line - I'd check out Chris Sherlock's Retina videos and find the closest matching shutter.

He doesn't seem to have done a folding Vito but he has done a Perkeo II that might give you some clues?

Sorry, the best I can do.

Thanks for the helpful note! I actually got the folding mechanism solved -- a small stop on the body had gotten bent out of place. The next challenges are the lens and the shutter (Prontor-SV). Right now the shutter only fires at B and 1/300, the top speed. And maybe I can live with just 1/300! But I'll definitely look around online for more info on the Prontor, which has always struck me as less finicky than the Compur line.

I am trying to budge the rear element/lens group, which is badly in need of cleaning. It looks like it should unscrew. I may need to put in a little penetrating oil to loosen it up. As for the shutter, the way in would be by removing the front lens group -- but I see no grub screws to remove. I recall seeing somewhere that they are underneath the distance markings, which are on a black band just behind the knurled focus grip. And I recall from what I saw then that this would be a major hassle.

As for the bellows, they might be beyond saving, though I'll try the liquid electrical tape route. Maybe there's a replacement bellows -- who's that guy, Sandeha Lynch (great name)?

 

[mconnealy]

Thanks for the helpful note! I actually got the folding mechanism solved -- a small stop on the body had gotten bent out of place. The next challenges are the lens and the shutter (Prontor-SV). Right now the shutter only fires at B and 1/300, the top speed. And maybe I can live with just 1/300! But I'll definitely look around online for more info on the Prontor, which has always struck me as less finicky than the Compur line.

I am trying to budge the rear element/lens group, which is badly in need of cleaning. It looks like it should unscrew. I may need to put in a little penetrating oil to loosen it up. As for the shutter, the way in would be by removing the front lens group -- but I see no grub screws to remove. I recall seeing somewhere that they are underneath the distance markings, which are on a black band just behind the knurled focus grip. And I recall from what I saw then that this would be a major hassle.

As for the bellows, they might be beyond saving, though I'll try the liquid electrical tape route. Maybe there's a replacement bellows -- who's that guy, Sandeha Lynch (great name)?

 

[mconnealy]

I have three Vito II cameras and have always thought of them as the best travel cameras because of their compactness and excellent lenses. There are some notes on the repair of my first with a Prontor shutter on my old website (preserved on Mike Eckman's site):

Voigtländer Vito II

 

[KoNickon]

I have three Vito II cameras and have always thought of them as the best travel cameras because of their compactness and excellent lenses. There are some notes on the repair of my first with a Prontor shutter on my old website (preserved on Mike Eckman's site):

Voigtländer Vito II

View attachment 4887039

Thanks for this! I thought I had checked his site but didn't see it. So now I know what I'm dealing with regarding the front lens group. I don't have any of those flexi-clamps, so those may well be in my future if I want to get at the shutter.

 

[Muggins]

Thanks for the helpful note! I actually got the folding mechanism solved -- a small stop on the body had gotten bent out of place. The next challenges are the lens and the shutter (Prontor-SV). Right now the shutter only fires at B and 1/300, the top speed. And maybe I can live with just 1/300! But I'll definitely look around online for more info on the Prontor, which has always struck me as less finicky than the Compur line.

I am trying to budge the rear element/lens group, which is badly in need of cleaning. It looks like it should unscrew. I may need to put in a little penetrating oil to loosen it up. As for the shutter, the way in would be by removing the front lens group -- but I see no grub screws to remove. I recall seeing somewhere that they are underneath the distance markings, which are on a black band just behind the knurled focus grip. And I recall from what I saw then that this would be a major hassle.

As for the bellows, they might be beyond saving, though I'll try the liquid electrical tape route. Maybe there's a replacement bellows -- who's that guy, Sandeha Lynch (great name)?

Yes, Sandeha Lynch - he's actually a member here. He isn't doing as much as he was, I don't think, but I can't remember details. There's someone in the UK as well who I can look up for you, but the T-word will be an issue.

 

[KoNickon]

Yes, Sandeha Lynch - he's actually a member here. He isn't doing as much as he was, I don't think, but I can't remember details. There's someone in the UK as well who I can look up for you, but the T-word will be an issue.

Thanks! Whether it's worth the cost is another question, but having the information will be great, t-word or not. I don't think there's anyone in the US who does these, but I'm happy to be proved wrong.

 

[Muggins]

Sandeha is no longer making bellows he hasn't made before - I would try him as *someone* must have done a Vito before.

Failing that: Custom Bellows

Good luck, & let us know you get on!

 

[KoNickon]

Sandeha is no longer making bellows he hasn't made before - I would try him as *someone* must have done a Vito before.

Failing that: Custom Bellows

Good luck, & let us know you get on!

Thanks! As a Villa supporter it would be nice to give a Birmingham firm my business! But I'll seek out Sandeha also. Appreciate the information.

 

[Godfrey]

Good go see another Vito II being resuscitated. 🙂

The one I have was in a batch of "junk" cameras that the local art museum in Palo Alto was tossing into the bin. The guy trucking the box out to the bin was good enough to let me fish around and pull out four or five cameras intended to be pretty shelf queens. One of them was a Vito II.

It sat on my bookshelf for almost a decade and then, one day about two years ago, I picked it up and found that it was just filthy but almost worked. So I sent it to Advance Camera for a full service/repair/CLA. It came back absolutely beautiful and works perfectly ...

Voigtländer Vito II​

I've since acquired the accessory shoe attachment and the Kontur accessory viewfinder, already had a rangefinder and a clip-on light meter. It's a super little camera and makes beautiful photographs!

Captured In Concrete - Santa Clara 2025
Voigtländer Vito II + Ferrania P33​

enjoy! G

 

[Bbsteinle]

Advance Camera advised me in December that they are no longer working on Vitos (I sent in a IIa), and they returned it to me. I’ve sent it to Zacks Camera Repair and is in queue.

 

[Godfrey]

Advance Camera advised me in December that they are no longer working on Vitos (I sent in a IIa), and they returned it to me. I’ve sent it to Zacks Camera Repair and is in queue.

A shame to hear that ... They probably just got overwhelmed and parts are getting pretty difficult for the Vitos.
I'm glad I had mine done when I did.

G

 

[KoNickon]

Advance Camera advised me in December that they are no longer working on Vitos (I sent in a IIa), and they returned it to me. I’ve sent it to Zacks Camera Repair and is in queue.

Hmm, Zacks -- not too far from me. I'm looking at the shutter/lens and wondering if that's something they can help with.