Focoslide

The device was developed by Leitz New York. The first Wetzlar model (OOZAB) appeared in 1938 and was re-introduced following the war. The camera was clamped in position by a spring mounted bar, on early versions the bar had a single flat plate to rest against the camera later the familiar H shaped device was used. The standard Leica lens thread was used on the front of the device. This version could be used in conjunction with the Bellows I.

In 1957/58 a second version was introduced by Wetzlar this was of improved construction with rounded edges, the accessory thread was changed to 51 mm. The device was available for screw mount cameras (OOBAZ) and bayonet mount (OOTGU).

Rotating Stage Plate OORES

• Stand SPOOV.
• Focusing mount for 5 cm lenses ZWTOO and ZWTOO-HESUM.
• Short focusing mount for: 7.3 cm Hektor COOAB; 9 cm Elmar COOED; 9 cm Thambar COOTL; 13.5 cm Hektor COOHS.
• Intermediate tube for 20 cm Telyt MOORB.
• Intermediate rings B BOOXZ, M 1:2 MOOBG, M 1:1.5 MOODH, M 1:1 MOOGW.
• Focusing magnifier, slide-in fitting: 5x LOOCG; 5x with large field LOOFV; 30x LOOHW.
• Focusing magnifier, slide-in fitting, eye-piece at right-angle, large field LOOGI.
• Focusing magnifier, bayonet fitting: 5x LGCOO; 5x with large field LVFOO; 30x LWHOO.
• Focusing magnifier, bayonet fitting eye-piece at right-angle LKIOO.

The focusing magnifiers and some of the other accessories were used with other Leica equipment.

Some (? early) slide-in finders have a circular fitting, others have a small sector cut off the rim, this matches a stud found on some models of the OORES. The finder slides in and is twisted to give a lose a lock.

Early versions of the OORES had a mount for only one lens, around 1937 an additional mount allowed two lenses to be fitted at the same time. Around 1938 the original slide-in fitting for the finder was replaced by a bayonet fitting.

This resembles the Leitz Focoslide. It does not carry the Roth name but is very similar to others that do, the grey paint finish is often found on Roth accessories.

This device provides an accurate means of focusing when using close-up equipment or telephoto lenses. It consists of two parts, a tripod adapter and a focusing screen, these are normally found clamped together but they are not used in that way.

For close-up work the tripod adapter is attached to a tripod or copying stand, an extension tube is slid into the adapter and clamped in place, the camera lens is screwed to the front of the extension tube, the camera is then screwed to the rear of the extension tube and the tube/camera adjusted so that the camera is aligned horizontally or vertically, the camera is then removed and replaced by the focusing screen. After focusing and composing the image the focusing screen is removed and replaced by the Periflex camera.

When used to focus a telephoto lens it is attached to the tripod adapter in place of the extension tube.

There are minor variations between examples, some have a blue frame mask others black, the finish around the edge of the focusing screen is either a continuous diamond pattern or plain with finger grips, the name 'Periflex' is either in small or large lettering.

This comprises a bracket that fits to a Retina camera and four pairs of gauges that frame the subject. The bracket can fit a tripod, table stand or can be rested on a flat surface. The Retina is attached to a camera holder that attaches to the bracket, this centres the camera over the bracket. Four pairs of gauges were supplied for ratios of: 1:4.5, 1:3, 1:2, 1:1.5. The gauges set the camera to subject distance, moveable rods at the end of the gauges show the field of view. In normal use the rods are fully extended, for low angle pictures the camera is tuned upside down and the rods are moved to a central position. Magnification was provided by close-up lenses R 1:4.5, R 1:3, R 1:2, the 1:2 and 1:4.5 lenses were combined to give the image scale 1:1.5.

This accessory both framed the subject and measured the distance. First the correct field of view was determined by observing the subject through the rangefinder, then the focusing wheel was rotated to align the double-image rangefinder, the focusing wheel then showed the close-up lens to use and the distance setting for the camera lens.

The NIII lens was not always supplied but was recommended for use with camera lenses of 45 mm focal length, Combining the NII and NI lenses gave the same strength as an NIII but resulted in vignetting with the 45 mm lens. The rangefinder was for use with Retina cameras, versions were produced for 45 mm and 50 mm lenses.