Thoughts on a Voightlander Vito B?

MrBrowning · Oct 30, 2014

I have the opportunity to pick up a Vito B and was wondering what people here thought of it. Are there any major problems associated with this camera? I did a little research online and I didn't see anything. How sharp is the lens? Is it a camera worth owning? The price looks good compared to what I found them for online? I haven't had a chance to look at it yet (hopefully tomorrow night) but wanted to get some opinions first.

grahamp · Oct 30, 2014

I have one. I keep it mainly because it was my father's, but it does a good job within it's limitations: scale focusing, tiny viewfinder, f3.5 Color-Skopar needs to be stopped down a bit for best performance, count-down frame counter, offset tripod socket.

On the other hand, it is quiet, small-ish, and is made of actual metal.

The old black Kodak film can tops make good lens caps. Just trim the inner rim away. 32/33mm push on filters and hoods can still be found.

MrBrowning · Oct 30, 2014

I don't mind the scale focus. I've been looking for a small 35mm camera to use for some street photography. Do you think it would be a good choice? I don't like the Rollei's, they just don't feel right in my hand.

ToddB · Oct 30, 2014

I have a Voigh Vito 1. Nearly brand new. I'm not sure about scale focus. Seems to me like a lot of out of focus shots.

Todd

bernard_L · Oct 30, 2014

Two variants: with the later one having a larger, collimated finder, as found on the successor Vito C. Also each can be found with Color-Lanthar (triplet) or Color-Skopar (four elements, Tessar-like). I found the Color-Lanthar a bit soft, at least at wide apertures. Also, rare and expensive, the Vito BR, with rangefinder; if you do want a rangefinder as a user (-and not as a collector rarity) a Vito CLR will be cheaper.
Problems? You need to know that the shutter is cocked through the motion of the film: no film in camera, shutter will not cock! It's not a bug, it's a feature. So have a roll of film available for testing shutter action before you buy. Shutter does not work: rewind film. Shutter works: buy camera and continue your first test roll.

grahamp · Oct 30, 2014

I have a little accessory shoe rangefinder that helps out. But if I cannot scale focus a 50mm lens at f8 by eye I should give up on photography . Remembering to focus, that's the trick!

The Rollei 35 is smaller, but very dense - you would know it was in your pocket. I used to carry the Vito B to college under a sports jacket with the strap set to put it just above my left hip. Which brings a good point - there are only rivet-style strap lugs, not rings. If you do not have a case (or base of a case), you will need to find the right carrying method.

Peltigera · Oct 31, 2014

The Voigtlander Vito B is an excellent classic camera. The Color-Skopar lens is essentially a Tessar and produces first rate images.

Focussing is easy - I imagine myself lying on the ground repeatedly between me and the subject - that distance is two metres (all but 1.5 centimetres) for each body length. Stop down to f/8 or smaller and it is really hard to go wrong. The camera is solid, the shutter a Gauthier Prontor or Pronto which are both very reliable even at 60 years old.

More details here: http://johns-old-cameras.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/voigtlander-vito-b.html

frank · Oct 31, 2014

I have one not being used. What is their approximate value?

MrBrowning · Oct 31, 2014

frank said:
I have one not being used. What is their approximate value?

According to Collectiblend they are worth $48.00. I've never used that site before but when I Googled "Vito B Price" that was the site that came up.

On Ebay they are going anywhere from around $9.00 to $55.00 when I look at the sold listings.

MrBrowning · Oct 31, 2014

grahamp said:
I have a little accessory shoe rangefinder that helps out. But if I cannot scale focus a 50mm lens at f8 by eye I should give up on photography . Remembering to focus, that's the trick!

The Rollei 35 is smaller, but very dense - you would know it was in your pocket. I used to carry the Vito B to college under a sports jacket with the strap set to put it just above my left hip. Which brings a good point - there are only rivet-style strap lugs, not rings. If you do not have a case (or base of a case), you will need to find the right carrying method.

I've been using scale focus with a Zeiss 6x9 and I am competent with it. Remembering to focus is like remembering to remove the lens cap. A hard this to do sometimes.

The camera does come with the bottom of the cover but that's good to know. Thanks.

AllanD · Oct 31, 2014

I have just done a CLA on one that I bought at a thrift shop for £10. I can certainly vouch for the build quality of mine (an early one), but I haven't yet put a film through the camera. Loads of them have survived; testiment to how well made they are and also, I think, to the fact that they were a premium product, so were looked after by the original owners. For what it is worth, there are depth of field markings on the lens to help with scale focusing. As has already been said, the shutter is cocked by the movement of the film as it is wound on.
This is a pain when working on them but otherwise a nice feature. The lens on mine is the F3.5 Color-Skopar, which certainly has a good reputation. All in all, a nice little camera.

thuggins · Nov 1, 2014

I've got a Vito II that looks and works like brand new. The viewfinder is small, but so is the camera. Those Germans do make quality stuff.

nrparsons · Nov 1, 2014

The Color-Skopar on the Vito B came in two flavors: f/3.5 and f/2.8. Mine is the f/2.8 version, and I'm perfectly happy with it, but some say the f/3.5 may be a tiny bit sharper overall. If you're going to be doing street shooting at f/8 and zone focusing, max aperture won't matter anyway.

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 1, 2014

I've had a few of these babies and love them. Had a B and I think a BL. Kept my Vito IIA (NOT Vitomatic, Vito!). Fun little cameras built beautifully and very good performers.

elekm · Nov 1, 2014

There were three Vito B models. One with an f/2.8 Color-Skopar. A second with an f/3.5 Color-Skopar and a third with a brightline finder. The first two have a simple Galilean finder with no framelines.

The Vito is a very solid and simple scale-focus camera The Skopar is a four-element Tessar-type. I've found it to be a very nice camera. It can have the usual issues with a stuck shutter that needs to be cleaned and a lens that will need to be cleaned and relubricated.

As long as you realize its limitations, then you'll be working with a fine and fun little camera.

MrBrowning · Nov 1, 2014

Thanks everyone. I'm picking it up Tuesday. I look forward to using it.

Thoughts on a Voightlander Vito B?

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