Voigtlander introduced the first
Vito camera in 1940. It was their first 35 mm. camera and
one aspect of the design raises an interesting question.
The film transport uses a serrated feeler spindle instead
of the more familiar sprocket, suggesting that perhaps
the original intention had been to make a camera to use
unperforated film. Voigtlander had interests in film
manufacturing so the supply of a special film would have
presented them with no problems and might even have been
seen as good for business.
The first Vito, now often referred to
as a Vito I, is a folding bellows camera, fitted with the
Voigtlander Skopar f/3.5 50 mm. lens. The shutter is a
Prontor II, Compur or Compur Rapid. Most versions have no
flash synchronisation. There is a lever to tension the
shutter and a separate winding knob. The shutter release
is a bar fitted to the top of the camera front panel.
Although early models have a hinged filter mount, this
precludes the use of a lens hood and later models take 31
mm. push-on filters or, later still, 29 mm. push-on
filters.
A direct-vision viewfinder is built
into the top plate with a frame counter to one side. The
camera wind-on permits the double-exposure interlock to
be disengaged, allowing a partially-used film to be
re-loaded without exposing every frame. There is a 3/8
inch tripod bush in the base plate.
The camera is neat and well-designed
but we have no price information for this camera which,
as a German item brought out during war-time, would have
been unobtainable in Britain. We understand that
occupation forces personnel could obtain a new camera on
the black market for about 2,000 cigarettes in 1946. We
believe that represents about a month's pay for a private
soldier.
Top of Page