Difference between revisions of "Vito"

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|image= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5009/5285426410_10d50f3c90_n.jpg  
 
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|image_text= Voigtländer Vito I
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|image_text= Post-WWII Voigtländer Vito
 
|image_by= Romuald Swieconek
 
|image_by= Romuald Swieconek
 
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The '''Vito''' by [[Voigtländer]] was one of the most successful series in German camera history. Vitos were produced from 1939 to 1971 and many of them are usable (and affordable) cameras today. The versions with Skopar- or Ultron- lenses are highly desirable and still produce excellent results. When checking Vito-cameras be aware that the shutter of many versions can only be released with a loaded and advanced film.  
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The '''Vito''' by [[Voigtländer]] was the first camera in the Vito series, and has retrospectively become known as the Vito I - because it was followed by the [[Vito II]].
  
The first Vito, now often referred to as a Vito I, is a folding bellows camera, fitted with the Voigtländer Skopar f/3.5 50 mm. lens. The shutter is a Prontor II, Compur or Compur Rapid. Most versions have no flash synchronisation.
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There were two versions of the original Vito: the 1939 to 1940 pre-war, and the 1947 to 1950 post-war models.The obvious visual difference between the two versions is that the early models have a built-in yellow filter that hinges over the lens. Later models do not. The pre-war model had one lens/shutter combination (Skopar in a Compur shutter), while post-war cameras were made with several shutter options (Prontor II, Prontor S, and Compur-Rapid), plus an alternative Color Skopar lens.
  
A direct-vision viewfinder is built into the top plate with a frame counter to one side. The camera wind-on permits the double-exposure interlock to be disengaged, allowing a partially-used film to be re-loaded without exposing every frame. There is a 3/8 inch tripod bush in the base plate.
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The Vito is a camera that takes 135 size images, without necessarily using that film format: it was designed to use paper backed [[828_film|828 roll film]]. This format used the same basic film stock as 135 film, but lacked the sprocket holes allowing a 40 × 28 mm negative size, but the Vito employed a mask to reduce the image to the standard 24 × 36 mm of 135 film. The film advance knob pulls upward to release the spool that receives the exposed film (roll films don't have a cassette to be re-wound into; they get wound on to a replaceable receiving spool). 828 film accommodated 8 exposures, but the Vito frame counter scale extends to 36, because the Vito also accepts 135 cassettes. The frame advancing mechanism is a roller with fine toothed cogs, which register the movement of the film, but do not engage with 135 film sprocket holes. The roller on the re-wind side releases the interlock (handy to know for test firing without a film).
  
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The Vito has a tiny Newtonian viewfinder, a manually reset frame counter, and a separate shutter tensioning lever. Nothing is automated, except for the film transport interlock system, which prevents the shutter from being fired unless the film has been wound.
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Peculiarities of this camera include a lever on the rear of the top plate, which in the down position allows the film to advance by one frame, and in the up setting permits rewind or unlimited film advance for winding a finished roll film on to the receiving spool. The up position also exposes a toothed wheel which is used to set the frame counter. The shutter release is a bar (rather than a button) on the top of the lens cover door. The camera has a T lock. When the shutter speed is set to B a sliding lever (which resembles an animal's paw) near to the far end of the shutter release locks the shutter release bar in its depressed position for long exposures.
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== Specifications (pre-war model) ==
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Viewfinder: Simple Newtonian reverse telescope - shows image at about one half of natural size. No frame lines or parallax markings.
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Focus: Manual, metric distance scale.
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Lens: Skopar 50mm f/3.5 (4 elements in 3 groups). Uncoated.
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Close Focus: 1m.
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Diaphragm: f3.5 to f16. Ten blades.
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Shutter: Compur shutter (B, 1, 1/2nd, 1/5th, 1/10th, 1/25th, 1/50th, 1/100th, and 1/300th sec). No self-timer.
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Cable Release: Standard threaded socket next to shutter release.
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Size: 125 x 71 x 39mm (L x H x D) when closed.
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Weight: 370g.
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== Links ==
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* [http://www.camera.portraits.srv2.com/vito1.htm Voigtlander Vito] page at [http://www.camera.portraits.srv2.com Camera Portraits]
 
[[Category: Voigtländer]]
 
[[Category: Voigtländer]]
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[[Category: 35mm viewfinder]]
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[[Category: German 35mm viewfinder folding]]

Revision as of 09:12, 14 July 2018

The Vito by Voigtländer was the first camera in the Vito series, and has retrospectively become known as the Vito I - because it was followed by the Vito II.

There were two versions of the original Vito: the 1939 to 1940 pre-war, and the 1947 to 1950 post-war models.The obvious visual difference between the two versions is that the early models have a built-in yellow filter that hinges over the lens. Later models do not. The pre-war model had one lens/shutter combination (Skopar in a Compur shutter), while post-war cameras were made with several shutter options (Prontor II, Prontor S, and Compur-Rapid), plus an alternative Color Skopar lens.

The Vito is a camera that takes 135 size images, without necessarily using that film format: it was designed to use paper backed 828 roll film. This format used the same basic film stock as 135 film, but lacked the sprocket holes allowing a 40 × 28 mm negative size, but the Vito employed a mask to reduce the image to the standard 24 × 36 mm of 135 film. The film advance knob pulls upward to release the spool that receives the exposed film (roll films don't have a cassette to be re-wound into; they get wound on to a replaceable receiving spool). 828 film accommodated 8 exposures, but the Vito frame counter scale extends to 36, because the Vito also accepts 135 cassettes. The frame advancing mechanism is a roller with fine toothed cogs, which register the movement of the film, but do not engage with 135 film sprocket holes. The roller on the re-wind side releases the interlock (handy to know for test firing without a film).

The Vito has a tiny Newtonian viewfinder, a manually reset frame counter, and a separate shutter tensioning lever. Nothing is automated, except for the film transport interlock system, which prevents the shutter from being fired unless the film has been wound.

Peculiarities of this camera include a lever on the rear of the top plate, which in the down position allows the film to advance by one frame, and in the up setting permits rewind or unlimited film advance for winding a finished roll film on to the receiving spool. The up position also exposes a toothed wheel which is used to set the frame counter. The shutter release is a bar (rather than a button) on the top of the lens cover door. The camera has a T lock. When the shutter speed is set to B a sliding lever (which resembles an animal's paw) near to the far end of the shutter release locks the shutter release bar in its depressed position for long exposures.


Specifications (pre-war model)

Viewfinder: Simple Newtonian reverse telescope - shows image at about one half of natural size. No frame lines or parallax markings.

Focus: Manual, metric distance scale.

Lens: Skopar 50mm f/3.5 (4 elements in 3 groups). Uncoated.

Close Focus: 1m.

Diaphragm: f3.5 to f16. Ten blades.

Shutter: Compur shutter (B, 1, 1/2nd, 1/5th, 1/10th, 1/25th, 1/50th, 1/100th, and 1/300th sec). No self-timer.

Cable Release: Standard threaded socket next to shutter release.

Size: 125 x 71 x 39mm (L x H x D) when closed.

Weight: 370g.


Links