Voigtlander Bessa I

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Please excuse the duplication of this question, I realised too late that I'd posted it in the 35mm area rather than the medium format area! Anyway, here goes....

I am trying to find out a bit more about a camera I have just purchased, it is a Voigtlander Bessa I with a Vaskar F/4.5 105mm lens (apertures of f/4.5, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16 and f/22) and Prontor-SVS shutter (speeds of 1/300, 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, 1/10, 1/5, 1/2, 1 sec and B). I can find no mention of this camera/shutter combination on the internet, so I am assuming that this means I have a later version of the camera. Are there any Bessa I experts out there who know?

The underside of the lens has flash settings of M, X and V, but there is no self-timer lever. I have been told by the guys who answered my other thread that the 'V' setting is for the self-timer, which sets automatically...this makes sense (unless anyone knows otherwise?).

The serial number is 3763181, it appears on the top rim of the lens.

Any information on this camera would be gratefully recieved, I would love to know a bit more about the age of the camera.

Thank you,

Nicola in London (UK)
 
You can move your own thread from one forum group to another. But you have to log in for that, of course.
I think a Vaskar is a three-element design. On a medium format camera, if all is adjusted correctly (i mean focus by this), a three-element simpler lens can produce excellent images, esp. if you don';t want to use it always wide-open.
The Bessa 1 and 2 is considered one of the best constructed ,most solid MF folders.
I am sure you will like the images from it.

Is it coated? I guess it is, and i would estimate that it's from approix. 1950.
 
Unregistered said:
Please excuse the duplication of this question, I realised too late that I'd posted it in the 35mm area rather than the medium format area! Anyway, here goes....

I am trying to find out a bit more about a camera I have just purchased, it is a Voigtlander Bessa I with a Vaskar F/4.5 105mm lens (apertures of f/4.5, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16 and f/22) and Prontor-SVS shutter (speeds of 1/300, 1/100, 1/50, 1/25, 1/10, 1/5, 1/2, 1 sec and B). I can find no mention of this camera/shutter combination on the internet, so I am assuming that this means I have a later version of the camera. Are there any Bessa I experts out there who know?

The underside of the lens has flash settings of M, X and V, but there is no self-timer lever. I have been told by the guys who answered my other thread that the 'V' setting is for the self-timer, which sets automatically...this makes sense (unless anyone knows otherwise?).

The serial number is 3763181, it appears on the top rim of the lens.

Any information on this camera would be gratefully recieved, I would love to know a bit more about the age of the camera.

Thank you,

Nicola in London (UK)
Click to expand...




Nicola:

Here are a couple of links to help you.

http://photographic.co.nz/cameraworks/cameras/bessa1/


http://licm.org.uk/livingImage/Bessa1.html

Wayne
 
Thank you both for your responses and useful links, sorry for the slight delay in replying!

Yes, Pherdinand the lens is coated and in fantastic condition considering the camera's age!

Has anyone here come across the Vaskar F/4.5 105mm lens (f/4.5 to f/22) with the Prontor-SVS shutter? I have searched the internet high and low, but can only find mention of the camera with either a Prontor-S or Prontor-SV! Is the camera simply a late version Bessa I or has it had the shutter replaced at some point? Is that even possible?

I'd love to know more about my camera, does anyone know of any lists of serial numbers for the purpose of more accurate dating?
 
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