Voigtländer Perkeo (6x6)

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There is an earlier 3x4 cm folding viewfinder Perkeo, also by Voigtländer, and a late 19th century magazine plate camera, the Perkeo No. 140 by Krügener.

The Perkeo cameras are a series of folding cameras made by Voigtländer in the 1950s for 6×6 cm (2¼-inch square) exposures on 120 or 620 film. They are vertical folders (that is, the front door opens sideways in relation to the body, not downward). Their design owes something to the Bessa 66. The cameras all have a small telescopic viewfinder[1] built into the plated metal top housing, and a cold shoe.

Perkeo I

The Perkeo I, made from 1950,[2] was sold with a variety of lens options; a Vaskar 75 or 80 mm f/4.5 or a Color-Skopar 80 mm f/3.5. Several shutters were also available, from a Vario, a Pronto, a Prontor S, Prontor SV or Prontor SVS, or a Synchro-Compur. Models produced from 1951 - 1952 do not have a double exposure prevention interlock.

Voigtländer Perkeo I specifications

  • Manufacturer: Voigtländer
  • Country: Germany
  • Years Produced: 1952 - 1955
  • Body Type: Folding
  • Film Type: 120 or 620
  • Lens Type: Vaskar 75 or 80 mm f/4.5 , or Color-Skopar 80 mm f/3.5
  • Shutter Type: Vario, Pronto, Prontor S, Prontor SV, Prontor SVS or Synchro-Compur
  • Flash Type: Accessory Shoe
  • Weight : 525 grams


Perkeo II

The Perkeo II, also from 1952,[2] was only a slight upgrade. It has automatic frame-counting (in addition to the red window) and double-exposure prevention. The double exposure prevention mechanism keeps a tight frame spacing. Together with the mechanical frame-counter, this may allow 13 exposures on a 120 film rather than 12.

Voigtländer Perkeo II specifications

  • Manufacturer: Voigtländer
  • Country: Germany
  • Years Produced: 1952 - 1955
  • Body Type: Folding
  • Film Type: 120 or 620
  • Lens Type: Color-Skopar 80mm f/3.5
  • Shutter Type: Prontor S, Prontor-SV, Prontor SVS, Compur-Rapid or Synchro-Compur
  • Flash Type: Accessory (cold) Shoe
  • Weight : 520 Grams


Perkeo E or IIIe or III

The Perkeo E or III or IIIe was made in 1955. (In the instruction book for the camera pictured below it is called "Voigtländer PERKEO with Rangefinder"). It is similar to the previous models of the Perkeo line, but has an uncoupled rangefinder built into the top housing, and the Voigtländer name on the front, not on the top and no frame counter. The reason behind the various names is unknown at this point, but in 1956 Schering AG sold the Voigtländer name to Carl Zeiss AG. One could conclude that in 1956 Carl Zeiss renamed the "E" model to the III or IIIE, or maybe the "E" model never got to the market before Carl Zeiss renamed it.

Voigtländer Perkeo E, III or IIIe specifications

  • Manufacturer: Voigtländer
  • Country: Germany
  • Years Produced: 1955 - 1957
  • Body Type: Folding
  • Film Type: 120 or 620
  • Lens Type: Vaskar 80 mm f/4.5 or Color-Skopar 80 mm f/3.5
  • Shutter Type: Pronto, Prontor S, Prontor SV or Prontor SVS
  • Flash Type: Accessory Shoe



McKeown shows a prototype for a new model of the Perkeo E from 1955, which is a horizontal folder, and has an improved focusing mechanism and an uncoupled selenium meter. In a Voigtländer catalog from 1954-1955 there is a Perkeo Model advertised with a coupled rangefinder, however the text in the catalog does not specify what model this coupled rangefinder version is. The lens and shutter options on this coupled rangefinder model from the catalog are as follows: Color-Skopar 80 mm f/3.5 with a flash-synchronised Prontor SVS 300.


Notes

  1. Compare to the larger viewfinder on a prototype Perkeo I sold in the 20th Westlicht Photographica Auction, on 12 November 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p958.

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