This is a camera that has been on my radar for a long time but didn’t think I’d add to the collection anytime soon because of its typically high price point. When this one showed up at a local flea market for $40, I snapped it up.
Echoing reviews I’ve seen, the Voigtländer Prominent is an extremely well engineered but strangely designed camera. Little touches like the spring-loaded rewind lever release and beautiful tripod socket are awesome; focus knob where the rewind knob should be, not so much. Winding the double-stroke lever feels more like starting a lawn mower than advancing film.
The bright-frame finder with frames for 35mm, 50mm, and 100mm lens is crisp and indeed bright and all controls feel incredibly solid.
I look forward to running film through this beauty and seeing what it can do.
| Make | Voigtländer |
|---|---|
| Model | Promininent |
| Year | 1957 |
| Format | 35mm |
| Shutter | Synchro-Compur |
| Speed | B, 1 – 500 |
| Lens | Voigtländer Ultron |
| f2 50mm | |
| Focus | 3.5ft – ∞ |
| Aperture | f2 to 16 |
| Light Meter | No |
| Rangefinder | Yes |
Just found your site via Mike Eckman; seems your collection is extensive 🙂 Did you get to shoot this Prominent? Seems like you got a bargain at that price. I have two of these; a first generation (non lever winder) and a second one similar to yours.
It is currently in the queue and I hope to shoot it in the next month or so. I definitely got lucky on the price.