Voigtländer Vitessa

The original Vitessa was introduced in 1950 with a fast Ultron 50 mm {{f/|2.0}} lens.{{cite web |url=https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00702/00702.pdf |title=Cameras from Voigtländer: because the lens is so good |publisher=Voigtländer |website=Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library |date=1953 |access-date=3 May 2023}} It was joined later by a version with a Color-Skopar 50 mm {{f/|3.5}} (Tessar-type) lens. Contemporary marketing materials emphasized the rapid operation of the camera: by pressing the shutter release button, positioned on the top deck for the photographer's right index finger, the camera doors opened and the lens moved into position;{{cite web |url=https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00582/00582.pdf |title=Vitessa: A 35mm Camera by Voigtländer (brochure) |publisher=Voigtländer |website=Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library}} after each exposure, a tall plunger for the photographer's left hand is depressed, advancing the film and cocking the shutter for the next exposure.{{cite web |url=https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00479/00479.pdf |title=Voigtländer Vitessa 35mm Camera: at a popular price! (brochure) |publisher=Voigtländer |website=Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library}}

Variations of the first Vitessa, which has no light meter, include the original, designated by some as Vitessa A, and an updated version, Vitessa N, with minor differences between the two; externally, the N adds an accessory shoe and moves the PC sync terminal from the lens to one of the lens cap doors. There are numerous sub-variants of the A and N.{{cite web |url=https://voigtlander.pagesperso-orange.fr/anglais/vitessatousA.htm |title=Vitessa series |website=Voigtländer camera collection |access-date=4 May 2023}}{{cite web |url=http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/vitessa/vitessaeng.html |title=Voigtlander Vitessa: an extraordinary rangefinder! |author=Bertacchi, Max |website=Corso Polaris |access-date=4 May 2023}} In Germany, the Vitessa was nicknamed the Leuchtturm (lighthouse), after the tall film-advance/cocking plunger, and the Scheunentor (barn door), after the lens capping mechanism.{{cite web |url=https://www.35mmc.com/17/07/2020/voigtlander-vitessa-review/ |title=Voigtlander Vitessa – a (non-comprehensive) review |author=Karsten, Steve |date=July 17, 2020 |work=35mmc |access-date=3 May 2023}}

File:Voigtlander Vitessa L.jpg|Vitessa L with light meter window and Ultron lens

File:Voigtländer Vitessa L, oblique front, closed.jpg|Vitessa L with "barn door" lens cap shut

File:Vitessa T.jpg|Vitessa T with Color-Skopar lens and leather case

Voigtländer eventually supplemented the original Vitessa A/N with the Vitessa L (1954), which included an external selenium light meter built into the body. Like the A and N, there are several sub-variants of the L, with differences limited mainly to cosmetics.

In 1956, Voigtländer introduced the Vitessa T, which was the first interchangeable lens camera to use the DKL-mount. Compared to prior Vitessa models, the lens mount of the T was not collapsible, making it a bulkier camera. There were four lenses sold by Voigtländer for the Vitessa T; the DKL mount also was equipped on the contemporary Braun Super Colorette and lenses made for the Braun could be mounted on the Vitessa T. In 1958, Voigtländer would reuse the DKL mount for the Bessamatic single-lens reflex camera, but implemented physical differences that left the Vitessa and Bessamatic mutually incompatible.

File:Zeiss Ikon Voigtländer Vitessa 500 AE Electronic.jpg

The Zeiss Ikon/Voigtländer (ZIV) Vitessa 500 and Vitessa 1000 revived the Vitessa name in 1966 for a series of fixed-lens compact cameras using 135 film. The 500S, 500L, and 500AE were equipped with a 42 mm {{f/|2.8}} Color-Lanthar triplet lens, while the 500SE and 1000SR were equipped with a 40 mm {{f/|2.8}} Tessar lens.{{cite web |url=https://voigtlander.pagesperso-orange.fr/anglais/vitessa500tousA.htm |title=Vitessa 500/1000 Series (1966-1970) |author= |website=Voigtländer camera collection |access-date=3 May 2023}}

At about the same time, ZIV also marketed the Vitessa 126 series using the 126 film (Instamatic) cartridge developed by Kodak to simplify the loading process. The 126 electronic has a Novar 40 mm {{f/|6.3}} lens and the 126 CS has a Voigtar 44 mm {{f/|11}} lens; both lenses have simple scale focusing. The 126 S has a more sophisticated Color-Lanthar 38 mm {{f/|2.8}} lens.{{cite web |url=https://voigtlander.pagesperso-orange.fr/anglais/vitessa126tousA.htm |title=Vitessa 126 Series (1967-1970) |author= |website=Voigtländer camera collection |access-date=3 May 2023}}

{{clear}}

The fast Ultron lens was available for each of the fixed-lens models A, N, and L, while two versions of the Tessar-derived Color-Skopar were available for the N and L. Both lens types were designed by Albrecht Tronnier.{{cite patent |country=US |status=Patent |number=2573511 |inventor=Albrecht Wilhelm Tronnier |pridate=April 30, 1949 |fdate=November 17, 1949 |pubdate=October 30, 1951 |title=Four-lens photographic objective}}{{cite patent |country=US |status=Patent |number=2649023 |inventor=Albrecht Wilhelm Tronnier |pridate=January 27, 1950 |fdate=November 17, 1950 |pubdate=August 18, 1953 |title=Modified Gauss-type four-component photographic objective}}

The Vitessa T had four interchangeable lenses that used the DKL mount system. The Color-Skopar design was carried over from the fixed-lens model L, but not the faster Ultron.{{cite web |url=http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/vitessa/vitessacceng.html |title=Voigtlander Vitessa: Main lenses and accessories |author=Bertacchi, Max |website=Corso Polaris |access-date=4 May 2023}} Lenses for the Vitessa T feature an aperture ring of their own. They are not compatible with Bessamatic lenses.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite web |url=http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Vitessa |title=Vitessa |website=camera-wiki.org}}

{{Voigtländer}}

Category:135 film cameras

Category:Voigtländer rangefinder cameras