VOIGTLANDER Prominent I Camera with Fixed Carl Zeiss 2.8/50 Tessar Lens

You may have never seen a Voigtlander Prominent camera with a Zeiss Tessar lens. In fact, this may be the only one. Even more interesting, this is not even a Zeiss, but a Voigtlander lens. 

As a result of declining sales, Zeiss Ikon and Voigtlander got combined in 1965 into a single company. Voigtlander was obviously the junior partner. The lens in question is really an updated Color-Skopar 2.8/50 produced by Voigtlander for the Icarex 35 single-lens reflex camera that was sold under the Zeiss Ikon name (see Claus Prochnow: Voigtlander report 2, page 20-520).

The Prominent I camera in this auction has been equipped with a fixed Tessar lens (it can not be exchanged). 

Now to the camera in this auction:

Prominent I, a high-quality rangefinder camera body with many unique and unusual design features.  Body serial number B 45995.

Film advance via a wind knob on the right-hand side of the camera. Automatic frame counting with display underneath the wind knob.

Synchro-Compur leaf shutter with B, 1 - 1/500 sec settings. Shutter is flash-synchronized at all speeds, even at 1/500 sec. 

Built-in self timer (in the usual Compur fashion, the shutter cocking lever is pushed beyond the normal position to activate the timer).

Coupled rangefinder with the focusing wheel on the top left of the camera. Display of the distance and the depth-of-field underneath the focusing wheel on top of the camera. Distance scale in feet.

The camera is in good condition and is fully functional.  Shutter works at all speeds, self timer and flash contact function, focusing action is smooth.  The coincidence rangefinder produces a clearly visible double image with good horizontal (at infinity) and vertical overlap.  Chrome and leather covering in good shape.

The Tessar lens is in good condition with clean glass. Diaphragm is oil-free and moves smoothly. 

An unusual camera and a great conversation piece.

Buyer to pay for shipping only (no handling fee). Estimated shipping weight is 3 pounds.

I would be happy to combine several items in one shipment to reduce shipping costs.

Happy bidding!