Considering Postwar Folders

[Archimedes the Dog]

I fell for a nice Voigtlander Vito II at a camera show recently, but didn't purchase as it had uncertain functionality. Since then I did a lot of reading on the postwar folding cameras and kind of narrowed it down to the Vito II or the Retina IIc, both seem about what I want. Any advice on one or the other? Any other folder from the same era I might consider? The Solinette seems fussy and less usable.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I really liked the 50mm/f2.0 Ultron lens on the Voigtlander Vitessa L, and the camera was very elegantly designed. The plunger film advance is a bit strange, but worked as it should have.

I sold it because I wasn't shooting so much 35mm, but it was still my favorite 50mm lens for the 35mm format.

 

[bernard_L]

Have both Voigtlander Vito IIa (color skopar 3.5) and Retina IIa (Xenon 2.0). Technically, the Retina is the better camera: coupled rangefinder, lens is excellent. Retina is said to have a mechanical weakness in the film advance and/or shutter cocking linkage (don't remember); all I know is mine works and I operate the film advance gently. The Vito IIa has, technical specs aside, a lot of "class" IMO. And the lens is good also. Accessories for the Vito II are 29mm slip-on, and seem to be more rare/expensive than the 32mm accessories for later Vitos.
Both the Retina and the Vito II suffer from the lack of a collimated-frame finder. The Vito B (2nd version) has a nice 1:1 collimated frame finder. Even nicer, but rare/expensive is the Vito BR, with rangefinder.
Good luck

 

[Peltigera]

The Vito II has little to go wrong with it. I have a Vito I and a Vito II and both have been very well used over their lives and both still work flawlessly. Both have Gauthier shutters (Prontor II and Pronto, respectively) which are made to run dry so have no lubricants to either dry up or attract dust. Voigtlander's bellows fabric seems to be very tough - better than either Zeiss Ikon or Agfa.

The Color Skopar lens is a copy of a Tessar and is excellent.

The only problem I have had with either is that if I carry them in my pocket without the leather half-case, the back can come undone - I have just stopped putting them in my pocket.

 

[Nick Merritt]

Let's see -- the IIc is an unmetered version of the IIIc, and has the 45/2.8 Xenar, a Tessar design like the Color-Skopar -- slower than the Xenon (or Heligon you sometimes can find), but actually the Xenar has the reputation of being sharper. So the Xenar and Color-Skopar are directly comparable, though the Xenar is faster.

The IIc does have a nice coupled rangefinder, and lever wind, neither of which the Vito has. I think you have to get to the Vito III to find a coupled RF -- and that's a superb camera but pricey. The Retina is as a result a little bulkier and heavier than the Vito, but I think it's worth it. Yes, the Retina has the cocking rack issue, but replacement cocking racks are available and I think it's not that hard a job to replace, particularly with a nonmetered camera like the IIc.

Here's another suggestion -- the Zeiss Ikon Contessa folder. Great camera -- a little "fiddlier" than the Retina but quality throughout.

 

[Archimedes the Dog]

Here's another suggestion -- the Zeiss Ikon Contessa folder. Great camera -- a little "fiddlier" than the Retina but quality throughout.

Good summary. I hadn't considered the Contessa, that's a nifty little camera. Thanks!

 

[Dan Fromm]

Agfa Karat, anyone?

 

[Archimedes the Dog]

Ikon Contessa it is. Done and done, thanks.


New thing. by Archimedes the Dog, on Flickr

 

[thuggins]

It looks like you have a nice camera there.

But to weigh in on the original question, I have a Vito II and a Retina 1b. They are both nice, but the Vito is truly a work of art. Much smaller and sleeker than the Retina, it exudes quality and craftsmanship. Folks will look at you funny no matter which one you use.

 

[Archimedes the Dog]

Man, this thing takes nice photos and is fun to use. Thanks, Nick! I have a new favorite.