Voigtländer VSL3-E (or Rolleiflex SL35E)

This is one of my all-time favorites. It's the first serious attempt for Rollei/Voigtlander to make a professional grade SLR.

The Voigtländer version is, in my opinion, more elegant than the Rollei, but this is a matter of taste.

The camera is beautifully made and has some very nice features. Starting with the electronically controlled horizontal travel cloth shutter that can work in manual or in aperture-priority modes.

The viewfinder is very clear and bright. Not gigantic, but very confortable to use and has a diagonal split-image and a microprism collar for proper focusing. On. the left side there is a vertical shutter speed scale with the associated leds.

The Voigtlander VSL3-E

They were made in Singapore from 1977 to 1981 and 51.500 units were built.

The first batches had unreliable electronics, but the units with the updated circuit are probably still working today. My VLS3-E is from the latest batches and works very well.

Like all the VSL series (and Rolleiflex 35 series) it uses the QBM mount, to be exact QBM III (with aperture coupler from the lens to the mount).

Like all cameras with electronically controlled shutter, the VSL3-E will not work without batteries. It uses an easy to find 4LR44 6V alkaline or the PX28, both are easy to find.

There is an interesting feature in this camera, the shutter speed dial is stepless from 16s to 1/1000s

Voigtlander VSL3-E top view

This camera is a very competent shooter and a delight to use.

I would suggest you to buy a Rollei HFT Planar 50mm F1.4 for it because it's widely available and less expensive than the Voigtlander Ultron. 

More information on Woflgang Bongsdt's website (in German) and on Rolleiflex SL35 Blog.