Leicaflex

1964

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

West Germany

Lens:

f2, 50 mm Summicron, fully automatic iris diaphragm (FAD) to f16. Depth-of-field scale. Bayonet mount. Iris is spring loaded to the closed position, when mounted on the camera the iris control knob pushes against a post which opens the iris. The post is attached to the mirror control and moves away during exposure allowing the iris to close and open when it returns. Serial no. 1999357 (1963).

Shutter:

Focal-plane, speeds 1 - 1/2000, B. Delayed action. X, M flash synchronisation.

Construction:

Metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film held in cassette.

Focusing:

Helical to 20".

Attributes:

Reflex viewing through taking lens. Fixed roof pentaprism finder, microprism rangefinder focusing screen. Focusing at full aperture. Instant-return mirror. Shutter speed visible in finder.
Auto-stop on film advance. Film advance lever sets the shutter. Film advance and shutter inter-linked for double and blank exposure prevention.
Coupled, CdS metering, match needle type. Film speed range: 12 - 3200 ASA, 12 - 39 DIN. Exposure counter. Depth-of-field preview button.

Identification:

Early model with pie shaped exposure counter.

Serial Number:

1082002 (1964) .

Notes:

Retailer's label: Charles Frank. Glasgow.

With:

UV filter, series VI size with retaining ring. Lens hood. Leather Ever-ready case.
'Leicaflex' - pamphlet. Price List June 1965.

Code Names:

12564 - Lens hood. 14160U - Filter retaining ring. List 11-58 - Pamphlet.

Leicaflex SL

1968

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

West Germany

Lens:

f2, 50 mm Summicron, fully automatic iris diaphragm (FAD) to f16. Depth-of-field scale. Bayonet mount. Serial no. 2487698 (1971).

Shutter:

Focal-plane, speeds 1 - 1/2000, B. Delayed action. X, M flash synchronisation.

Construction:

Metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film held in cassette.

Focusing:

Helical to 20".

Attributes:

Reflex viewing through taking lens. Fixed roof pentaprism finder, microprism rangefinder focusing screen. Focusing at full aperture. Instant-return mirror. Shutter speed visible in finder.
Auto-stop on film advance. Film advance lever sets the shutter. Film advance and shutter inter-linked for double and blank exposure prevention.
Coupled, through-the-lens CdS spot metering, film speed range: 12 - 3200 ASA, 12 - 39 DIN. Match needle operation.
Exposure counter. Mirror lock. Depth-of-field preview.

Serial Number:

1281783 (1971) .

With:

f6.8, 400 mm Telyt, manual diaphragm to f32. Focus to 12 feet. Front and rear caps. Built-in lens hood. Case. Serial no. 2380357 (1969).
Heavy-duty neck strap (14130) for use with the Telyt.
Series VI size filters with retaining ring: UV, Yellow No. 1. Lens hood.
Leather Ever-ready case and Benser soft case with strap. Leitz Holdall combination case (14819). "Leicaflex SL" - brochure 111-75a.

Leitz remained loyal to the rangefinder design and did not introduce the Leicaflex until several years after the Nikon F and other single-lens reflex models. A wide range of accessories was available but it was not a true system camera, it lacked an interchangeable finder, back and a standardised motor drive. The SL was an improvement over the original Leicaflex in having through-the-lens metering.

Telyt

This

comprises a lens head, rear unit with diaphragm and filter slot for size VII filters, pistol grip, shoulder stock and cable release (22219). The lens has only two elements arranged as a cemented pair, it is therefore a long-focus lens rather than a telephoto. It is focused by a push-pull movement and is fitted with an infinity lock. The smallest object field was 6 ¼" x 11 ½". There were differences in the design of the pistol grip, very early models had a simple upright bar rather than a shaped grip, later an angle adjustment was fitted to the shoulder stock grip and lastly the grip and shoulder stock could be converted into a table-top tripod. The grip is provided with a hole into a which a cable release is inserted.

The outfit case with this example appears to be British, it is obviously made for the Telyt but the pistol grip does not fit properly, possibly the lens was originally supplied with the simple hand grip and has since been fitted with the later version.

References & Notes:

Leitz General Cat, 1974, pp. 5, 15.

Early Photography

Leicaflex

1964

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

West Germany

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

Notes:

With:

Code Names:

Leicaflex SL

1968

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

West Germany

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Serial Number:

With:

Telyt

References & Notes: