It’s reasonable to say that this camera changed my life. Certainly my photography life… I’d managed to last quite a few years taking photos on automated modes. Even after I bought my first slr, the Nikon F60, I didn’t stray outside of ‘P’ other than for some slow shutter speed work. I sort of understood what ‘aperture’ meant, but I’m not sure I really understood the implications of it. Buying a Nikon D70s helped, I quickly realised the creative possibilities of a nifty 1.8 lens and some narrow depth of field. There were still some big gaps though, the biggest was the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and film speed.
That’s where the Vito B came in…
I was working in a shop that sold cameras at the time, always trying to learn more about what I was doing, I used to spend a lot of time reading about cameras and talking to the customers who knew their stuff. One customer, a chap named Len, was in the shop one time and we were chatting about Leica. The conversation was about build quality. Len told me of a chap he knew who swore by a camera called the Voigtlander Vito B. This chap had apparently told Len to forget the Leica, the money would be ill spent before having a go with a Vito b.
This of course was enough or me to jump on eBay and see what I could find. Within the day I was very surprised to have bought one for a paltry £16. A few days later and this camera showed up. Complete with provenance in the form of a photo of its previous and only owner.
And what a wonderful thing to behold. The build quality of these things is something really quite special. In fact most if not all of the Voigtlanders of the era are very nicely made, a few years later and some larger chunks of plastic started finding the way into some of the designs. There were of course contemporary Voigtlanders that are possibly much more noteworthy, some of the Bessa folders are quite stunning, and worth a little more than £16 … But that’s what makes the Vito B so special, they can bought for next to nothing.
There are a range of models, the one I bought is I suspect the cheapest version. It has a 3.5 color-skopar lens and 4 speed “pronto” shutter there is also a 8 speed “prontor SVS” version. There are also versions with a larger version, but I find the small viewfinder version more aesthetically pleasing!
The camera is wonderfully elegant in its simplicity. The aperture is set on the front of the lens, focus in the middle and shutter speed is the closest dial to the cameras body, it’s all there in front of you. This is of course the case on many cameras of the era but im yet to find one that combines this simplicity with such a pleasing design, feeling of quality and for £16 …
A couple more shots of the camera:
The rewind knob which doubles up to remind you of the film speed. Also, small but adequate viewfinder
I have a lens hood for mine, I love the detail of the engraved ‘V’.
It is also this simplicity that lead the camera to having such a large effect on my shooting.
Also-recently-acquired light meter in hand, the one afternoon I thought to take the little Vito B for a walk. I went down to the river and started slowly taking photos of my surroundings. The very basic process of transferring light meter readings to the camera first showed me how limited I was going to be.
I can’t remember for sure, but I expect it was 200 iso film. I remember realising that I could only use the camera at f11 or f16. I also very vividly remember having somewhat of an epiphany with the realisation that 1/100th and f16 would give the same exposure as 1/200th and f11. And then a second epiphany that you might choose one over the other for different depth of field, and a third that by choosing 1/100th and f16 that I didn’t have to think to focus between shots as everything would be in focus – this was clearly demonstrated to me by markings on the lens! … A forth that pretty much every meter reading I had taken had given me one of two-ish readings so with a little simple judgement I could put the light meter back in my pocket. And finally, that had I put slower film in the camera I could have used larger apertures … Aperture shutter speed and film speed all tie up nicely together … That must be what people mean when they are talking about ‘1 stop’ this or ‘2 ev’ that.
So you can imagine how I felt, I’d left the flat I lived in at the time fumbling with this antiquated camera but come home being capable of using it fairly independently of a light meter in most day light situations and had a broadly greater understanding of photography. Suffice to say, smugness ruled for a bit… Until I realised that all I had learned were the basic core skills of photography! And that when this camera was new, these were the skills you needed to just get started! Still, the confidence it gave me was immense, I think I had shot my first paid wedding within the year, a year or so later and I was down to part time in the shop perusing a career in photography. So it’s no overstatement to say this camera changed my life … Of course it would have happened eventually, maybe with a very different camera, but for me it didn’t, for me it was the Vito b.
So gushing aside, objectively speaking is the camera a poor mans Leica? Well, in terms of function, it of course is only on a par with the likes of maybe a Leica 1. In terms of the quality of the pictures… Probably not. Build quality wise, these more simple vitos just keep on going! I’m sure an expert would tell me of the use of brass(?) components in a Leica, or that the quality control would have been much higher. Im sure they would be right, I’ve had Leicas, and I’d probably agree to be fair, but this little camera in your hand just feels so solid! Its impossible to deny a level of quality! And there is, after all so little to go wrong… Certainly for the sort of money you have to spend to buy one. For me, regardless of comparison, the Vito b is a must have compact camera!
Share this post:
Comments
Rob on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
“Scale” or “Zone” Focusing – A Tutorial on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
Andrew Cotterill on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
They're a great camera to learn on, although I've not left the house without my light meter yet
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
Hamish on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
200iso film, 1/200th and f16.
Which Vito b have you got?
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
Hamish on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
I don't think they were so worried about standards back then as our digital world is now.
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
Hamish on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 23/05/2013
It's based on the EV system at 100iso, here you go - http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Light-value_system
I prefer cameras like this without it my self... Although oddly on the hasselblad, where really to my mind it is less useful, I don't mind it ... I just find it makes me slower with the having to fiddle with the locking mechs so much.
lee on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 07/08/2013
Comment posted: 07/08/2013
Urban Hafner on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 20/09/2013
Jim Baker on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 14/10/2013
Comment posted: 14/10/2013
Comment posted: 14/10/2013
Voigtländer Vito B Review – I’m sexy and I know it | Canny Cameras on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 19/01/2016
Lee on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 17/02/2016
Comment posted: 17/02/2016
Terry B on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 13/04/2016
Most of these early Vito models come with a Color-Skopar f3.5, a really fine lens, but in some other and later models you can come across the f2.8 version (and even the much cheaper 3 element Lanthar lens) and which I read contemporary reports on wasn't quite up the the f3.5. Whilst more than acceptable, writers thought stretching the Skopar design to f2.8 was just a little too far. But then they probably tested on Panatomic X, or Ilford Pan F if one needed the extra half stop of speed. So, I doubt many users like me, who majored on FP4 would notice the difference.
If you fancy an even older looking Voigtlander, have a search for the Vito IIa, this is a delightful folding bellows model, again with the f3.5 Skopar, and about the same size as you B. It comes with a more useful multi-speed Prontor SVS shutter.
Peter B on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 30/09/2016
Comment posted: 30/09/2016
Richard W on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 02/05/2017
I bought a mint Vito B last Friday for a tenner and can't believe what fun it is to shoot with! Obviously I Googled it and happily your site was one of the first links to pop up. It has the 3.5 Prontor-SVS lens and is a beautiful, solid and well engineered bit of kit.
Can't wait to get the first film developed...
Comment posted: 02/05/2017
Comment posted: 02/05/2017
Comment posted: 02/05/2017
Stuart Shaw on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 30/06/2017
Regards to all
Stuart
Comment posted: 30/06/2017
Voitlander Vitomatic II - by Nigel Haycock - 35mmc on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 22/04/2018
A Voigtlander Vito II review - A simple folding 35mm compact camera - 35mmc on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 23/11/2018
Understanding Shutter Speed, Aperture, Film Speed (ISO) & The Relationship Between Them - 35mmc on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 25/02/2019
C. A. Johan Hallén on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 14/07/2019
Comment posted: 14/07/2019
Edgardo Molina on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 28/08/2019
Thank you for your nice review of the Vito B. Enlightening! I have an early version, f/3.5 Color Skopar and Pronto shutter mechanism. I have used it just a couple of times with magnificent results! I collect vintage cameras and the Vito B have a special place among them, even after living with 8 Leicas! The Vito B is back to basics. It is the way to understand and learn photography. Just yesterday I grabbed it and gave it a CLA along with a rejuvenating detailing to bring it to as new condition. I am planning to use it this weekend withKodak TMax 400 film while doing street photography. Never done that before with this camera. Only still subjects and portraits with very good results. The small footprint and the cute antique look will certainly help as people will deduct nothing serious will come out of it. At least it is not connected to Twitter or Facebook to get my candid pictures in a flash to social media. I like shooting street photography using B&W film and zone focusing. I use real world exposure meters and also the nicest vintage type exposure meter app called MyLingtMeter on my iPhone. Always razor sharp on the correct measured values. I also restored the Voigtlander range finder accessory and found it to be very easy to calibrate and use. It is now in it’s full glory. I hope to have the chance to share with you the results. This is my first time at 35mmc.com. Thank you all for your time and kind attention. Greetings from Mexico City. Edgardo Molina.
Comment posted: 28/08/2019
Michael Jardine on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 02/04/2020
Don on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 23/09/2020
Yant Martin-Keyte on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 12/07/2021
Zenit-E: Solving the enduring mysteries of the world's most popular SLR - Kosmo Foto on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 13/11/2022
Thomas Cervenak on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 02/06/2023
Jay Dann Walker on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 11/08/2023
This Vito is a true classic, and one I wish I could have afforded to buy when I first went to Southeast Asia on a photo trip in, are you ready for it? 1970. Fifty-three years ago, yeh.
Instead, I had to bite the proverbial bullet and fork out a little less money for two old Kodak Retina 1as, which did the job for me, but nothing like the wonderful Vito with a Color Skopar would have.
A look on THAT web site even today, reveals how cherished these now ancient cameras are. The asking prices have certainly held firm over the decades, which must say a lot about their quality
Good one, Hamish. You write as well today as you did ten years ago, which also says something...
From DANN in Indonesia
Free Spotify downloader on Voigtlander Vito B Review – A Beautiful Camera
Comment posted: 24/07/2024