TLC for Voigtländer Vitomatic 1

[mnmleung]

G'day, I have just picked up a Voigtländer Vitomatic 1 which is the camera (close enough, perhaps a different model) my father used to introduce me to photography. I am very excited about it.

This particular one hasn't been used for years. I am wondering (since I have never maintained cameras) if there are simple instructions how to give it some TLC before running a roll of film through. Just touching film chamber my hands got covered with some black stuff. Oil? Dead foam? Should I refoam?

The focussing is a bit stiff in part.

Thanks! and a happy Easter to you. Ming

[ErnestoJL]

Hi!
Fortunately the Voigtlánders didnt use too much plastic foam inside just a small piece in the hinged latch in the underside of the camera. If this is gone, simple use compressed (low presure) air to clean the camera and replace the foam with a new one.
One thing to take care of is that the shutter is behind the lens, not inside the glass as in many other cameras. If there is some sticky material over the shutter leaves, it may not fire.
The shutter also wont fire unless there is some film inside. They use a toothed wheel in the upper side of the film window to cock the shutter. That´s why many Vitomatics have been sold because they "do not work".


Check it and start shooting if everything is Ok. If you need more info about how to open and clean it, just let me know. Good luck!

Cheers

Ernesto

[mnmleung]

thank you Ernesto. I just use my finger to simulate having film passing through the sprocket. The shutter cocks and fires, and looking through the lens, it looks like it needs a good clean or may even have living organisms.

Would using rubbing alcohol with a q tip be a good start on the external surface of the glass? Thank you! From Ming

PS I attached a cable release, opened the shutter at B, and was a bit disappointed to see that the glass looks like a Petrie dish from my school days. Sigh ... Oh, I already put some isocol on both the external surfaces (front and back) and the patterns are there, certainly not dust.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnmleung/2353347057/

[ErnestoJL]

Ming:
Unfortunately what you have there is fungus, or at least it shows like it.
Usually fungus developes inside the lens where condensed humidity can be trapped. I would not recommend to use alcohol as a first measure, but instead try to use a qtip or a very soft piece of moisted cloth with a few drops of mild detergent. Sometimes external dirt can be told as fungus when there is nothing else than dirt trapped with some grease or oil. If that´s the case, the dirt can be removed easily after some light rubbing.

Other case can be that there is dirt inside the lens. It can happen when the camera is used in a dusty atmosphere for a long time and dirt can find it´s way through the small apertures the lens barrel has. The dirt, is trapped by the small oil vapour coming out from the few greased parts of the shutter.
It can be removed too, but opening any Voigtländer lens is a bit too tricky.
All old Skopars (either 3.5 or 2.8) as well as the Color Skopar (newer version with better color correction) focus by moving the first cell (first element) keeping the rest of the lens at a fixed distance from the film plane. This means that when reassembling the lens, you must collimate it again...
It´s not a one night project, but it can be done.
If you must go deep inside the lens just tell me (PM or email) and I´ll send you the notes taken when I did it with other Voigtländer victims that fell into my surgery table.
This little cameras have great lenses (they are a Tessar derived design) and IMHO they deserve some extra effort to get what they are capable to.
Cheers (and hope it helps).

Ernesto

[mnmleung]

thank you Ernesto. Would white vinegar class as detergent? Or some dish washing liquid? Do I "rinse" it with a damp Q tip afterwards? Sorry for rather basic questions. Thanks from Ming

PS Sorry I should have posted this thread in Scale Focus 35's instead. If moderator wants to move it, please. Thanks.

[ErnestoJL]

I would recommend dish washing liquid. To rinse use simple fresh demineralized water to leave no residues. Apply it with q tips or a piece of cloth and make sure to dry the lens fast to avoid water getting into the mechanics inside the lens barrel.
White vinegar as any acid liquid would attack bare metal parts.

Cheers

Ernesto

Ernesto