Lilahpops

Just under two weeks to get your submissions in for the Vito BL Project.

We have a few participants so far and a couple more potentials are on their way; it all depends on whether or not the ol’ camera will co-operate.

I’ve been fascinated by the quality of the photos taken with the Vito BL. Not simply that a 50-odd year old camera still functions and takes great photos, but that the photographers of these vintage cameras are taking top-quality images. That by using equipment that doesn’t have the auto- buttons/focus/settings/speeds etc the users of these cameras really have to think about the photo - it’s not a simple point-and-shoot process.

So far, it seems that often, like myself, the Vito BL has been passed down the family line, mostly from fathers and grandfathers. My Voigtlander was passed on to me from my father, who bought it c.1959. I was impressed to find out, however, with one submission, that the Vito BL isn’t even considered a vintage camera. It is one of the newer cameras in that particular collection! Of course, eBay also play its part.

What’s this project about?

A quick recap on the project details is to submit photos taken with the Voigtlander Vito BL (if you have a Flickr/Zooomr etc account even better!) and answer four quick questions.

Submissions end Friday 23 May 2008.

Here are a few samples taken with my Voigtlander Vito BL:

After a couple of rolls of film I realised that my light meter doesn’t quite work and here I am going with the tried and tested “Sunny 16″ rule.

Building in York Street, Sydney

And from a B&W film

Contribute to this project and help out other Vito BL photographers

I’m running a mini photography project here at Lilahpops for photographers using the vintage camera Voigtlander Vito BL. I’ve been using this camera on and off for the last 9 months or so and find that not only is it a refreshing change from using digital, it’s also a wonderful and challenging way to learn photography. The Vito BL is totally manual, no batteries necessary, an odd feeling after digital.

I’ve had several requests for a copy of the camera’s manual and it got me thinking as to other ways users of the Vito BL might find help in using this camera. Who better to help than others in a similar situation?

You don’t need to be a professional user of the Vito BL to contribute to this project.

Would you like to participate?

I’m inviting people who use the Voigtlander Vito BL. I find it fascinating that vintage cameras are still alive and kicking and that there are so many photographers out there who love film photography - and more specifically vintage camera photography. The Vito BL is my introduction to vintage photography so this is the focus of the project. I know there are far more experienced Vito BL users than me - I’m still learning. I get back developed film rolls with good photos, bad photos, blurry, sharp, you name it.

There are just two things you need to do to participate (well, three if you include using the contact form to let me know you are interested):

1. Upload some photos taken with the Voigtlander Vito BL

After using the contact form, I’ll be in touch. You can email photos to be included in the project results, your best and worse ones, if you like. Or, better yet, if you have posted any of your Voigtlander shots to your Flickr/Zoomr etc account I’ll link to them instead. I’ll just to let you know here that I’ll probably use a thumbnail image of your photos as the link and I’ll attribute each of your photos with your name or Flickr/Zoomr etc id with something along the lines of “Photograph courtesy of …”

2. Answer our simple questions

For a general overview of what it’s like to use the Voigtlander, I ask you to consider these questions (and any other thoughts/advice you may have). You don’t need to write anything at length, unless you wish to.

a. What attracted you to the Voigtlander?

For instance, is it because you have a general interest in vintage cameras, was it a cheap buy on eBay, did someone give you the camera, or did you have to learn how to use a vintage camera for an assignment or course?

For me: the Voigtlander was my father’s first camera and he passed it on to me to experiment with as my interest in photography grew.

b. Do you like using the Voigtlander?

For instance, is it easy/difficult to use, fun or complicated, a learning experience?

For me: I find it a great introduction to the basics of photography as everything has to be set manually on the camera to take a photo. Sometimes I am way off with estimating the distance!

c. How does it compare to other vintage cameras you have used?

For me: I haven’t used other cameras this old but I am getting a taste for vintage.

d. Do you prefer modern day digital cameras to older film and vintage models?

For me: I do love digital - love digital - but I’m glad to have an older film camera at hand.

What’s the deadline?

Just over three weeks from now - submissions end Friday 23 May 2008

There are no winners, no prizes. That being said, you will feel a general, fuzzy sense of well-being after having helped out a fellow Voigtlander Vito BL photographer or two.

Here are a couple more pics taken with the Voigtlander Vito BL.

A door in wall along a laneway in The Rocks area.

Argyle Street in The Rocks. I like this street corner with the modern skyscrapers shooting up behind the beautiful original buildings. Old and new together.

Learning to read the exposure meter

As predicted, it has taken a bit of practice to set the exposure correctly on the camera. The exposure meter has a striped indicator which I was mis-reading slightly and therefore setting the light scale ring about 1/2 a number higher than I should have been. (see previous post showing the striped light meter)

The next roll of film is black and white…

I finally got my film developed. I tell you, after being so accustomed to the immediacy of a digital camera, the wait was agony. It must have been quite a novelty for the camera shop too, as I received a free film when I picked up the photos. Plus the photos were saved to a disc.

Opening the envelope brought back memories of the excitement, surprise and occasional disappointment of that first glance through a roll of film. I was also a bit of fearful that none of them would turn out. Of course, some shots were total disasters, but I expected that.

Taking the photos

Using the vintage camera wasn’t as complicated as I’d initially thought. In fact, I had a lot of fun. It was more a matter of remembering to set everything: the speed, aperture and then the distance. After that I was relying on blind faith to do the rest! With a bit more practice it will come naturally.

The results

As usual, my cats kindly modeled for most of the photos. Some photos were over-exposed. So I’ve taken closer notice of the hints from the manual. I don’t think I can blame this vintage camera for all my bad shots.

Good focus

These two shots of Lilah were a great surprise - she had been moving around so much, jumping from chair to chair. Eventually she settled down and she is perfectly in focus. The one directly above is almost portrait like with its noticeable depth of field.

Cordelia loves a back-scratch on the pavers in the backyard. Even though it might look over-exposed, this is the actual color of the pavers…and of Cordelia.

Over-exposed

Unfortunately, this one is disastrously over-exposed. It’s a disappointing result, as the sky was intensely blue and the kite was very colorful. Afterwards, I re-read the tip in the manual about slightly pointing the camera down when taking a exposure reading.

Blurry

With this one I hadn’t adjusted the speed aperture correctly and the result was a slightly blurry tree. Even though the camera felt steady, I had misread the setting. However, it really is a great tree. I’ll go back and practice this one again.

Bright

A nice shot to end on, in focus, if a tad bright.

I have the opportunity to experiment with this vintage camera, the Voigtlander Vito BL. What a change from digital! And I have only owned a digital camera for two years. The Voigtlander really takes you back to camera basics. No automatic settings, no way to visibly focus a shot; I was initially going on blind faith. The Voigtlander camera is totally manual and it’s so ‘old’ it doesn’t even need a battery.

I have to get film processed!

How old is this camera?

The camera belongs to my father. He bought it second-hand (from his future brother-in-law) way back in 1959 when he was 15 years old.

Not a lot of information is available online about this camera but I found that the Voigtlander Vito BL is camera was first produced around 1956-7.

Camera description

This vintage camera is in good condition, a rust spot or two, but I don’t think it will affect the performance. It still has the original brown leather case with hand strap. The case has a small bolt on the bottom right hand side which screws into the camera itself and holds it firmly inside the case. It means you can flip open the top half of the case and shoot a photo without taking it all the way out of its housing. Quite handy. And it adds to the stylishness of the piece.

Thanks to my father’s interest in history the manual has also survived - a bit of sticky tape here and there, but a very useful introduction all the same. And some great images.

Using the Voigtlander Vito BL

The camera is quite weighty but not too heavy, it feels very solid or secure, somehow, in your hands. It’s fun to use. Every action is manual. The lever to wind on the film to the next frame is fabulous. Even rewinding the film requires a separate button to be pressed, which pops up another button (in the image below) on top of the camera with which you wind off the film.

Being accustomed to a digital camera, and before that a simple point and shoot, means this will be a bit of a learning curve for me. I think it’s going to be quite an experience learning more about photography with the Voigtlander. I’d love to know what your impressions of using ‘old-fashioned’ cameras are and any tips you may have.

This image shows the Light Exposure Meter. Using the graph you set the meter to the film speed (so for instance an ASA reading of 200 indicates you set the meter to “F”). The manual includes a more detailed table to help you set the exposure. As you point the camera towards your subject, the needle moves along the black and white segments of the window and the final reading is what you set the light scale ring to. Sounds complicated, huh?

Let’s see how the pictures turn out…

A search for “Voigtlander” on eBay turns up more than a few results!

Looking for a camera manual for the Vito BL?

I’m more than happy to scan the camera manual for the Voigtlander Vito BL if you need a copy (no doubt the copyright has well and truly expired). Use the contact form to drop me a line.