Another "History of Leica" question

[Troll]

One of the great secrets of Leica's success was that it was part of a complete

system of photography. When originally introduced, there was nothing (or very

little) to support the use of motion picture film to make still photogaphs.

The Leica was introduced with a camera, leather pouch, and 2 cassettes. I

wonder what else was introduced with it to make the system work, probably

filters for the Elmar lens, maybe a lens hood. How about a developing reel,

and some kind of fixed enlarging system for the 24x36 format?

[eliot_rosen1]

Don't forget about the rangefinder that mounted on the camera via the accessory shoe. This was needed to estimate distance since the model A Leica did not have a built-in rangefinder.

[tim_franklin]

The system was (to coin a phrase) "compact and bijou" during the twenties for fairly

obvious reasons, and really only expanded from the 30s when interchangeable lenses

became available. But.......

 

Leafing through my copy of Laney's Collectors Guide, I find a cable release (FINAL - 1925),

a Right-Angle Viewfinder (the delightfully coded WINKO - from 1929), a small ball head

(FIAKU - 1926), Panoramic Tripod Head (FIAMA - 1926), an Angle Bracket to support the

camera centrally, in either orientation, over the panoramic head (FIAVI - 1929), a shoe-

mounted spirit level for same (FIBLA - 1929)

 

Then we have the ingenious 75mm long stereo slide bar (FIARO), and the 150mm long

(FIATE) whch replaced it (both 1926). With these the camera was first mounted at one end

and a picture taken; the camera was then moved to the other end for the second shot.

 

Filters and a lens hood (FISON) have already been mentioned, but Leitz also produced a

range of close-up lenses from around 1928. There were nine variants (3 strengths for

each of three different 50mm lenses). The four-legged reproduction stands to go with

them appeared in c1931. Leitz New York produced the first type focusing stage (FULDY) in

1930. In addition to these there were a variety of specialist devices for photomicrogaphy

and photomacrography in both small plate camera (MICCA - 1924, for 4.5x6cm plates)

and 35mm (MIFCA - c1925).

 

Its a truly fascinating subject, and as the great Brian Tompkins says, "Leitz thought of

everything"

[ronald_moravec1]

Don`t forget slide projectors and enlargers.

[charles_stobbs3]

Sort of like a Minox and all its accessories.

[jerry_kirkwood]

When I was a teenager I remember professional photographers used to call E. Leitz an "Adaptor Factory". I think in those days Leica competed with Kirby Vacuums for number of esoteric attachments <grin>

[joobass]

When leica was first introduced the first 35mm still camera, there was nothing else that was possible except taking pictures, thus they produced everything that was needed to take the picture, process the film and finally print the film(This is what remember reading on the internet some years ago about leica history), and when i was in in late teens, I remeber seeing a leica enlarger, which was much too expensive so I had to buy the cheepest available enlarger which was "Lucky" B&W enlarger, at that time "Durst" and "LPL" was like Nikon or canon in the enlarger industry. Lucky was good but still a slightly lower class, I've never used leica enlarger, but that were expensive wityh leica lens, that was about 30yrs age. Anyway, due to the fact that they made and sold everything from taking picture to printing it they made it possible for 35mm format cameras to take off.

[patric_dahl_n]

Here's one of the 35mm cameras that came on the market before Leica:

http://www.cameraquest.com/Sico%20Early%2035.htm

 

Not as easy to use than the Leica, but hey you got 25 exposures on a roll. ;-)

[Troll]

That's beautiful, Patric. I find the most interesting thing about it is the frame counter, which only goes to #24. I think that most earlier 35mm still cameras tried to squeeze out a hundred or more exposures, which sounds great until one actually tries to use it -- #24 is really a lot more reasonable. I believe that Barnack's original camera allowed for #40 exposures. Live and learn.