Lomopedia: Leica II

Leica was already successful in making a mark in 35 mm photography when it produced the Leica A (also called Leica I) from 1925 to 1936. Said to be the first commercially successful 35 mm camera, Leica A was notable not only for being a relatively compact camera but also for the superb optics and the detachable vertical rangefinder accessory. In effect, it became the first 35 mm rangefinder for this add-on.

Leica II © SBA via Flickr, Image used under Creative Commons license

The Leica II, meanwhile, was produced in 1932 and was the first of the Leica cameras to have a built-in rangefinder. It also had standardized interchangeable lenses which accommodated lenses from 35 to 135. At the time, it was remarkable for the Leica II to be fitted with a rangefinder considering its small size. However, renowned camera designer Oskar Barnack wouldn't have it done with a bigger camera size!

Photos Taken by Our Community

Credits: bloemetje & cornelius_rost

Technical Specifications

Lens: f/3.5, 50 mm Elmar, iris diaphragm to f18, continental iris scale. Depth-of-field scale. Screw mount
Shutter: Focal-plane, speeds 1/20 - 1/500, Z. Speeds are varied by delaying the second blind
Construction: Vulcanite covered metal body
Format: 36, 24 × 36 mm exposures on 35 mm cine film held in a cassette, the film is rewound into the cassette
Focusing: Helical, scale to 3.5 feet
Attributes: Coupled rangefinder, swing prism type, double image. Direct-vision (lens/lens) viewfinder, Auto-stop on film-advance coupled to shutter. Film-advance tensions shutter, Exposure counter
Identification: All early points listed below. 11 o'clock infinity release on the lens
Accessories: Lens cap. Ever-ready case version without retaining screw. 2 cassettes one in a tin. Red box for the lens, Yellow filter 1, in a red box, screw fitting, white lettering. Yellow filter 0, Angular finder. Early type with large eye-cup, "Directions for Model II", instruction book d. Jan 1933, Copying device for 1:1 reproduction (BELUN). Early model marked 'Elmar', In box, "Auxiliary Reproduction Devices", pamphlet d. May 1932.

Information used in this article was sourced from Leica II on Cameraquest, Leica II on Wikipedia, and Leica II on Early Photography.

escrito por plasticpopsicle el 2013-07-15 #equipo #lomopedia #rangefinder #review #lomography #rangefinder-camera #leica #lomopedia #leica-ii

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