Vitomatic IIa

image by Alf Sigaro (Image rights)

Vitomatic IIa with 2/50 Ultron image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

The Voigtländer Vitomatic IIa is a compact heavyweight among rangefinder cameras. The weight of the mightily impressive metalwork helps to hold it steady. Another advantage is the big bright-frame viewfinder. But the best is that its coupled match-needle light meter scale is mirrored below the viewfinder frame, and the speed and aperture setup are coupled to the exposure value. The aperture ring can only move in the range of shutter speeds limited by the set EV. This feature, together with the superimposed rangefinder spot, makes it possible to make all adjustments for the next exposure without taking the camera from the eye. The film type reminder on the rewind knob gives a decent color decoration to the elegant camera design.

Specifications

• Type: rangefinder camera
• Manufacturer: Voigtländer
• Year of launch: 1960
• Film: 35mm with speeds 12 to 800 ASA
• Lens: Voigtländer Color-Skopar 1:2.8/50mm or 1:3.5/50mm, or Ultron 1:2/50mm
• Shutter: Prontor SLK-V (with M-sync) or Prontor 500 SLK-V (without M-sync), with speeds 1 sec. to 1/500 sec. plus B
• Meter: selenium photo cell and match-needle instrument; the pointer with the ring is coupled to speed and aperture controls; appropriate values are found when the meter's needle matches the ring
• Film advance: rapid lever, hidden in the camera back; rewind knob has to be released with a narrow little shifter in the side of the body below the knob

Links

• Voigtlander Vitomatic IIa user manual at Mike Butkus's orphan cameras
• Vitomatic IIa review at Mike Eckman Dot Com