To the letter...
If new to Leica, one might get confused about the M and the R and the D and the C and the S letters:
M
Leica M is the classic leica from 1908 up to today's M6, M7, MP and the digital M8 and M8.2. All of the M cameras are rangefinder cameras, meaning one looks not through the lens but through a separate window.
It's possible to move above 135mm tele lenses with the M, but one would rather go with the Leica R cameras.
The special edition Leica M8 white that came out in spring of 2009 (and which divided the waters in terms of who amongst the Leica fan crowd thought it was a cool camera and others who felt it was the absolute degrading of classic Leica style. Nevertheless, it gave a lot of free PR in the fashion blogs where Leica is a regular guest as the probably most stylish camera in he world). Note that it's a M8, not M8.2.
R
Leica R is the SLR cameras from Leica, the WYSIWYG (WhatYourSeeIsWhatYoyGet) camera where you look through the lens of the camera via a mirror, thus seeing the exact picture you will get. The R system consist of wide angle lenses from 15mm to 1600mm tele lenses (an 800mm with a 2X extender).
The first Leica R was the Leitz Leicaflex that came in several editions (Leicaflex SL, Leicaflex SL2) and then Leica came with R3, R4 and onwards to the Leica R9 which was the last Leica R camera under the "R" system (as Leica announced in April 2009 that the R system would no longer be). See the Leica Camera Compendium for details on R models.
Leica R8 and R9 can be made digital by using the digital back Leica DMR that Leica, Imacon and Kodak developed together (was sold from 2005 to 2006). An entire digital Leica R10 was expected in 2010, but then in July of 2009 Leica called that one off and instead said they would - in the future - show a solution for Leica R lens users.
Leica R lenses are - if not the best lenses in the world - then amongst them. To test that statement one can do as many others have done, which is getting a Novoflex Leica R lenses to Canon EOS body adapter and start using manual focusing Leica R lenses on canon bodies, with focus confirmation.
Leica DMR back for Leica R8 and Leica R9 film cameras is an interchangeable back that makes the film camera into a 10 MP digital camera in 60 seconds.
D or Digilux
Leica D is the new Digilux digital series from the late 90ties and onward (Digilux, Digilux 1, Digilux 2, Digilux 3, etc-). Whereas the Leica Digilux, Digilux 1 and Digilux 2 employed fixed zooms, the Digilux 3 camera introduced the new 4/3 lens format also used by Olympus, Panasonic and others. More interestingly, an 4/3 or R adapter exist, making it possible to attach Leica R lenses to an digilux 3 camera (with a crop factor of 2X but no loss of aperture; thus making the renowned Leica 180mm Summilux-R f/2.0 into a 360mm f/2.0 lens, just to name one example).
D-Lux
Leica D-lux (not to be confused with Digilux) is small digital pocket cameras, such as the Leica D-Lux 4 that was introduced in 2008 as the replacement for Leica D-Lux 3.
D-Lux 4 for old Leica fanboys as well as all users new to Leica, with a classic looking brown or black leather bag. An external viewfinder also exist (as there's no viewfinder in the camera; one uses the screen on the back).
V-Lux
Leica V-lux might be versatile. We don't know yet as the V-series is so far only one dSLR-looking digital camera that is not a SLR, the V-Lux 1. But works like dSLR. Cheap, effective, and with an integrated 35-400mm optical zoom lens.
C-Lux
Leica C-Lux are the smallest digital consumer cameras.
S
Leica S2 is the new (November-December 2009) medium format Leica SLR camera system (with a hint to Leica's first digital camera, the S1 from 1996 - see further below).
Leica S2 working prototype of a 37.5 MP medium format digital camera as presented at Photokina 2008 with the 70mm Summarit-S ASPH CS autofocus lens. (Photo from Digital Photography)
Early S: In 1996, as the digital photography revolution began, Leica brought its Leica S1 digital camera to the market. The biggest of the three versions (Pro, Alpha and Highspeed) packed 75 megapixels – several times the resolution of even today's best digital cameras – as a studio camera that delivered a digital scan (30-60 seconds) directly to an Apple computer (using Silverfast software), and thus not a camera made for carrying around. The price was about $30,000 and 146 was made of them. The S1 took Leica R and M lenses, as well as Hasselblad, Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Zeiss, Olympus, Pentax, Sinar and Mamiya.
X
In December 2009 the world will see the brand-new Leica X1 compact camera with a fixed 36mm equvivalent lens. According to Leica Camera AG in a factory briefing on November 2009, they are considering developing other Leica X cameras with other lenses..
Leica X1 and a crop with the 36mm viewfinder (not included with the camera).
ELCAN
[Ernst Leitz Canada, established 1952] ELCAN was and still is the military/industrial branch of the old "Ernst Leitz Canada". In 1998, the ELCAN plant was sold to Raytheon (USA), who bought it from its previous owner, Hughes Aircraft Co.
According to John Francis from the Leica Forum, ELCAN was asked by the US military to develop the U.S. Navy High Resolution Small Format Camera System during the Viet Nam war which is/was composed of the following:
- ELCAN-R 75mm f/2, code C-341
- ELCAN-R 180mm f/3.4, code C-303
- ELCAN-R 450mm f/5.6, code C-329
- There was also a “standard issue” Leitz Summicron-R 35mm f/2
- Leicaflex SL 35mm SLR camera (modified??)
- Leitz Focomat II (modified), code EN-121A
- Vincent electrical shutter (for enlarger)
- ELCAN 52mm enlarger lens (20x-25x enlargements)
- ELCAN 20mm enlarger lens (40x-75x enlargements)
- ELCAN 128mm f/5.6 enlarger lens (prototype, could also fit large format cameras)
- Very high resolution B&W film, and developer
All above lenses are of apochromatic correction [APO] of the very highest degree, and were specifically designed by Walter Mandler of Leitz Canada/ELCAN.
Walter Mandler was, at the time, the Chief Engineer at Leitz Canada and a true legend in his own time. He was responsible for the design of the current Summicron 50mm, both for the Leica M and R system which is considered one of – or the – best 50mm lenses in the world, the Noctilux-M 50mm f/1, the original APO-Telyt-R 180mm f/3.4 and the original Elmarit-R 19mm f/2.8, etc... A legend in his own time!
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| The lens in the picture is the ELCAN-R 75mm f/2 C-341, made by ELCAN, Canada in the 60ties or early 1970's as part of the "U.S. Navy High Resolution Small Format Camera System." I the picture above it is no 14 and below is no 8. There should have been produced 30 or so of which some was lost during the Viet Nam war. |
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It seems ELCAN have been producing small series of many interesting things over the years. According to Hans Kafle at the Leica Forum there was one Elcan-M 90mm f/1.0 (picture above) sold at Christie's auction in London for 20.900 £ a few years ago – with a Leica KE-7A from 1972 included though. A similar lens was offered for sale by Arsenal Photo in 2008 for 23,000 £. See the article on 90mm lenses here.
Also offered from Arsenal Photo in 2008 was this "Noctilux" 75mm f/0.85 lens attached to an M3 camera (and according to the seller only working with this camera). 4,000 €.
| Other Leica M ELCAN lenses exist, likewise made at Leitz Canada. A Elcan-M 66mm f/2.0 (Elcan VH 6760-168-3240 as seen right) has been for sale in Germany at Arsenal Photo for 13,000 € (serial no 283-0030).
Also a Leica M ELCAN 51mm f/2.0 exist as a prototype (called ELCAN-M 2 inch f/2). |
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Also a curiosity from "Leica's 007-department" is the ELCAN Leica UW underwater housing for the M camera. It's with a fixed Elcan-M 28mm f/2.8 90° lens why one would just attach an M4 or other M camera, and then seal the thing and go diving. One was at sale in Germany for 10,000 € at Arsenal Photo in 2008 (serial no 240-0004).
The Norman Goldberg "Camcraft N-5" motor (above) for Leica M2 and MP can be used to shoot and rewind in one go. Last one seen at Arsenal Photo in 2008 for 10,000 € (serial no 16). As can be seen on the photo, external power is required.
Expensive Leica's
According to rumors, a Leica M3 with the first serial number 700000 was sold for 75.000£ on auction around 2003.
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| In August 2004 a person in the Leica forum told about a IIIg his father had given him. The father had closed down his photo shop and had saved a Leica with several lenses for each of his three kids. The camera mentioned had the IIIg serial number 825001 (anno 1956) and thus was the first Leica IIIg in production. The owner wanted to inquire as to what such a camera would be worth and some forum members said "minimum half" of the 75.000£ the first M3 had given at an auction. The owner was kind enough also to show how the camera looks (which must be said to be in mint condition). |
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Above: The IIIg first off the assembly line ever anno 1956 with
serial number 825001 and the lenses that goes with it.
The lenses does not carry any "special numbers." |
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| On 6th November 2004 a Leica M3 black paint was sold for 38.125 Euro. In mint condition and with the box of course (picture right). |
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| Another rare Leica, the 250 GG, was sold at auction the 29th May 2004 for 171.250 Euro. As can be seen it is made for taking many pictures in a hurry. |
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A Leitz Noctilux-R 52mm f/1.2 prototype surfaced in July 2008 where the German Leica shop Arsenal Photo offered this for the price of 30,000 € (serial no 5175714). Few knew this even existed! – and unfortunately it never went into production.
Speaking of which. The first Noctilux-M for the M cameras was produced from 1966-1975 as a 50mm f/1.2, replaced in 1976 by the f/1.0 Noctilux-M that Leica ceased to produce in 2008, selling the last 100 in stock for 10,000 € each - then replaced by the Leica Noctilux-M f/0.95 in 2009. See the Leica Lens Compendium for further details on lenses.
Expensive but not rare: The 2009-edition of the Leica Noctilux-M f/0.95 lens.
Leica also produced a 28mm Summilux-R f/1.4 as a prototype, likewise offered from Arsenal Photo in July 2008 for 12,000 € (serial no 5175764)
Leica and the Jews during Second World War and Holocaust
While Leica was a major supplier to the German war during World War II and was highlighted by Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels as a German model company, it was also a company where the top management was systematically saving Jews.
These activities, enabling Jews to emigrate, began shortly after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor in 1933 and was intensified after the nationwide "Kristallnach" in November 1938. But with Germany's invasion of Poland and the sealing of borders in August 1939, these activities more or less came to an end.
Frank Dabba Smith has written a very interesting story, "The greatest invention of the Leitz family: The Leica freedom train." There's an interesting article about his project here in Financial Times of February 2, 2007.
Leica Family tree as PDF
Download Leica family tree -click on the picture below [PDF]:
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