Difference between revisions of "Voigtländer VSL"

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The Voigtländer VSL is a series of 35mm SLR bodies manufactured by [[Rollei]] in the 1970s and 1980s under the brand name [[Voigtländer]]. The name belonged to Zeiss before the demise of [[Zeiss Ikon]] in 1972, then was taken over by Rollei.
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The '''Voigtländer VSL''' is a series of 35mm SLR bodies manufactured by [[Rollei]] in the 1970s and 1980s under the brand name [[Voigtländer]] (which Rollei had taken over from Zeiss after the demise of [[Zeiss Ikon]] in 1972).
  
Rollei continued the production of the last 35mm SLR developed by Zeiss Ikon, the [[Zeiss Ikon SL706|SL706]] and called it '''Voigtländer VSL1'''. It could accept [[42mm screw lenses]]. But it was a concurrent of their own 35mm SLR, the [[Rolleiflex SL35]] and SL350, which used the [[Rolleiflex SL35 lenses]]. This absurd situation ended in 1976 when Rollei abandoned the development of its SL35 and SL350, and produced a variant of the VSL1 with the SL35 bayonet mount, called the '''VSL1 BM'''. The same body with modified cosmetics was called the [[Rolleiflex SL35M]].
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== Screw-mount models ==
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alf_sigaro/494732356/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/217/494732356_cdb4c2cb23_m.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Voigtländer VSL 1 (TM)
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|image_by= Alf Sigaro
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|image_rights= nc
 +
}}
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Rollei continued the production of the last 35mm SLR developed by Zeiss Ikon, the [[Zeiss Ikon SL706|SL706]], naming it '''Voigtländer VSL 1'''. It takes [[42mm screw lenses]] and is today called the '''VSL 1 (TM)''' to distinguish it from its successor. It exists in chrome and black. It is quite a straightforward SLR, with a fixed prism and a CdS through-the-lens (TTL) meter. The exposure reading is possible at open aperture with specifically designed for it or the previous generation of lenses designed for the Icarex and SL706 (see [[42mm screw lenses#Zeiss lenses|Zeiss lenses]]).
  
At the same time, the production was delocalized to Singapore. Only 500 bodies of the VSL1 (thread mount) were built in Germany, all the later cameras were assembled in Singapore. The rumor says that the quality control in the Singapore plant was poor at the beginning, but that the situation improved with the years.
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Only five hundred VSL 1 bodies were built in Germany, and thereafter the cameras were assembled in Singapore. Quality control in the Singapore plant is rumored to have been poor at the beginning but thereafter to have gradually improved.
  
The VSL1 existed in chrome or black, the VSL1 BM only in black. There was a name variant of the VSL1 called the '''Ifbaflex M102''', only in chrome finish, made for a French distributor with an Ifbagon 1.8/50 standard lens (a rebadged Planar 1.8/50).
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There is a name variant of the VSL 1 called the '''Ifbaflex M102''', made for a French distributor, with an Ifbagon 50/1.8 standard lens (a rebadged [[Planar]] 50/1.8). It only exists in chrome finish, and was built in Germany.
  
In 1976 was developed an automatic exposure version called the '''VSL2 automatic''', and its Rollei equivalent the [[Rolleiflex SL35ME]]. The VSL2 automatic / SL35ME sold in parallel to the VSL1 BM / SL35M. All were sold only in black.
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At about the same time, a prototype called the '''VSL 2 CX automatic''' was developed, based on the [[Chinon]] CE Memotron. It has automatic exposure and takes [[42mm screw lenses]]. It only exists in very small quantities, and was never released on the marketplace.
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{{br}}
  
An elusive model called the '''VSL2 CX automatic''' did exist in very small quantities, and I have almost no information about it.
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== Bayonet-mount models ==
 +
{{Flickr_image
 +
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ishoothorizon/4967421052/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4967421052_03299d8714_m.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Voigtländer VSL 1 (BM)
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|image_by= Romuald Swieconek
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
  
The next generation came at the end of 1977 with the '''VSL3E''', the last Voigtländer body to be designed in Germany. It had an all-new electronic vertically running focal plane shutter, with flash sync at 1/125, and a SiO2 meter. Its Rollei equivalent was the [[Rolleiflex SL35E]]. They were sold in chrome or black.
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The VSL 1 (TM) was sold at the same time as Rollei's 35mm SLR, the [[Rolleiflex SL35]] and SL350, which used [[Rolleiflex SL35 lenses]]. This absurd situation ended in 1976, when Rollei abandoned development of the SL35 and SL350 and decided instead to concentrate on the VSL design. Rollei thereupon launched a variant of the VSL 1 with the SL35 bayonet mount. It too was named '''VSL 1''', and is today called the '''VSL 1 (BM)'''. It only exists in black, and was made in Singapore. The [[Rolleiflex SL35M]] was the same body with modified cosmetics.
  
The '''Vitoflex E''' would have been another model, equivalent to the [[Rolleiflex SL35E|Rolleiflex SL35OE Dual]], with both aperture priority and shutter priority modes. However it would have needed a change to the lens mount. It was never released, and only a small number of Vitoflex E prototypes were built.
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In 1976 was developed a version with aperture-priority automation, called the '''VSL 2 automatic'''. The shutter speed selected by the meter is indicated in the finder by a needle. The VSL 2 automatic was sold together with the VSL 1 (BM). It only exists in black. Its Rollei equivalent is the [[Rolleiflex SL35ME]].{{Flickr_image
 +
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/95742794@N05/30153285283/in/pool-camerawiki/
 +
|image= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5796/30153285283_6927fa9055_m.jpg
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|image_align=
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|image_text= Voigtländer VSL 2 automatic
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|image_by= Jörg Krüger
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|image_rights= with permission
 +
}}
  
In 1981 Rollei went bankrupt. They had to close the Singapore plant, ceased the production of middle-range 35mm SLRs to concentrate on the high end [[Rolleiflex SL2000F]], and stopped using the Voigtländer name.
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{{br}}
  
To sum up:
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== Next generation ==
* 42mm screw mount:
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{{Flickr_image
** 1974-1976: VSL1
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/siimvahur/4156916317/in/pool-camerawiki
* Rolleiflex SL35 mount:
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|image= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2513/4156916317_82ff1f8061_m.jpg
** 1976-1979: VSL1 BM, identical to the [[Rolleiflex SL35M]]
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|image_align= right
** 1976-1979: VSL2 automatic, identical to the [[Rolleiflex SL35ME]]
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|image_text= Voigtländer VSL 3-E.
** 1977-1980: VSL3E, identical to the [[Rolleiflex SL35E]]
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|image_by= Siim Vahur
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|image_rights= with permission
 +
}}
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The next generation came at the end of 1977 with the '''VSL 3-E''', the last Voigtländer body to be designed in Germany. It has an all-new electronic vertically-running focal plane shutter going from 16s to 1/2000, with flash sync at 1/125, and a SiO<sub>2</sub> <!-- What's this? It is silicon dioxide, a chemical used in some meter types, more or less the "successor" of CdS (cadmium sulphide). We need a page explaining this. (but where?) --> meter with aperture priority automatic or manual exposure. The shutter speed is indicated by LEDs in the finder. It can also accept an external winder or motor drive. It exists in chrome or black. Its Rollei equivalent is the [[Rolleiflex SL35E]].
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The '''Vitoflex E''' is the pre-release version of the VSL 3-E, with a shutter going to 1/2000. The name was changed before the release because it was too close to "[[Visoflex]]", a trademark registered by [[Leica|Leitz]]. The VSL 3-E was produced in Singapore.
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 +
In 1981 Rollei went bankrupt. It had to close the Singapore plant and cease production of middle-range 35mm SLRs to concentrate on the expensive [[Rolleiflex SL2000F]]; and it stopped using the Voigtländer name.
 +
{{br}}
 +
== Bibliography ==
 +
* Afalter, Udo. ''Voigtländer Kameras und Objective.'' 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 1998. <nowiki>ISBN</nowiki> 3-89506-137-9.
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* {{Matanle SLR}} Pp.107–9.
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== Links ==
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In English:
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* [http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/rollei/dugrew.html Captain Jack's Rollei SL35 and Voigtländer VSL website], including:
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** [http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/rollei/Rollei%20Cameras.htm SL35 and VSL bodies]
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** [http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/rollei/Rolleilenses.htm SL35 and VSL lenses]
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** [http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/rollei/Rolleilaccys.htm SL35 and VSL accessories]
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* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050307002949/http://www.rolleiclub.com/rollei/sl35/models.htm Rollei SL35 and Voigtländer VSL] at the [http://web.archive.org/web/20050216043040/www.rolleiclub.com/rollei/index.htm Rollei Club] (the site is dead and the links point to the web archive version dated March 7, 2005)
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* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/voigtlander_pdf/voigtlander_pdf_manuals.htm Voigtländer manuals] (.pdf format), including a manual for the VSL 3-E at [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ butkus.org's Orphan Cameras]
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In Japanese:
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* [http://www.cameraguild.jp/voigtlander/vsl/vsl_index.htm VSL pages] at [http://www.cameraguild.jp/voigtlander/index.htm Office Heliar], with rare photographs of the VSL&nbsp;2 CX automatic and of the Vitoflex E
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In French :
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=1468 VSL-1] at www.collection-appareils.fr
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[[Category: German 35mm SLR]]
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[[Category: 42mm screw mount]]
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[[Category: Voigtländer|VSL]]
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[[Category: Rollei]]
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[[Category: Singapore]]
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[[Category: V]]

Revision as of 17:46, 17 April 2019

The Voigtländer VSL is a series of 35mm SLR bodies manufactured by Rollei in the 1970s and 1980s under the brand name Voigtländer (which Rollei had taken over from Zeiss after the demise of Zeiss Ikon in 1972).

Screw-mount models

Rollei continued the production of the last 35mm SLR developed by Zeiss Ikon, the SL706, naming it Voigtländer VSL 1. It takes 42mm screw lenses and is today called the VSL 1 (TM) to distinguish it from its successor. It exists in chrome and black. It is quite a straightforward SLR, with a fixed prism and a CdS through-the-lens (TTL) meter. The exposure reading is possible at open aperture with specifically designed for it or the previous generation of lenses designed for the Icarex and SL706 (see Zeiss lenses).

Only five hundred VSL 1 bodies were built in Germany, and thereafter the cameras were assembled in Singapore. Quality control in the Singapore plant is rumored to have been poor at the beginning but thereafter to have gradually improved.

There is a name variant of the VSL 1 called the Ifbaflex M102, made for a French distributor, with an Ifbagon 50/1.8 standard lens (a rebadged Planar 50/1.8). It only exists in chrome finish, and was built in Germany.

At about the same time, a prototype called the VSL 2 CX automatic was developed, based on the Chinon CE Memotron. It has automatic exposure and takes 42mm screw lenses. It only exists in very small quantities, and was never released on the marketplace.

Bayonet-mount models

The VSL 1 (TM) was sold at the same time as Rollei's 35mm SLR, the Rolleiflex SL35 and SL350, which used Rolleiflex SL35 lenses. This absurd situation ended in 1976, when Rollei abandoned development of the SL35 and SL350 and decided instead to concentrate on the VSL design. Rollei thereupon launched a variant of the VSL 1 with the SL35 bayonet mount. It too was named VSL 1, and is today called the VSL 1 (BM). It only exists in black, and was made in Singapore. The Rolleiflex SL35M was the same body with modified cosmetics.

In 1976 was developed a version with aperture-priority automation, called the VSL 2 automatic. The shutter speed selected by the meter is indicated in the finder by a needle. The VSL 2 automatic was sold together with the VSL 1 (BM). It only exists in black. Its Rollei equivalent is the Rolleiflex SL35ME.


Next generation

The next generation came at the end of 1977 with the VSL 3-E, the last Voigtländer body to be designed in Germany. It has an all-new electronic vertically-running focal plane shutter going from 16s to 1/2000, with flash sync at 1/125, and a SiO2 meter with aperture priority automatic or manual exposure. The shutter speed is indicated by LEDs in the finder. It can also accept an external winder or motor drive. It exists in chrome or black. Its Rollei equivalent is the Rolleiflex SL35E.

The Vitoflex E is the pre-release version of the VSL 3-E, with a shutter going to 1/2000. The name was changed before the release because it was too close to "Visoflex", a trademark registered by Leitz. The VSL 3-E was produced in Singapore.

In 1981 Rollei went bankrupt. It had to close the Singapore plant and cease production of middle-range 35mm SLRs to concentrate on the expensive Rolleiflex SL2000F; and it stopped using the Voigtländer name.

Bibliography

  • Afalter, Udo. Voigtländer Kameras und Objective. 2nd ed. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 1998. ISBN 3-89506-137-9.
  • Matanle, Ivor. Collecting and Using Classic SLRs. London: Thames & Hudson, 1996. ISBN 0-500-01726-3. Pp.107–9.

Links

In English:

In Japanese:

In French :

  • VSL-1 at www.collection-appareils.fr