This model was introduced in
1954 and it was the first of the rigid fronted models. It
has a die-cast body covered in leather with a hinged back
and hinged section of the baseplate for easy film
loading. The exposed metal parts are satin chrome, except
the lens mountings, which are bright. The top plate
incorporates a lever wind and pop-up rewind knob which
carries a film-speed reminder. A partly exposed film can
be reloaded by lifting the rewind knob, which disengages
the double-exposure interlock. There is a milled wheel
near the base-plate which permits the frame counter to be
set. Note that the frame counter shows the number of
unexposed frames. The film track was redesigned for the
Vito B to ensure flatness and scratch-free transport. The
hinged baseplate was designed for easy loading. The
camera is also fitted with an accessory shoe, a cable
release socket (in the centre of the shutter release) and
delayed action release.
There are a number of variants of the
Vito B, some representing options offered by Voigtlander
and others brought about by improvements to the camera
specification.
The first Vito B was fitted with an
f/3.5 Color Skopar 50 mm. lens in either a Pronto 4-speed
shutter or a Prontor SVS 8-speed shutter. The camera had
an optical finder. In 1954, the camera with f/3.5 lens
and 4-speed Pronto shutter cost about £20 and the
8-speed Prontor SVS version cost about
£24.
In 1959 the Pronto version appears to
have been discontinued and a new top of the range camera
introduced, with an f/2.8 Color Skopar lens in 9-speed
Prontor SVS, and with a brightline viewfinder. In 1959
this version cost about £26, while the f/3.5 version
was about £21.
Later Prontor SVS models have an
exposure value scale. The shutter speed ring has green
figures to indicate speeds which are not available
automatically; for these speeds the shutter should be set
to "B".
The distance scale has zone focus
symbols for fast focusing; it is recommended that the
lens be stopped down to at least f/5.6 when these are
used. The camera has been designed so that all scales are
visible from above. The lens has a 32 mm. push-on filter
mount. By April 1956, advertisements were assuring
customers that although the supply situation had been
"difficult", by ordering immediately it would be possible
to ensure the camera arrived in time for the coming
season. In 1960, in Britain, only the model with the
f/2.8 lens in Prontor SVS shutter was offered, at about
£26, and by 1961, the camera appears to have been
discontinued.
1957
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