Bought my first Rangefinder today- Zeiss Ikon Voigtländer Vitessa 500 S

[Pirate]

Man, that's a long name.

Long story short, I found this camera in a little store that was filled to the gills with cameras you guys may have never seen before. Many of these were from here in Germany, built before the war, before the split into East and West Germany. Some of the oldest and first SLR and 35mm's are in this shop, and they're only pennies.

So I spy this Zeiss Ikon Voigtländer. My pro photo buddy who is with me checks it out for me and shows me how it works.

The Rangefinder bit on it is different than most. There is not multiple images that slide together to show the focus, however, the Rangefinder windows still transfer the image that way. Inside the viewfinder, on the left, are three pictures- a head for Portrait (close); a family for medium distance; and some trees for far away. A very wide needle type piece moves over the images as you adjust the focus on the lens (fixed 42mm 2.8), so you need to really know your distances with this one.

It handles 25-400 ISO film, speeds from B-500, F-stop from 2.8-22, focus from 1 meter to 10 meters, then infinity.

Just gave it a good wipe down so it's ready for film. I only have 100 ISO here so I'll pick up some 400 to play with tomorrow. If it's sunny like today I may throw some 100 in there, we'll see.

Oh, and the sticker on it was 49 Euros, but since my buddy and he are friends, he said 40. There was no way I could have passed this up for 40 Euros.

So I've dipped my feet into the Rangefinder world.... maybe not too deep, but I'm in.
http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o92/Pirate_FDP/Cameras/?action=view&current=DSC_2298Again.jpg

 

[ZeissFan]

That's an interesting camera. I tried to buy one of these a few weeks back, but the guy wanted too much money. I'm going to try again, because it's an intriguing camera.

The fact that it has symbols in the viewfinder usually indicates zone focus. So I want to check out the rangefinder part of the camera.

I think that the Vitessa 500 series shared the body shell with the Instamatic Ikomatic. and maybe the Vitessa 126 CS (also an Instamatic). But again, I'd need to see the camera to be sure.

So, the hunt restarts.

 

[Pirate]

I cleaned it up and most of it looks as good as new! Couldn't wait so I put some 100 ISO film in it and it all works great.

I still need to learn the zone system but that sounds correct from what little I've read of it. This is just a cool little camera and I'm really looking forward to tomorrow when the sun is up!

And let me know if you can't find one there, I'm sure there's another one of these in that shop.

 

[Pirate]

I thought a Contax and Voigtlander were different cameras?

I'm still learning all these models properly.

 

[Pirate]

PS - this Zeiss has a little green, square, button on the left side of the body (from shooting position). Any help in identifying it's purpose is greatly appreciated because I've tried everything I could think of and I can't figure it out.

 

[Pirate]

Well, it looks like this little camera is not a Rangefinder in the traditional sense. The focus is a Zone system, but no relation to the "Zone System" of full shooting created by Ansel and Fred.

The light meter sensor is on the far right front of the body (from shooting position), and the lines for focus, aperture, and available light are in a little box next tot he view finder and mirrored into the line of sight.

So, there really isn't any "Range Finder" system at all. You have to know the distance you're dealing with, or go by the three pictures in the finder and up the aperture and hope you get the subject in your depth of field.

Hmmmmmm

but it's still a cool little camera

 

[Pirate]

Hey Mods,

I just learned of Scale Focus cameras and my little Zeiss and my new (old) Beltica seem to fall into that catagory.

When you get a chance could you please redirect this thread to the Scale Focus Forum here on this board?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Film dino]

Intriguing, where's this shop?

 

[Pirate]

Erlangen, Germany.

He doesn't have a web site but the name is Stargalla.

Here's an info link:

http://www.branchenbuchsuche.de/stargalla-foto-film-gmbh-in-erlangen_2480815

 

[Platon]

The whole name says: Zeiss Ikon Voigtländer Vitessa 500AE, right. Mine is a so called "Wood grain" Vitessa.
Now to your question, the green button on the left side is the battery check!

 

[Pirate]

Thanks Platon!!

Me and my photographer buddy both guessed a battery check, just like a Gossen, but there's nothing to tell you if it's good or not. Must be broken inside.

 

[Roger Hicks]

For zone focus and pre-focus, try http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps how zone focus.html. You may also care to look at a 'Basics' module on cameras: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps basics camera.html

Cheers,

R.

 

[Pirate]

Thanks, I'll check those out. It'll come in handy with the Zeiss and the Beltica.