Voigtländer Bessamatic1959

History

Voigtländer had been one of the most respected names in German optics since the 18th century. The Bessamatic was the company's primary answer to the growing SLR market in the late 1950s, entering a crowded field that included the Zeiss Ikon Contaflex, the Kodak Retina Reflex, the Nikon F, and the Exakta. The leaf-shutter approach was a deliberate choice: Voigtländer and Zeiss believed the practical advantages — particularly full flash sync — would offset the mechanical complexity of putting the shutter in the lens rather than the body.

The DKL lens system was technically competent; Voigtländer's own lenses, particularly the Septon 50/2 and the Super-Dynarex telephoto range, were highly regarded by optical specialists. However, the DKL system's interchangeability was limited by the practical reality that the shutter was part of the lens unit — an expensive and complex arrangement.

Voigtländer was acquired by Zeiss Ikon in 1965, and camera production under the Voigtländer name was later transferred and eventually discontinued. The Bessamatic continued through the transition but was discontinued by 1969. Today the Cosina-Voigtländer brand continues under different ownership with no connection to the original company's camera lineup.

Why It Matters

The Bessamatic represents the apex of the West German leaf-shutter SLR tradition — a technically sophisticated camera that offered genuine advantages in flash photography and operational quietness that focal-plane SLRs could not match. For portrait and studio photographers in the 1959–1969 era who needed reliable full-flash-sync, the Bessamatic and its DKL-mount siblings were serious professional tools.

The Septon 50/2 lens fitted to premium Bessamatic examples is considered one of the finest standard lenses of the era — a double-Gauss six-element design that Voigtländer's optical team tuned to a high standard, comparable to the Zeiss Planar of the same period.

Lenses & Accessories

DKL mount interchangeable lenses (complete optical units with built-in shutters): Skoparex 35/3.4, Color-Skopar 50/2.8, Septon 50/2, Super-Dynarex 90/3.4, Super-Dynarex 135/4. DKL lenses are also compatible with Zeiss Ikon Contaflex and Kodak Retina Reflex bodies. Accessories: Voigtländer meter shoe adapters, cable release, close-up sets.

Sample Photographers / Notable Use

• Used by West German professional photographers in the early 1960s for portrait and event work where flash synchronisation at high speeds was required.
• Adopted by studios that valued the leaf-shutter's quiet operation and full-sync capability over the focal-plane shutter's higher speed ceiling.
• Collected today by enthusiasts of German leaf-shutter SLR systems, the DKL mount, and Voigtländer optical history.

References

• Camera-Wiki: Voigtländer Bessamatic