Voightlander Vitomatic IIa

[Murray Rosen]

Hi all - can anyone please help me sort out the viewfinder in my otherwise perfect camera ? Something has broken off and is half obscuring the view. I have dismantled the camera a little - just enough to see that the viewfinder containing the broken part appears to be a sealed white plastic box. Guess I need to find a replacement part? Any spices or other ideas please? Thanks - Murray

 

[Pete Askew]

Welcome to RPF, Murray. I think I still have a Vitomatic sitting on a shelf in the studio: I'll have a look in the morning which version it is. @Chris Bennett is quite handy with older cameras it seems and might have some ideas, and is a bit nearer than me.

 

[Murray Rosen]

PS Apologies - ‘sources’ not ‘spices’!

 

[Chris Bennett]

Hi Murray. Welcome to RPF from me too!
I don't know this camera at all, though, there is a Vito B, which is a fairly close relation, sitting upstairs waiting for me to try to revive. I've had a little look around for info on the Vitomatic and it seems as though it's quite common for bits to be found rattling around in and about that little white box. As far as I can tell, it houses, among other things, a mirror via which you view the light meter. I've found quite a lot of references to that mirror becoming detached and people failing to be able to get in to repair it.
However, there were apparently over 200,000 of this model sold, so finding a donor model oughtn't be all that difficult, I would have thought.

 

[Murray Rosen]

Thank you so much Pete and Chris. Sorry to be so ignorant but how do I go about finding a donor ?! Murray

 

[Pete Askew]

I guess eBay would be a good start, but wait until I've had a look to see what mine is.

 

[Pete Askew]

Mine is a IIIb and it looks like the rangefinder etc is different from the IIa. What does your look like, Murray?

 

[Murray Rosen]

Thanks Pete. My white box looks smaller, as attached …. Murray

 

[Pete Askew]

Is there any chance of taking a shot through the viewfinder so you can show us what is broken. The diagonal piece at the bottom of the finder reflects the image of the meter needle into the finder.

 

[Chris Bennett]

Well, there's not much time left on the auction, but you may see this before it ends.
Alternatively, it may not sell and the vendor may relist it.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115020519685?hash=item1ac7c1d905:g:Vp8AAOSwTxNg1O1c

 

[Chris Bennett]

It didn't sell and has been relisted
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115034499272?ViewItem=&item=115034499272

 

[Murray Rosen]

It didn't sell and has been relisted
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115034499272?ViewItem=&item=115034499272

Many thanks Chris - sorry for not seeing this earlier- I have now bid fir this item. All the best - Murray

 

[Murray Rosen]

Is there any chance of taking a shot through the viewfinder so you can show us what is broken. The diagonal piece at the bottom of the finder reflects the image of the meter needle into the finder.

Many thanks again Pete. Apologies for not seeing your message earlier. I have tried to take a photo through the broken viewfinder, as attached, but am not sure it shows any more detail. All the best - Murray

 

[Murray Rosen]

I bought the EBay spare parts - thanks again Chris and Pete. Does anyone please have instructions for dismantling down to viewfinder so I can replace it ? Murray

 

[Chris Bennett]

This may help
https://wkoopmans.ca/notebook/?p=82

 

[Murray Rosen]

Thanks Chris for your further guidance. eBay spare parts arrived this afternoon but sadly the perfect viewfinder and its base do not fit my Vitomatic IIa - see photo attached - so it looks like I must continue my search ! Would anyone like the spare parts I now have including part shutter (second photo also attached). Best - Murray

 

[Chris Bennett]

I'm sorry to hear that Murray, especially since I suggested that these bits might be what you need.