Thanks both for the advice, the link to the adjustment procedure on the Prominent is very useful - the Vito III looks very similar to the Prominent so I suspect you're correct Brett that the rangefinder is a shared component.
Great idea to check the infinity focus of the lens first. I have done this a number of times on front-focus types of folding cameras, though with the Vito III I'm wondering what exactly I'll do if the lens infinity is incorrect. There isn't an obvious way to calibrate the lens focus, I imagine that would require dismantling the top cover and de-coupling focus mechanism from the lens movement in order to re-set it... something like that?
I'd love to remove the top cover completely to clean the viewfinder / rangefinder, but yes, reluctant to do so without instructions to follow, this is one of the more complex cameras from the '50's I have seen.
The build quality of the Vito III is superb, I can't wait to use it! This one came with a very clean lens and the shutter works well. You won't regret purchasing one Brett. Oh BTW if you're also interested in adding a very nice Perkeo IIIe to your collection I'm trying to sell one!
Cheers
Hugh
Hi Hugh,
I would also love a Prominent but do not have one yet (it's one of only three of four cameras I still really lust after). So the following comments are just a guess, but an educated one after a lot of time working on various German cameras. My hunch would be that, as the Vito III focuses using a focus wheel on top left (like the Prominent) that you probably dial in the lens focus precisely by adjusting the position of the infinity stop on the knob relative to the focus shaft, for instance, or something similar. Hence, adjusting this, if needed (and hopefully, it may not be, but it's good to check) would be a case of backing off the fastening screw, turning the knob slightly away from infinity, temporarily re-fastening the knob and then moving the focus back and forward (perhaps beyond infinity and back to it) until you hit that point where it is sharpest. At that point, you'd back off the fastener, and, without rotating the focus shaft (or gear shaft, or whatever it uses), rotate the knob back to the infinity stop and tighten it.
The above is essentially how you would set a TLR incidentally. I could be leading you completely off track, but I suspect that is basically how you would have to adjust it. Of course if any Prominent or Vito III owners have actually carried out this process, corrections are very welcome.
The other point is that there is a repair manual on CD available for the Prominent. I have one for the Bessamatic SLR by the same author and it's very good, plenty of actual photos and a lot of clear instructions based on repairing the cameras decades old. I have every reason to expect the Prominent manual by the same author would be equally worthwhile. Of course a purchase of the manual may be a catalyst for Prominent ownership, but despite the types well documented ergomonic challenges, it's a not an unappealing prospect, is it? The quality of the Voigtlander lenses for the Prominent as demonstrated by Rick Drawbridge, your fellow Kiwi (do a search over at photonet) is reason enough in my mind to perservere with the Prominent body design. As a Vito III owner it would be a pretty smooth transition for you I suspect. Here's a link to the manual:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Repair-Inst...311946?hash=item542df56d8a:g:HicAAOSwYIhWjwEy
As it happens, I spotted a Perkeo myself about a year ago at a local market. Surprisingly I resisted the urge to purchase it but about a fortnight ago I visited again and it was still there, so I finally relented. It's not as gorgeous as yours, being a Perkeo I with the Vaskar lens, but fits nicely in the pocket. I need to budget for the next few months. A nice local lady I met needs to find a safe home for her father's old Voigtlander TLR and she likes me, so it may come my way. A focusing Brilliant would be rather nice, but, this is actually a Superb, so I'm rather keen to take the chance to get it! And I've unearthed another Contax right here in Tasmania, (a Contax II and collapsible Sonnar with one owner) and am buying this also. Not to mention I would really, really like a Prominent.
😉 So I will have to pass on the Perkeo, as appealing as a rangefinder equipped example undoubtedly is. But thank you for thinking of me. They're fairly rare: I should keep it, Hugh, if you can, there are few genuine medium format cameras as compact as a Perkeo or as durable.
🙂
Cheers
Brett
