Difference between revisions of "Voigtländer VSL"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 1: Line 1:
 
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.
 
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.
  
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]].
+
== Screw mount models ==
  
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.
+
Rollei continued the production of the last 35mm SLR developed by Zeiss Ikon, the [[Zeiss Ikon SL706|SL706]] and named it '''Voigtländer VSL 1'''. It could accept [[42mm screw lenses]] and is today called the '''VSL 1 (TM)''' to distinguish it from its follower. It existed in chrome and black.
  
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).
+
The production was delocalized to Singapore. Only 500 VSL 1 bodies 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.
  
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.
+
There was a name variant of the VSL 1 called the '''Ifbaflex M102''', made for a French distributor with an Ifbagon 1.8/50 standard lens (a rebadged Planar 1.8/50). It only existed in chrome finish, and was built in Germany.
  
An elusive model called the '''VSL2 CX automatic''' did exist in very small quantities, and I have almost no information about it.
+
At about the same time, a prototype called the '''VSL 2 CX automatic''' was developed, based on the [[Chinon CE Memotron]]. It had automatic exposure and [[42mm screw lenses]]. It only existed in very small quantities, and was never released on the marketplace. The only picture I know is [http://www.cameraguild.jp/voigtlander/vsl/vsl_camera02.htm here].
  
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.
+
== Bayonet mount models ==
 +
 
 +
The VSL 1 (TM) was a concurrent of Rollei's 35mm SLR, the [[Rolleiflex SL35]] and SL350, which used the [[Rolleiflex SL35 lenses]]. This situation was absurd, and it ended in 1976. Rollei abandoned the development of the SL35 and SL350, and decided instead to concentrate on the VSL design. So they launched a variant of the VSL 1 with the SL35 bayonet mount. It was also named '''VSL 1''', and is today called the '''VSL 1 (BM)'''. It only existed in black. 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 was indicated in the finder by a needle. The VSL 2 automatic was sold together with the VSL 1 (BM). It only existed in black. Its Rollei equivalent was 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 had an all-new electronic vertically running focal plane shutter, with flash sync at 1/125, and a SiO2 meter. It could also accept an external winder. It was sold in chrome or black. Its Rollei equivalent was the [[Rolleiflex SL35E]].
  
 
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.
 
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.
Line 17: Line 25:
 
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.
 
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.
  
To sum up:
+
== Links ==
* 42mm screw mount:
+
* [http://www.cameraguild.jp/voigtlander/vsl/vsl_index.htm A page about the VSL, with many info, in Japanese]
** 1974-1976: VSL1
+
* [http://www.rolleiclub.com/rollei/sl35/models.htm The 35mm Rollei SLRs and Voigtländer VSL at the Rollei Club]
* Rolleiflex SL35 mount:
 
** 1976-1979: VSL1 BM, identical to the [[Rolleiflex SL35M]]
 
** 1976-1979: VSL2 automatic, identical to the [[Rolleiflex SL35ME]]
 
** 1977-1980: VSL3E, identical to the [[Rolleiflex SL35E]]
 

Revision as of 22:00, 9 December 2005

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.

Screw mount models

Rollei continued the production of the last 35mm SLR developed by Zeiss Ikon, the SL706 and named it Voigtländer VSL 1. It could accept 42mm screw lenses and is today called the VSL 1 (TM) to distinguish it from its follower. It existed in chrome and black.

The production was delocalized to Singapore. Only 500 VSL 1 bodies 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.

There was a name variant of the VSL 1 called the Ifbaflex M102, made for a French distributor with an Ifbagon 1.8/50 standard lens (a rebadged Planar 1.8/50). It only existed 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 had automatic exposure and 42mm screw lenses. It only existed in very small quantities, and was never released on the marketplace. The only picture I know is here.

Bayonet mount models

The VSL 1 (TM) was a concurrent of Rollei's 35mm SLR, the Rolleiflex SL35 and SL350, which used the Rolleiflex SL35 lenses. This situation was absurd, and it ended in 1976. Rollei abandoned the development of the SL35 and SL350, and decided instead to concentrate on the VSL design. So they launched a variant of the VSL 1 with the SL35 bayonet mount. It was also named VSL 1, and is today called the VSL 1 (BM). It only existed in black. 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 was indicated in the finder by a needle. The VSL 2 automatic was sold together with the VSL 1 (BM). It only existed in black. Its Rollei equivalent was 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 had an all-new electronic vertically running focal plane shutter, with flash sync at 1/125, and a SiO2 meter. It could also accept an external winder. It was sold in chrome or black. Its Rollei equivalent was the Rolleiflex SL35E.

The Vitoflex E would have been another model, equivalent to the 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.

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.

Links