Gas attack - Vito B

[Hektor]

Just checking out this little gem,

I think I've attached a pic but I don't really Know how to use my cellphone camera, or my ibook, (sigh), guess I'll just stick to film.

 

[Hektor]

Well ! it seems to have worked !

Joe, my pc says the pic is 460kb, - is that too big for an attachment ? - guidance please,

Regards,John C.

p.s. I think i'm going to buy the Vito B, 50gbp inc kodalux meter with EV scale.

 

[Seele]

Hektor,

Now you have to find examples of the two other main variants of the Vito B to make a set! 😛

 

[Hektor]

Tell me more, I don't know about vito's, - which have I got ?

 

[Seele]

Hektor,

There are three main variants of the Vito B: the earlier body type which are shorter, with no bright frame in the viewfinder has two variants, the early version with a non-rectililear focussing helicoid where the whole lens rotates, and a later one with a rectilinear helicoid. Then the later body with a taller superstructure with a larger viewfinder incorporating a bright frame.

Apart from this most obvious difference there are lots of less obvious ones, such maximum and minimum aperture of the lens, shutter type (and variations), minimum focussing distance, etc. There are also minor variations such as tripod bush construction and marking differences too.

Good luck!

 

[Hektor]

Hmmm, well I didn't know all that !

I am quite charmed by the simplicity of this one, - the EV scale on it seems to be specifically for 100asa film, - is that correct ?

I like the idea of the f3.5 lens with scale focussing,and the simple viewfinder. I shall try to use hyperfocal focussing techniques with f5.6 - f16 and 1/30 - 1/300.

I've loaded a roll of Tmax100 and am hoping the lens is good enough to do it justice, provided I can hold the camera still. I think I shall take the opportunity to rest the camera on something solid whenever possible.

Can anyone tell me what the results are like from the f3.5/50 Color-Skopar. This one appears to have rectilinear focussing as the front element does not rotate, only the focussing scale rotates. Should it have a dedicated lens cap ?, and what do they look like ?

 

[Seele]

Hektor,

EV is EV, just combination of aperture and shutter speed, with nothing to do with film speed. If the lens is clean and has not been messed with and the shutter operating correctly, I am sure the results would be very agreeable; the Color-Skopar is a very fine performer.

I do not think that a lens cap had been made for it, not that it's been listed anyway. It would be interesting to see how the results look like. By the way, you should try to focus properly, while hyper works after a fashion it is better to do it properly to get the most out of its performance.

 

[oljim]

There is also a rangefinder model, the Vito BR. These are quite rare and very pricey. The Vito BL had a built-in selenium meter.

I've got a Vito II, which is the earlier folding model, with a synchronized Compur Rapid shutter (rather than Synchro-Compur) and Color Skopar. It's a great little picture taker.

 

[Hektor]

Hmmm, and double hmmm,

If I meter my garden I get a reading of EV11 today, (around noon).

If I then set EV11 on the Vito B by setting 11 opposite the red index arrow, it set the exposure to 1/30 @ f8 or any similar combination e.g. 1/60 @ f5.6. This is the correct combination for 100asa.

If I was using 400asa film, I would need 1/125 @ f8, but to indicate that combination the camera has to be set to EV13 ! which is not the correct setting for the light today !

Therefore since there is no way of setting the film speed on the camera, I conclude that the provided EV scale gives exposure combinations for 100asa film only ! You try it !

One can of course ignore the EV scale and set any viable exposure combination, but then of course the EV scale reads in error and must be ignored. It seems to me that the makers intended the user to stick to 100asa film and use EV readings.

 

[Hektor]

p.s. It's heavy overcast with no sun visible at the moment.

 

[Seele]

Hmm... perhaps my brain is not as good as it used to be. But there again ISO 100 film was considered very fast at the time. and hardly thought to be "general purpose".

The Vito series started out with the pre-war Vito and the post-war Vito II, both folders. The Vito B introduced a unified chassis which was also used in the folding Vito IIa and all the variants such as BL (with meter), BR (with rangefinder) and Vitomatic (equipment and features vary between models). These "Type B" cameras are very well finished and well engineered, nowadays the only mechanical problem would be the shutters, but they can be fixed relatively easily.

The later "Type C" and "Type D" Vito models are newer in styling but unfortunately significant retrograde steps in terms of workmanship and material (including equipment), which took its toll. Nowadays you rarely see a Type B specimen which is not in excellent condition, and repairable (except for the selenium exposure meter of course), but most of the later ones are getting quite rusty (literally).

 

[oljim]

The way you've described it is the way it works on my Retinette. You have to do a quick compensation, depending on your film rating. eg. 100 to 400 = +2EV

 

[Hektor]

Thanks for the info, maybe a BR next ?, but I really like the simplicity of this one. I shall be so disappointed if the shutter is inaccurate.