Jack Conrad
Well-known
I just picked this camera up from a local Antiques mall and probably paid too much...$35.00... since when I got home, I found that the shutter dial and the asa dial were both corroded frozen tight. 
But with some patience, quite a bit of lighter fluid and a small screw driver used like a hammer and chisel I was able to break the dials free.
And suddenly this camera seems to be working like it's supposed to.
Anyway, I'm still running a first roll through to see if it actually makes pictures.
I do realize this isn't one of the popularly preferred Voigtlanders, but it does have full manual capability... even though the meter does show some life, I can't say I trust it yet.
The reason I got it was I'm curious about the Lanthar 50mm 2.8 lens. It looks great with a beautiful blue reflective cast to it.
I'm hoping to finish this roll and get it developed by this evening, maybe.
But with some patience, quite a bit of lighter fluid and a small screw driver used like a hammer and chisel I was able to break the dials free.
And suddenly this camera seems to be working like it's supposed to.
Anyway, I'm still running a first roll through to see if it actually makes pictures.
I do realize this isn't one of the popularly preferred Voigtlanders, but it does have full manual capability... even though the meter does show some life, I can't say I trust it yet.
The reason I got it was I'm curious about the Lanthar 50mm 2.8 lens. It looks great with a beautiful blue reflective cast to it.
I'm hoping to finish this roll and get it developed by this evening, maybe.
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Don't get me started on camera pricing at most antique stores...
Yeah, that's more than they usually go for, but what the hay. I'm sure you'll get your $35 worth of fun out of it.
The Lanthar is the mid-range lens from the period, below the Color Skopar. Reminds me that I have a Vito CD with that lens that I need to try out, actually.
IMO the best thing the sixties Voigtländers have going for them is the VF. Big, bright, 1:1. If you've never shot with both eyes open, give it a try.
Yeah, that's more than they usually go for, but what the hay. I'm sure you'll get your $35 worth of fun out of it.
The Lanthar is the mid-range lens from the period, below the Color Skopar. Reminds me that I have a Vito CD with that lens that I need to try out, actually.
IMO the best thing the sixties Voigtländers have going for them is the VF. Big, bright, 1:1. If you've never shot with both eyes open, give it a try.
Jack Conrad
Well-known
Well, ok then... it appears my new acquisition is more buggered up than I bargained for. Looks like the focus dial is inaccurate.
Normally I wouldn't post such an ugly mug, but this is for educational purposes.
So, right after I got the dials loosened from having been frozen up and corroded for decades, I went outside and took some shots to test the focus specifically, on a tripod, with a flash and shutter cable. That's why I'm holding the tape measure. To make sure my face was exactly the distance I had set on the dial.
Ha! It focused perfectly on the trees behind me.
Now I'm flummoxed.
This next shot was supposed to be focused on the little girl, but here everything is out of focus. It almost looks like camera shake, but I was being quite careful. Drat.
Normally I wouldn't post such an ugly mug, but this is for educational purposes.
So, right after I got the dials loosened from having been frozen up and corroded for decades, I went outside and took some shots to test the focus specifically, on a tripod, with a flash and shutter cable. That's why I'm holding the tape measure. To make sure my face was exactly the distance I had set on the dial.
Ha! It focused perfectly on the trees behind me.
Now I'm flummoxed.
This next shot was supposed to be focused on the little girl, but here everything is out of focus. It almost looks like camera shake, but I was being quite careful. Drat.
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
I'd say your lens is in too far. You get infinity focus when set for close distance, and no focus when set for medium distance.
I've never used a Vito Automatic but on the CD, that same Lanthar 2.8/50 is half a turn from close focus to infinity. You could be off by almost that much.
Hope it isn't major surgery to adjust the focus. If that ASA ring needs to come off, gee, looks mighty brittle.
I've never used a Vito Automatic but on the CD, that same Lanthar 2.8/50 is half a turn from close focus to infinity. You could be off by almost that much.
Hope it isn't major surgery to adjust the focus. If that ASA ring needs to come off, gee, looks mighty brittle.
Fawley
Well-known
While we're on the subject of Vito's-- A Vito B is absolutely my favourite walking around camera. The camera body is so small, and the lense barrel sticks out so far by comparison, that it fits just perfectly in the palm of my hand with my thumb wrapped around the lense for a secure grip. Some reasonably fast film so that you're always shooting at F16 or F11, to make the range focusing a little easier, and its a wonderful little camera.
Jack Conrad
Well-known
I think you're exactly right and I really haven't figured out how to get the front rings off or even really what to do once they are off.
This bites because I think the lens could be sweet. Maybe not skopar sweet, but sweet nevertheless. Sort of a German bittersweet, perhaps.
Jack Conrad
Well-known
Ok, I went ahead last night and found a way in, figuring the plastic cover over the asa dial was garbage anyway. It fell apart just breathing on it.
Wow, what a mess I found. Rusty screws, corrosion, dirt, filth, cigarette butts, a dust bunny and an entire camp of homeless people had been living in there for who knows how long.
It was mostly dried green grease that had frozen up the lens focus movement though, so I cleaned it up, being sure to leave just a touch of dust on the inner lens as an offering to the god of serendipity, and slapped that old German baby back together this morning, and Voila...
The lens moves in and out now, whereas it didn't before. Whether I'll ever get a decent photograph from it is yet to be seen.
It's all in good fun folks... if you liked gluing models together as a kid and didn't get too hooked on the glue, tearing old useless junk apart and rejuvenating it is quite enjoyable.
Wow, what a mess I found. Rusty screws, corrosion, dirt, filth, cigarette butts, a dust bunny and an entire camp of homeless people had been living in there for who knows how long.
It was mostly dried green grease that had frozen up the lens focus movement though, so I cleaned it up, being sure to leave just a touch of dust on the inner lens as an offering to the god of serendipity, and slapped that old German baby back together this morning, and Voila...
The lens moves in and out now, whereas it didn't before. Whether I'll ever get a decent photograph from it is yet to be seen.
It's all in good fun folks... if you liked gluing models together as a kid and didn't get too hooked on the glue, tearing old useless junk apart and rejuvenating it is quite enjoyable.
Gumshoe
Newbie
Re the Vito B, I bought my first in 1957, sold it in '61, got a replacement for £28 on eBay. Damn near mint, and I was blown away by the quality of the prints using Kodak Colorplus 200. As good as digital? In my opinion, much, much better.