Voigtlander Vitessa repair

W

Wipes24

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Jan 24, 2008
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I have a Voigtlander Vitessa model version 2 (the one with the barn doors) that has a problem with the rangefinder assembly. After removing the top cover I was able to get at the rangefinder adjustment but however much I adjusted the mirror the image does not move. I can tell that somebody has already had a go at it, as many of the screws are mutilated!

Has anybody had experience of repairing this camera?

Regards W
 
If you look through the forums here for the archive of the Classic Camera Repair Forum (sadly missed!), there's a headline article somewhere about repairing Vitessa rangefinders. I believe the RF is a bit of a dog repair wise, so good luck!

Adrian
 
Well I did one a while ago and, despite many references to the contrary, I thought it was a doddle. But if your example has been abused, depending on what the damage is, it may require replacement parts. I'm on the lookout for a few parts myself so if in the unhappy event it's scrap let me know...but first check the repair archives and if you can find a copy of it, the Tomosy repair manual article. As I recall it may have been one of the cameras he covered in his first repair volume, and it was the bomb door model, too.
Cheers
Brett
 
i've heard only the barn door so far, but "here" for me means rff ebay and some other forums. Dutch don't call them anything special .. :) (except, of course, rare model, classic model, and such)

about contarex, also there only Bullseye i recognize.
 
by the way, just found an ebay ad:
"Here is a the super cool Vitessa with the excellent Ultron lens. It looks great and the shutter is strong and accurate. The shutter is not working so it is being sold as-is with no return. Otherwise, the camera is in great condition. The rangefinder is bright and everything else works well. The glass is clean and scratch-free."

now is this funny or not :D
item is in colorado US so i assume it should not be a "lost in translation" case...
 
Voigtlander Vitessa repair

Thanks guys for your answers to my request, I shall have to do some more searching.

Some people call it the bomb doors model others the barn doors model. Closing the doors can be a hazard as your thumbs get in the way as the doors close. But then Voigtlander never made things simple. If there were two ways of doing something they always did it the most difficult and unusual way.

Again thanks - Wipes
 
Wipes,
I had difficulty adjusting rangefinder in Vitessa, because I didn't read instructions correctly the first time. The screw all the way towards the back is a locking screw. The other two are adjusting screws for vertical and horizontal alignments. I just want to make sure you didn't try adjusting without unlocking first, because that's what I did.
 
I happened to find a listing on eBay yesterday for some interesting Voigtlander top covers, modified, to permit access to the rangefinder assemblies while in situ including one for a Vitessa. Not suggesting any of our members necessarily buy them, however I thought I would share a link to the listing and its photos. I would expect that parts like these were probably used at the factory when cameras were originally assembled and calibrated.

When I set the rangefinder of my Vitessa I simply put the cover on and off and held it in place with my hands so I could check focus. It wasn't that big a deal but, clearly, these parts make it even faster and easier. FYI
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/301586109107?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Cheers
Brett
 
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