Superb - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Superb

1933

Voigtländer & Sohn

Braunschweig

Germany

Image of Superb

Lens:
f3.5, 7.5 cm Skopar, iris diaphragm to f22. Serial no. 1013038 .

Viewing lens: f3.5 Helomar. Serial no. 1024937 .

Shutter:
Rim-set Compur, speeds 1 - 1/250, B, T. Delayed action. Serial no. 2853607.

Construction:
Leather covered metal body.

Format:
12, 6 x 6 cm exposures on 120 roll-film.

Focusing:
To 0.8 m, helical movement on the lens.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through second lens. Full-size ground glass focusing screen. Automatic parallax adjustment by tilting viewing lens. Frame finder in hood with manual parallax adjustment.
Automatic frame counter after initially setting to 1, advanced by film movement. Red window to load film. No auto-stop. Not coupled to shutter. Horizontal film transport by lever on side of camera.
Spirit level. Prism on shutter to view speeds from normal viewing position, the speeds are engraved reversed.

Identification:
Version with fold down front of view-finder, plate type neck-strap fixing.

Serial Number:
524694 .

With:

  • Ever-ready case. Lens caps on string.
  • Pair of Focar Wa 30 close-up lenses, in box. For 20" - 13" focus. Pair of Focar 52 close-up lenses, in box. For 28" - 19" focus.
  • Cable release by AGC.
  • Instruction book for early model Superb d. 1933.

This was Voigtländer's answer to the Rolleiflex, priced at about ⅔ that of the Automat. The price with a Skopar lens was £19.10.0.

Early models were able to use 117 (6 x 6 cm) roll-film as well as 120, a second red-window was provided on the back of the camera. Early models have a rigid finder hood, later the front folded to give a direct-vision finder. The trim varies between nickel and black enamel. The case for the camera varies, early models fold flat when not in use. The neck-strap fixings also vary, on later cameras they are attached plates earlier they were substantial cast lugs.

References & Notes:
BP 409217/1933. BJA 1934, p. 296. Minit&Cine, 1938, p. 61. Voigtländer Cat. 1939, p. 16.

Further Information:
Coe, Cameras, p.152.

Illustrations:
Auer, History, p.193, Early strap lugs.

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