Stereo attachment - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Leica II

1932

Early Black and Nickel model

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

Germany

Image of Leica II Early Black and Nickel model

Lens:
f3.5, 50mm Elmar, iris diaphragm to f18, continental iris scale. Depth-of-field scale. Screw mount. Serial no. 184563 (1933).

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 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm cine film held in cassette, film is re-wound into cassette.

Focusing:
Helical to 1 metre.

Attributes:
Coupled rangefinder, swing prism type, double image. Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Auto-stop on film advance coupled to shutter. Film advance tensions shutter. Exposure counter.

Identification:
All early points.

Serial Number:
90985 (1932) .

Notes:
Produced in the first batch.

With:

  • Stereoly, version with two notches (1932). In leather case. Producing 24 x 18 mm exposures. Serial no. 1939.
  • Stereo viewer. In red box.
  • "Leica Stereo Front Attachment Stereoly" - pamphlet d. 1937.

This is a very early example of the model II, the release button has a more rounded shape, a type usually found on the fixed lens models.

The Stereoly first appeared in 1931 for the Leica I series. In 1932 a version suitable for the rangefinder model was produced, this used the same prism unit but had a different connecting arm.

There are minor differences between versions:

  • The 1931 model came in two versions - rigid view-finder mask with a single positioning notch, later a folding finder mask was fitted and there were two positioning notches. With the connecting arm fitted to the camera the prism unit slides onto the arm and a spring engages the positioning notch.
  • The 1932 model originally had two positioning notches on the arm to engage the 5 cm Elmar and the 5 cm Hektor. Shortly afterwards a third notch was added for the 5 cm Summar which was introduced in 1933.
  • A version for the model IIIb was advertised in the 1939 US catalogue. This would have had a cut out for the IIIb eye-pieces which are closer together.

The stereo viewer, VOTRA, was a hand-held device which could also be fitted to a separately purchased stand (VOTIV). It has inter-ocular variation and independent adjustment to the eye-pieces. Leitz also sold binding strips (UMKLE) and glass plates (UGLYR) to make stereo slides.

An arm was separately sold allowing a Stereoly for a model I camera to fit onto rangefinder series cameras, this had the code VORUF.

Code Names:
LYKUP - Camera. VORSA - Stereo prism. VOTRA - Stereo viewer (intr. 1931). List 74286 - "Leica Stereo Front Attachment Stereoly".

References & Notes:
Leica shutter. BP 371252/1932. BP 379954/1932. BP 383233/1932. BP 383911/1932. BJA 1933, pp. 268, 514. Phot. Journal 5/1932, p. xix (drawing of lens). Leica Cat. 1931 (Stereoly). Leica Cat. 1933. Leica Cat. 1936. Leica Cat. NY, 1939. Hasbroeck, Leica.

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