Voigtlander’s Vitomatic  IIb

This is the best street shooter I know.  For four reasons:  its viewfinder is brighter than the Leica M3’s; its leaf shutter is quiet; it focuses lightning-fast; it is old and small enough that people don’t take it--or you-- seriously.  With a 35mm lens instead of the fixed 50mm, it would be too good to be true.

I picked up my Vitomatic in 1980, in a shop around the corner from New York’s Museum of Modern Art.  The camera’s built-in and coupled meter was accurate (and still is), and the Color Skopar lens—a Tessar breed--gave me excellent color shots.  And, like the Prominent, the camera handled beautifully.  Every operation revealed fine machining and ingenuity.

I have small hands, but the Vitomatic rests nicely in my palm.  When you focus this camera, you can really get your fingers around it to reach controls and steady it.  The shutter makes a distinct metallic sound, but it doesn't carry far.  There is a window on top that shows you the match-needle of the meter.  Through prisms, you can see this same needle through the viewfinder, at the bottom of the viewing area.   There are floating frame lines, and a rangefinder patch at center.  Focusing is a short throw, and the rangefinder snaps into coincidence.   It is faster than a Leica.

Everything about the camera bespeaks quality, and—indeed—the Vitomatic was a moderately expensive camera in its day.  Today, however, examples are plentiful, in good condition, and cheap.     

When I want to travel light and bag some candid shots, this is the camera I carry.  I can’t imagine how Voigtlander--even at the going price-- made a profit on this little gem:  it was finished as beautifully as the Prominent, and offered a top-line lens.  Was it a loss-leader to addict people to Voigtlanders?  I don’t know; but if you ever use one of the Vitomatics, you will find yourself looking around for more Voigtlanders.