My latest camera - a beautiful Voigtlaender Vitessa T

[rajmohan-fotograf]

Hi folks,

I just bought a beautiful Voigtlaender Vitessa T in very good condition for a very good price! It has a 50mm f2/8 Color Skopar lens, also in excellent condition. The meter works, and the camera looks pristine. The mechanics appear fully functional.

I hope I'll look and work as well as it does when I'm nearly 60 years of age!!

Can't wait to put the first roll through it!

 

[lynnb]

The Skopar 50/2.8 is a nice lens. I have a 1a and a BL. Enjoy your new camera!

 

[rajmohan-fotograf]

Thank you, Lynn - I certainly will! I love some of the images you have in your gallery from the 1a and the XA (which is another of my recent acquisitions - first roll going through it now!)

 

[lynnb]

The XA is my go-to everyday camera, because of its small size, good lens, 35mm focal length and convenience of AE-priority. I'm sure you will like it. However the little Voigtlanders are simply beautiful, solid, precision cameras to hold in the hand and use, they feel great and I do like them very much. I'd love a T with its built in RF - I use a Voigtlander accessory-shoe rangefinder which I was lucky to get with the 1a.

Looking forward to seeing some photos from both your XA and T.

Cheers,

 

[ray*j*gun]

Post a photo of the camera.

 

[rajmohan-fotograf]

Will aim to post some pics (from and of the cameras) soon!

 

[Peter Jennings]

Congrats. I have a Vitessa L with 50 f/2 Ultron (and working meter!). I rather like the plunger, but I'm not sure if it would be as useful on the T. I like how the focus wheel on the L leaves the left hand free for just holding the camera and advancing the film.
I'm curious to hear how you like T!

 

[rajmohan-fotograf]

Thanks, Peter - I scored a very sweet deal on the camera, which is why I bought it without knowing too much about the Vitessa line. Now that I have it, I'm very happy with its feel and handling, and the VF/RF is very nice. And the meter works! So now I just hope that I can get some good results on film - I'll write an update once I've put the first roll through it!

 

[sdotkling]

Just saw some photos of a Vitessa L, and I gotta ask: What's the long, tall rod? That can't be the shutter, can it? And the apparently accessory triangular glass gizmo that sits at the rangefinder windows?

 

[rajmohan-fotograf]

My T has the same rod - it winds the film on and cocks the shutter (instead of a typical thumb winder). The shutter is on the right in the conventional position. I love that it is so unconventional!

 

[Peter Jennings]

The rod is actually the film advance plunger - an odd but practical design. On the L, film is advanced with the left hand using the plunger while focus and shutter are controlled by right hand. Gandy has a nice write-up on cameraquest. I'm not sure what the triangular glass gizmo is that you are describing because mine doesn't have it. Must be an accessory after all!

 

[hendriphile]

Loved my Vitessa T when I had it in in the 70's. That "Combiplunger" was its downfall... Cost of upkeep was finally more than a new camera. But that German color- skopar lens (and the 100mm dynaret) was a honey of a lens. Best of luck!!

 

[hendriphile]

And I almost forgot about the shutter... The Leica is almost noisy by comparison!

 

[Godfrey]

Voigtländer Vitessa T! ... a lovely camera. I remember seeing them in the shop windows as I wandered camera shops when I was a lad. Best of luck with it!

G

 

[Huss]

Loved my Vitessa T when I had it in in the 70's. That "Combiplunger" was its downfall... Cost of upkeep was finally more than a new camera. But that German color- skopar lens (and the 100mm dynaret) was a honey of a lens. (Not to be confused with the current Oriental "Voigtlander" lenses). Best of luck!!

I have a Vitessa L with the Ultron 50mm f2 lens. And it does not compare to any of my modern JAPANESE Voigtlander lenses.

 

[rajmohan-fotograf]

Thanks everyone! I've also read that the Combi-plunger is actually a strength of the camera, which I hope is the case. In any event, I'll enjoy this fine piece of engineering as long as it lasts (and of course should it die, the lens can always be adapted to another body!)

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

The rod is actually the film advance plunger - an odd but practical design. On the L, film is advanced with the left hand using the plunger while focus and shutter are controlled by right hand. Gandy has a nice write-up on cameraquest. I'm not sure what the triangular glass gizmo is that you are describing because mine doesn't have it. Must be an accessory after all!

Earlier Vitessas had a triangular shaped RF window, no special purpose, they're a Voigtlaender, it's just how they were, it's just a part and parcel of the whole reason some of us love the classic German ones so much. Later ones had conventional windows. There were quite a few running changes from the earliest to latest types: that is one of them.
Cheers
Brett

 

[farlymac]

One of the cameras I regret ever trading in was my Vitessa L. Shot some good slides with it, and it traveled very well. It was one of the few cameras I've owned over the years that has held it's value, exceeding well over what I paid for it in '72.

PF