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Voigtländer Vitessa T type 136 (1956 - 1959/60)
Serial no.:1116065
Format:
24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Color-Skopar
1:2,8 50 mm
Shutter: Synchro Compur B + 1 sec. => 1/500 sec.
Lens mount: Deckel bayonet mount
Interchangeable lenses:
Skoparet 1:3,4 35 mm
Dynaret 1:4,8 100 mm
Super-Dynaret 1:4 135 mm
Some people don't consider the Vitessa T to be a "true" Vitessa
because it isn't a folder like the predecessors. To me, it is a
true Vitessa, but its just a different Vitessa. In the late 50's,
Voigtländer wanted to enter the market for rangefinder with
interchangeable lenses, and they used the Vitessa body and principles to
achieve this. The customer was the demanding amateur, who in those days
were people that was considered to actually have an expensive hobby.
Voigtländer re-designed the Vitessa body front, and used the Deckel
bayonet mount and behind-the-lens shutter, and on this page you can see
all the original lenses that they offered for the Vitessa T, well the 4
there were that is.. Of course the "T" design also meant that the
wonderful thumb wheel focusing had to be given up, and replaced by
ordinary focusing on the lens, and the advance rod couldn't be put into
its rest-position by closing the barndoors, so a little quirky system
had to be incorporated by which the rod are put into the lower and
locked rest-position by using just a certain amount of pressure
downwards until it locks into position. This I find somewhat hard
getting used to. But the Vitessa T is still a wonderful camera, and for
most purposes the 4 piece lens-set is quite adequate. As you will notice
i've also got a Rodenstock Rotelar 135 mm lens that fits the Vitessa,
allthough it does not engage the coupled rangefinder, and can be used by
scale-focusing only. Actually I don't know the origin of this lens, or
what camera it originally fits, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it
could be one of those rare Wittnauer cameras. It is however a fact, that
all the lenses that were made for the Braun Super Colorette II, also
fits the Vitessa T, but I don't know if they will engage the coupled
rangefinder. Do you ?.
It can be a little difficult
to find the Voigtländer lenses for the Vitessa T, but once in a while a
complete outfit are put up for sale, and this is probably the best way
to get it all. It may be a little more expensive that way, but remember
to calculate 4 x shippingscosts, charges etc if you were to get all
items separately.
By
clicking on the thumbnails below, you can see the different lenses
mounted on the Vitessa T. You can also see the remarkable Kontur
viewfinder, and the excellent Turnit 3 viewfinders, that I will describe
separately on the general accessory page. My personal opinion are
that you should own both of these no matter what camera you use.
Click on thumbnails to enlarge
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