THE LEITZ VACU
By Heinz Richter
A little known accessory for Leica screw mount cameras is the VACU. It was made in a variety of versions. It offered the use of flash equipment with Leica cameras up to the Leica IIIc. Its replacement, the Leica IIIf was the first model with built-in flash synch.
Leitz made several versions, all with their own catalog designation. Ranging from CAVOO-A to CAVOO-F.
The CAVOO-A was to be used with the Leica III, the CAVOO-B was for the Leica IIIa and IIIb and several versions for the "c" model Leicas, from CAVOO-C to CAVOO-F.
The unit consisted of a small trigger device that screwed onto the shutter release of the camera. It worked in conjunction with a small cam that attached to the shutter release dial. When releasing the shutter, the rotating shutter speed dial would activate a small switch via the cam to fire the flash. This in turn was connected to the VACU via a short cord with a PC fitting.
Leitz Vacu
© Heinz Richter
The cam attachment came in four different versions depending what model Leica it was for. A word of caution; I have seen versions of the VACU offered for sale from time to time, but in each case the cam was missing, therefore rendering the unit incomplete and useless.
Cam attached to shutter speed dial
© Heinz Richter
Trigger Switch
© Heinz Richter
The position of the cam on the shutter speed dial is critical because it determines the position of the shutter curtains at the moment the flash is triggered. Rotating it back or forth will allow for exact positioning.
That, of course, requires a means to see if the flash is fired at the correct moment. To test if your camera synchs properly with a flash is no problem as long as you can open the camera back. Looking at the frame opening of the camera while firing the flash at a bright surface, will quickly reveal if the entire frame is exposed correctly. But what to do with cameras that don’t have an opening back like all of the Leica screw mount cameras?
There is a very simple, non-invasive way to do so. All one needs is a piece of so-called glow-in-the-dark-tape. This should be noticeably larger than the frame opening of the camera. Inserting it into the camera in place of the film is all that’s necessary. With the lens removed, connect the flash to the camera, set the required synch speed and set off the flash, preferably firing right into the camera and then remove the tape. In a not too bright area, the tape will glow with the outline of the exposed area. This will quickly reveal if the entire frame is illuminated or if the shutter is covering part of the negative area while the flash is firing. This test will work with all types of flash equipment. .
VACU on Leica III Front View
© Heinz Richter
VACU on Leica III Rear View
© Heinz Richter
The VACU, however, is not the only such unit made for the older Leicas. A very similar flash synch device was made by the company of Geiss. Definitely not as sophisticated as the VACU, it was added to the accessory shoe of the camera. The trigger switch was built at the right side of the unit with a the PC contact on the left. The flash could be added on top.
Geiss flash sync device
This used the same principal as the Leitz VACU by triggering a
switch via a cam attached to the rotating shutter speed dial
The first Leica I ever owned, a Leica III, was equipped with a VACU. I still consider it one of my prized possessions and I fondly remember learning to take pictures with this camera, including flash pictures. It is a great camera to learn with because everything is manual. It created useful habits that I still practice today. For instance, after getting many severely blurred pictures, in spite of careful focusing, I learned that it is advisable to pull out the collapsible Summar f/2 before shooting.
Leica III with VACU
© Heinz Richter
But that is ultimately a different story. I don’t use the Leica III very often anymore in these days of digital photography. But it does take up a prominent spot in my Leica collection, together with the VACU attachment in place on the camera.
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