An unusual camera incorporating a manually operated periscope that is lowered into the light path for focusing, the finder is used for composing. It was aimed at the medium price bracket or as a second body for Leica owners. The original model had a brown pigskin covering which was quickly replaced by black leatherette. Later the top and bottom plates were left in a bright aluminium finish instead of being blackened. The lens was available coated or uncoated on the original model. An improved series of cameras started in 1957 with the Model 3. The cost in 1953 for the model with a coated lens was £32.19.6.

Lenses

• f1.9 45 mm Lumax.
• f4 100 Lumar.
• f3.5 50 mm Lumar.

Accessories prior to the Model 3

• Finders for 85, 90, 100, 105, 135 and 150 mm lenses.
• Lens hood.
• Extension tubes, these came in a set comprising: 52, 34, 26 and 18 mm. An extra 10 mm ring was sold separately.
• Focusing adapter, this is short tube the length of the camera body with a focusing screen at one end and screw thread for the lens at the other. There is also tripod socket on a rotating ring.

A microscope adapter was introduced but probably after this period.

The finders for long-focus lenses are not optical, they consist of a tube, a sighting hole cut at one end and a rectangular mask at the other. The length of the tube determines the field of view and varies according to focal length.

Lens hood/filter fitting is 28.5 mm for the f3.5 standard lens and 42 mm for the f1.9 lens and 100 mm lens.

Versions

• Early models have the name engraved on the top-plate, later it is on the periscope.
• On early versions the shutter speeds are engraved on the top-plate, later they are on an aluminium ring.
• Early examples have the flash contact as fitted to the pigskin model, later a normal PC contact is fitted.
• The shutter release surround changes.
• The black body covering varies.
• The finish of the top of the rewind knob changes, engraving on the film advance and rewind knobs is sometimes more prominent than on others.

Serial numbers