Ur Leica

Units: 1

+ 1000 "Nachbildung des Ur Leica" models made for museums and institutions

Beginning of the 20th century, a new photo camera design was experimented by Oskar Barnak, due to the fact that at this time he was working on a cine-film camera but needed some instrument to make light condition test to determine correct exposure parameters on the film camera. So, his idea was to build a box loaded with same cinematographic film, built with a 18-24mm picture format. Then he chose 24-36mm format which was much better in size. 35mm camera was born. Yes, this 35mm film format is still the one we use today, one century old...

Ernst Leitz II, who owned an optical instruments factory in Wetzlar, 80 km north of Frankfurt, was very interested in the ideas of Oskar Barnack who was Leitz Research Department Chief.

So, in 1913 Barnack built two new no-name camera (called later Ur-Leica) to hold this film. The box had already the shape of the future Leica cameras we know now. Round shape body, coupled film transport with fixed slit focal plane shutter rewind, focusing fixed lens. Quickly this little camera proved to be more than just a light meter and a real interest was found to launch a new kind of camera. A second prototype was then built with enhanced shutter.

Leica 0-Serie

After First World War, the camera shutter and lens were perfected. 30 pre-series model were built. Ernst Leitz II then decided in 1924 to product this new camera called Leca then Leica (LEItz CAmera). Success was immediate; price was high but quality was very high.

Same as Null-Serie model with different viewfinder and new system to shut curtain during rewind, bigger rewind knob.
This model is called Leica 'I' in Europe and Leica 'A' in USA (same rule for later models).

This Leica with Compur shutter permitted to take pictures up to 1 sec. but was less successful than normal focal plane shutter model. 2 models were produced, first with two barrels, second with one barrel control.

First Leica with interchangeable 39mm screw mount lenses, on the same body at first, then on any body.

First Leica with coupled rangefinder with 35-135mm lenses. Very long production period (16 years).

Very similar to Leica I Model C with same pull rewind knob as Leica II.

Launched one year after Leica II. New speed dial on front face for 1/20 to 1s and T speeds.

First Leica with very large 250 film spool chambers.

First model with top speed of 1/1000. Massively produced model ~200k u. Last model to be named with a letter (G) - except next IIIb named with the same letter G. Only chrome version produced.

Intermediate model to IIIc. Viewfinder and rangefinder eyepiece interval reduced.
Viewfinder dioptric correction changed to concentric lever around rewind knob.

First Leica with die cast alloy body frame in one block as opposed to previous models made of different pieces. Body length increased to 136mm (133mm before). Very similar to IIIb model.

Same as Leica IIIc with a built-in selftimer.

Simpler version of the Leica IIIc model. No slow speed. 1/500 top speed.

Launched in replacement of Leica Standard production end in 1948 - No viewfinder or rangefinder - Scientific usage

Last step of improvement for Screw mount Leica cameras.  Identical to IIIc but with flash synchronization system. Change in speed scale. 2 series : first with black flash synch numbers, second (1952) with red flash sync numbers around speed dial. Second serie comes with a new shutter made of light metal pieces. Some IIIf were produced by Ernst Leitz Canada (ELC).

Simpler version of the Leica IIIf, replacing Ic as a no finder model. No slow speed dial. No selftimer.

Same as Leica IIIf, but without slow speeds dial.

Last Screw mount Leica camera. M3 was already under production. New viewfinder with incorporated focal frames for 50mm and 90mm lenses and parallax compensation. Viewfinder image larger. Shutter speed in geometric scale.

Leica If replacement. Identical to IIIg, but without viewfinder and selftimer.

Same as IIIg, but without slow speed dial and selftimer. Produced in very small quantity.