leica camera

[sscrooge]

Hi guys just picked this up and im hoping its not a russian copy im guessing its early 1930s ,any opinions good or bad welcomed , cheers Dave

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[LarryHW.]

Your camera is a Leica I. By the Serial number, the body would have been manufactured around 1930-31.

[LarryHW.]

I should add that the lens looks to be of later manufacture. Maybe late 30's.

[sscrooge]

Thank you Larry for you reply and help with this cheers Dave

[SAB]

hi m8
Your camera was made as a leica 1a,which would have had a fixed (non interchangeable) lens originally(most likely a 50mm elmar) and just a simple optical viewfinder for the 50mm lens angle of view,it was then sent back to the factory by the owner and "upgraded" to a leica 2 specification which meant you had a coupled rangfinder(for setting lens focus distance accuratley) and the ability to take interchangeable lenses.The lens you have on it currently is post war from the 1950's.Nice camera you have there

[Longbranch303]

You don't have to worry at all about this Leica being a Russian fake. It's just a beautiful, black paint pre-war Leica that's perfectly worn (camera guys go crazy over these old painted Leicas). As others have said, it is an earlier Leica I produced around 1930, and later sent in to be updated with a rangefinder and standardized lens mount. The lens mount should have an "O" engraved on it to indicate it will accept interchangeable lenses. Unfortunately, these conversions have caused the unconverted cameras to be more valuable! I believe there are some serial number records that show what lens your camera may have originally been equipped with. The lens currently on it is a late production Leitz 50mm f2.0 Summitar produced in 1952. The Summicron replaced this lens not long afterwards.

Leicas tend to last forever when cared for, so they were often used for decades and updated as necessary. So, it's not uncommon to find 1920s Leicas that were updated to a later model and mounting a late production LTM lens. Canon and other camera companies produced LTM lenses all the way into the 1970s, and Cosina-Voigtlander is currently manufacturing new LTM lenses. So, these things are STILL being being used, just as they were since before WWII. If your camera works, you should really try it out! FYI- It is missing the collar around the shutter release. No big deal, and they are easily found.

SAB, what reference material are you using to determine it was a Ia? I only ask because my reference only indicates it as a Leica I. The Leica I lacked the rangefinder but had interchangeable lenses, but the lenses weren't standardized and could only be used the particular Leica camera they were calibrated for.

[sscrooge]

thanks longbranch for this extra info cheers Dave

[R.J.Klein]

The leica I came in several different versions.
The original model with non-interchangeable lens,known as the model A in the USA.
The version with either a dial set or rim set compur shutter,known as the model B in the USA.
The version with standardized or non-standardized interchangeable lens mount,known as the model C in the USA.
Of course all of these,with the exception of the compur leicas were often updated,as the OP's leica was.

[colt45s]

I HAD ONE, the SN and every thing was stamped after it was painted black ?

[sscrooge]

took it to a leica dealer today for a service but after he examined it he said no need to service it as its working fine which made my day thanks again Dave