Description
Voigtländer Vito B – 1950s German 35mm Film Camera – Color-Skopar Lens
A superb example of classic 1950s German photographic engineering, this Voigtländer Vito B is a compact 35mm viewfinder camera with the distinctive styling and quality construction for which Voigtländer cameras became renowned.
Introduced in 1954, the Vito B was one of Voigtländer’s compact rigid-bodied 35mm cameras and was produced through the 1950s. It was designed as a straightforward, fully manual camera while retaining the excellent optical reputation associated with the Voigtländer name.
Key Features
- Voigtländer Vito B
- Classic 1950s German 35mm film camera
- Manufactured by Voigtländer & Sohn
- Compact metal-bodied construction
- 50mm Color-Skopar lens
- Manual focusing
- Manual exposure control
- 35mm / 135 film format
- Classic optical viewfinder
- Fixed lens design
- Distinctive mid-century German styling
- An excellent addition to a vintage camera collection
The Color-Skopar Lens
One of the highlights of the Vito B is its Voigtländer Color-Skopar 50mm lens. The Vito B was offered with Color-Skopar lenses in both f/3.5 and f/2.8 versions, depending on the particular camera.
The Color-Skopar became one of Voigtländer’s best-known lens names and is an important part of the appeal of these cameras among collectors and enthusiasts of classic German optics.
A Little About the Vito B
The Vito B was introduced in 1954 and represented an important development in the Vito series, being a compact, rigid-bodied camera rather than the earlier folding designs.
The camera takes standard 135 (35mm) film, producing the familiar 24 × 36 mm negative format. Different versions were fitted with different Pronto or Prontor shutters, with shutter speeds varying according to the particular production version.
An early version featured a relatively small viewfinder, while later examples were given a larger bright-frame finder. This means that details such as the viewfinder, lens and shutter markings can be useful when identifying the precise production variant.
The Vito B is also represented in Australian photographic collections, including the Powerhouse Collection in Sydney, which holds a Vito B with Color-Skopar lens dating to approximately 1954–1957.
Condition
This camera is offered in vintage condition, with signs of age and previous use consistent with a camera of this period.
As with any vintage mechanical camera, the shutter, film transport, focusing mechanism, lens and other mechanical components should be considered in accordance with the condition shown in the photographs unless specifically stated otherwise.
Please examine all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description and provide the best indication of the camera’s cosmetic condition, completeness and included accessories.
Why Collect a Voigtländer Vito B?
The Vito B makes an excellent addition to:
- Vintage camera collections
- Voigtländer collections
- German photographic equipment collections
- 1950s memorabilia
- 35mm film camera collections
- Classic photography displays
- Vintage optical equipment collections
- Collectors of mechanical cameras
With its compact proportions, metal construction and distinctive Color-Skopar lens, the Vito B is a wonderful representation of the golden age of German camera manufacturing.
For collectors, it is not simply an old camera — it is an example of the precision engineering and elegant industrial design that helped establish German photographic equipment as highly respected around the world.
A beautifully characterful mid-century Voigtländer camera and an excellent piece of photographic history for any vintage camera collection.
