VOIGTLANDER VF 101

[Sean]

I just picked up one of these on ebay. Mint condition, flash, manuals, box, and groovy yellow lizard skin wraps the middle area of the body. In my search for a small 35mm camera to always keep with me I chose this one since the rangefinder allows me to focus (most of the tiny 35mils require guesswork for focusing). It looks like it will be a sturdy little camera and good enough for some light street photography. I'd rather have a Leica M but they are around 12times the price. Has anyone used this model?

 

[Sean]

here's a pic of it:

 

[bmac]

You are totally going to lose that thing in your couch!

 

[blansky]

Cool.

Harvest Gold is coming back in vogue.

Sean, you're a trendsetter.




Michael

 

[Sean]

lol

 

[Foto Ludens]

looks like a cool little camera, let us know how it performs...

 

[Sean]

I've read a few good reviews about it. Can't wait to get it, and I'll post pics from it as soon as I can

 

[Seele]

That looks like the same one which was on the eBay Australia site; a friend sent me the link and called it the "Tweetycam"!

Of course the yellow covering is not original. This model started life as the Zeiss Ikon Contessa S312, one of the Zeiss Ikon - Voigtlander models which was inherited by Rollei. It uses a battery which might be a little difficult to get, but I am sure we would all like to see how you get on with it.

 

[Sean]

yeah I found the batteries can be bought on ebay, maybe locally but I haven't looked yet..

 

[Sean]

Ok, the camera arrived today, in mint condition. I love this little camera! It feels very sturdy like the Leica M6 I used to own. I headed downtown and found replacement batteries. I figured since I'm in town I might as well run a 24exp test roll of XP2 through it. I got the rolls back and the camera really does perform for such a little rangefinder. I think it will make really nice 8x10 photographs. Next roll will be tri-x with rodinal. The camera meter is pretty good and I find the lens performs best in subdued light. I am uploading the photos to my personal gallery now

 

[Sean]

Here's a digisnap of the camera in my hand to give some scale to how small it is.

 

[Aggie]

Sean has a digigizmo? I think hell just froze over!

 

[Sean]

Sean has a digigizmo? I think hell just froze over!

lol, yes I have one for family snapshots. Have no problem with digigizmos for snapshots and misc stuff, -but for personal artistic endeavors your right, hell would have to freeze over before I am assimilated

 

[JohnRobertson]

VF101

There is also a VF102 with interchangeable lenses standard and short tele, but they are as rare as rocking horse pooh. The VF101 looks great, have fun.

 

[Robert Budding]

Sean - how has the VF101 worked out? Do you like it?

Robert

 

[Claire Senft]

If this camera has the capability of being put afixed to a tripod, and you use say something extra stable say in the 10kg range it may make extremely sharp negatives. Just because one wants a light and compact camera is no reason to skimp on a tripod, is it?

Enjoy your camera.

 

[titrisol]

Being a Contessa lover myself, I hace to say that is a very pretty camera on that yellow skin!

You'll find it enjoyable to use and to carry around, takes pretty good pictures but the lens tends to flare a bit.

 

[Robert Budding]

But how are the photos from the VF101?

Robert

 

[Sean]

Takes very nice 35mm photos, but mine has an issue with scratching film so I haven't been using it much lately

 

[Robert Budding]

I just received my VF 101 - I found it on the German version of e**Y. It's in very good condition, but I haven't shot any fimf yet. Hopefully it won't scratch my film.

Robert

 

[Sean]

you might want to get a roll, don't shoot anything, just run the roll through, then rewind it, take it out and examine..

 

[Ian Grant]

And . . . . . . . . . . . .

then rectify the problem if you find you have one ?

Or is that the simple answer. Anything scratching film should be very obvious.

Ian

you might want to get a roll, don't shoot anything, just run the roll through, then rewind it, take it out and examine..

 

[Sean]

I wasn't able to determine what was scratching mine so probably need to have a camera repair look into it. The scratches were mostly very fine with occasional deeper scratches, enough that I don't want to risk shooting with it.

 

[Thomassauerwein]

I have a Voigtlander Perkeo 1 that has the same problem. Bummer, I like the look of the film and the ease of slipping it in my pocket but can't waist the the shots. Great camera but? oh well...