Gene M
Member
BrianPhotog
Well-known
Here's someone else who just got a Vito CL: http://www.cosina-voigtlander.com/i...oomlaboard&Itemid=30&func=view&id=18&catid=10
I'm still waiting for his test shots
I'm still waiting for his test shots
S
Scarpia
Guest
R
rich815
Guest
Very, VERY nice shots Gene. I have a Vito IIa I just love and find to be very sharp.
http://home.wtnet.de/~ddrescher/hobbys/voigtlaender/bilder/vito2a.jpg
http://home.wtnet.de/~ddrescher/hobbys/voigtlaender/bilder/vito2a.jpg
titrisol
Bottom Feeder
Arent this old Voigtlander cameras wonderful!
And come to think of it, these were the P&S of the day
And come to think of it, these were the P&S of the day
bmattock
Veteran
Gene M said:
Heck, I didn't realize that was a link. Wow! Eye-popping color and very sharp. Impressive!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
RicardoD
Well-known
I have a roll of Kodak BW400CN in my Vito CD now. This was my father's camera in the 60s and I am excited to be putting it to good use again. Lens stops down to F22 which I used this weekend with the sunny 16 rule since max shutter speed is only 1/250.
Picture of camera here
I'll be sure to post photos once I finish the roll.
Picture of camera here
I'll be sure to post photos once I finish the roll.
HansDerHase
Established
I too love my two Voigtländer. A Vito BL and a Vitomatic IIa.
Unfortunatly the viewfinder of the Vitomatic is a little hazy.
Anyone knows how to clean it? Seems like the viewfinder is a closed brick of glass.
Unfortunatly the viewfinder of the Vitomatic is a little hazy.
Anyone knows how to clean it? Seems like the viewfinder is a closed brick of glass.
jmilkins
Digited User
RicardoD
Well-known
John,
Which one do you like the best? I think I'd like to pick up another similar vintage Voigtlander to my Vito CD.
Which one do you like the best? I think I'd like to pick up another similar vintage Voigtlander to my Vito CD.
HansDerHase
Established
I'd say the Vitomatic IIa Ultron and IIIb are the high point in the Vito-Line. What unfortunatly also means that they are rarly seen on the bay and sell for the most bucks.RicardoD said:
Of the two of mine I prefer the Vito BL (like the right one in Johns picture). Has no rangfinder but the Viewfinder is amazing. My IIa's VF is a little hazy. You need to get used to the "EV"-style exposure setting with the BL though.
Check out this Page on Vitos. You will need some basic understandig of german. (Just tried the German->English translation at google and it was kind of amusing, if not frustrating :bang: ).
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RicardoD
Well-known
My Vito CD has the Lanthar lens. I see a Color Skopar was also available. What makes the lens "Color". Is it a coating?
HansDerHase
Established
Voigländer offered a more economical lens in the C line models and all later models as an alternative to the Color-Skopar. They called it Lanthar and AFAIK it differed form the Skopars in the use of cheaper sorts of glass and a simpler design (3 lenses instead of 4). There are lenses labled Lanthar as well as Color-Lanthar. Possibly the "Color-" prefix has something to do with the coating, dunno.RicardoD said:
R
rich815
Guest
From what I understand the Lanthar lenses are quite sub-par compared to the Color-Skopar (a Tessar-clone, I think). Ones I've used that I recommend highly are the Vito IIa, the BL and the B. Great little compact jobs with very nice lens performance. I believe the earlier ones before they started getting "-matic" are of higher quality workmanship, at least I get that sense from seeing and holding them. Plus I think I remember reading that the later ones were more discounted in their relative prices too.
RicardoD
Well-known
Urgh, that's just great Rich. My Vito has the Lanthar and now I am going to try and find a similar vintage Skopar to check out the difference. You are cursing me with information! Hopefully I will finish off my roll in my Vito CD this weekend and share early next week.
My Vito has the Lanthar and now I am going to try and find a similar vintage Skopar to check out the difference. You are cursing me with information! Hopefully I will finish off my roll in my Vito CD this weekend and share early next week.
R
rich815
Guest
Sorry Ricardo! ;-)
Do a Google search on "Voigtlander Lanthar lens Vito" and you'll see some discussion and comment about the Lanthar. I'm sure it's no slouch, especially stopped down, but the Color-Skopar's are genrally spoken of as sharper and better overall.
Good news is you can find B, BL and II and IIa's with the CS lenses for not all that much. Maybe $20-50 USD.
Do a Google search on "Voigtlander Lanthar lens Vito" and you'll see some discussion and comment about the Lanthar. I'm sure it's no slouch, especially stopped down, but the Color-Skopar's are genrally spoken of as sharper and better overall.
Good news is you can find B, BL and II and IIa's with the CS lenses for not all that much. Maybe $20-50 USD.
ErnestoJL
Well-known
Many years ago I had a Vitomatic IIb with the Color Skopar 2.8/50mm. It was a tack sharp lens and the only condition under which it gets flary was when shooting right into the sun. Also the camere was like a brick: solid and heavy.
The difference between Skopar and Color Skopar is just the kind of coating they had, as the "Color" was a bit improved over the cheaper version. This applies also to the Lanthar lenses.
Those (Lanthar) are a 3 element 3 group lens with front element focusing instead of helical focusing as their japanese competitors had. The Skopar and Color Skopar are Tessar clones, but they had the front element focusing (4 element 3 groups) which was typical for Voigtländer RFs of that time (and of course close in design to the Tessar).
It means it´s not a full clone of the Tessar as the lens formulae is somewhat different and there is a compromise between minimum/maximum focusing distance and lens performance if the front element only is moved instead of the full lens. It´s perhaps the reason why their max aperture is only 2.8, and the Ultron (2.0 / 50 mm for the Vitomatic IIIb) is a newer and much more expensive design reserved for the top model.
Ernesto
The difference between Skopar and Color Skopar is just the kind of coating they had, as the "Color" was a bit improved over the cheaper version. This applies also to the Lanthar lenses.
Those (Lanthar) are a 3 element 3 group lens with front element focusing instead of helical focusing as their japanese competitors had. The Skopar and Color Skopar are Tessar clones, but they had the front element focusing (4 element 3 groups) which was typical for Voigtländer RFs of that time (and of course close in design to the Tessar).
It means it´s not a full clone of the Tessar as the lens formulae is somewhat different and there is a compromise between minimum/maximum focusing distance and lens performance if the front element only is moved instead of the full lens. It´s perhaps the reason why their max aperture is only 2.8, and the Ultron (2.0 / 50 mm for the Vitomatic IIIb) is a newer and much more expensive design reserved for the top model.
Ernesto
jmilkins
Digited User
apologies for the delay in my reply - overall I like the BL (on the left) for its finder and the neat EV system, but the Vito IIa is great to handle and I like the fold out aspect - a bit more compact and protected.
The leather cases for these cameras are good quality too.
I've not really yet compared the lenses - must do!
thanks to the info above - i've learnt much more about the line up!
The leather cases for these cameras are good quality too.
I've not really yet compared the lenses - must do!
thanks to the info above - i've learnt much more about the line up!
RicardoD
Well-known
I think I need to sell my Yashica GS in favor or another Voigtlander Vito. Not that I am expecting it to be than "better" than the Yashica but rather I just want to focus on Voigtlander and keep my GAS under control. With my Bessa R arriving soon I will have too many camera already in less than a 1 month I think!
The thing with my Vito CD is that I grew up with it. My Dad had this drawer with old things in it in his room and as I child I would always go poking in there. I always thought the Voigtlander was an old broken camera. I had no idea what this thing was I just new it was cool. Even when I was bit older in my teens I had no idea really how to use it or anything at all about Voigtlander. All this info which is a click away now was hidden all over the world in people's minds or collections.
Now thanks to this forum it has come alive again. And even better I am starting to understand its lineage, its place in camera history, and a better appreciation for its solid well built feel.
It was only in my 20s that I found this huge stack of black and white prints in my grandfather's house in Bolivia that came from this Voigtlander. My Dad's a quiet guy and he never really told me how much he used it or how to use it. I just loved his old photographs and the story of his dentist friend who made the prints for him. Alas, the original negatives appear lost.
So I have a warm place in my heart for "Voigtlander" so thanks for helping me unlock its secrets.
The thing with my Vito CD is that I grew up with it. My Dad had this drawer with old things in it in his room and as I child I would always go poking in there. I always thought the Voigtlander was an old broken camera. I had no idea what this thing was I just new it was cool. Even when I was bit older in my teens I had no idea really how to use it or anything at all about Voigtlander. All this info which is a click away now was hidden all over the world in people's minds or collections.
Now thanks to this forum it has come alive again. And even better I am starting to understand its lineage, its place in camera history, and a better appreciation for its solid well built feel.
It was only in my 20s that I found this huge stack of black and white prints in my grandfather's house in Bolivia that came from this Voigtlander. My Dad's a quiet guy and he never really told me how much he used it or how to use it. I just loved his old photographs and the story of his dentist friend who made the prints for him. Alas, the original negatives appear lost.
So I have a warm place in my heart for "Voigtlander" so thanks for helping me unlock its secrets.
John Robertson
Well-known
Got this today for £1.69. or about $2!!! now all i have to do is find a case for it. Its in perfect working order, not a scratch on it. Bought from a chain store who are giving up selling S/H cameras. Guy said make me an offer, I did and got it. There is not a mark on the lens and it is bright and clear. Will be shooting with it tomorrow!! :angel:
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