Leitz Leicaflex
Leica Cameras – Antique
Leica Cameras derive their name from a shortening of “Leitz Camera”. While on the staff at the Leitz Wetzlar Factory in 1911, Oskar Barnack set out to create a portable camera. The Wetzlar works dated back to 1849, founded by Carl Kellner, a mathematician and optician, for the purpose of developing lenses and microscopes.
Barnack had begun his career as an engineer at Carl Zeiss lens manufactory at Jena. He actually conceived of the Leica camera design as early as 1905, but for many years the design existed only in his brain. He made a 1914 photo with his ur-Leica, a compact predecessor with a retracting brass lens, that chronicled the coming of World War I. The picture depicts a German soldier posting an early mobilization order from Kaiser Wilhelm.
The result of his work formed the basis for the 35mm camera. Together with the highly-acclaimed lenses developed by Max Berek, the Ernst Leitz Company, located in the small German town of Solms (near Frankfurt), was able to bring the new Leica Camera to the commercial market in the form of the Leica I at a trade show at Leipzig.
When the Leica I was introduced, photographers were accustomed to lugging around suitcase-sized photography paraphernalia. The cameras enclosed used 13 inch by 16 inch plates, rather than the present-day 35mm film on rolls.
Because these portable cameras were so small and lightweight by current standards, Leica cameras were at first perceived as toys for a lady’s purse. That first impression was soon dispelled when the public came to appreciate the stunning images the camera produced and their extreme durability.
Carl Wolff, who bought the company in 1926, is largely credited with expanding the fame of the Leica brand. Leica was also famous for high-quality binoculars, dating back to 1907. Leica camera sales totalled 90,000 by 1932, and a million by 1961.
These rugged cameras were witness to two world wars, often from both sides of the conflict. Not only the Americans, but also the Russians, were fond of the Leica in World War II. The Soviets viewed the Leica as a guilty pleasure, despite its capitalist “fascist” origins. Ironically, many of The Leica family were Jews.
Russian Aleksandr Rodchenko, also a sulptor and a painter, shot many memorable pictures, including the 1934 “Girl with a Leica”. Fellow Russian, Ilya Ehrenburg, created a series of 1930′s images that depict the raw underbelly of France between the World Wars.
In the 1930′s, French painter Henri Cartier-Bresson migrated his art to photography. The means of his transformation was the Leica camera. His often candid black and white photos are among the finest in the illustrious Leica legacy.
The famous Times Square kiss on V-J Day was shot by Alfred Eisenstaedt on a Leica.
Photographers the world over have praised various Leica Cameras, such as the Leica I, Leica M3, Leica M3, and later the Leicaflex SL (its first SLR camera). Enthusiasts have made the brand a cult favorite, to the extent that a Leica Number 107 test market model from 1923 sold in 2007 for a world record price of nearly a half million dollars US.
About the Author
Lawrence R. Bell is Editor for The Antiques Bible (
http://antiques-bible.com
). The Antiques Bible is an illustrated glossary of antique terms with helpful links to related resources.
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Boxed Leitz Leicaflex 14134 Combination Macro Extension Tube 50mm Summicron $49.99 |
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Leitz 14184 Black Plastic Front Lens Cap Leica Leicaflex 35mm f4 PA Curtigon $59.99 |
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Leica Leitz Leicaflex, SL or SL2 Case very good condition, Original, Wetzlar $26.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA LEICAFLEX SL2 INSTRUCTION BOOK/149237 $20.00 |
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Leitz Wetzlar leicaflex elpro $9.95 |
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Leicaflex SL Camera Leitz Wetzlar with 1:2/50 Lens and Leather Case NEAT!!! $300.00 |
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LEITZ 50MM F2.0 SUMMICRON-R LENS W/HOOD & LEICA LEICAFLEX SL BODY $218.50 |
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Leica Leitz Leicaflex Elpro 1 Closeup 16541 **Mint** $69.00 |
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Nice Chrome Leitz Leicaflex SL2 Body $31.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ BROCHURE-M4-LEICAFLEX-PRADIX-TRINOVID-1968 $12.99 |
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1967 Leitz Wetzlar Leicaflex Camera with Leather Case $800.00 |
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Leica Leitz Summicron-R 1:2/90MM Lens Near Mint Condition Fits Leicaflex SL $471.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL2 MOT CAMERA BODY $300.00 |
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Leica Leitz Wetzlar LEICAFLEX SL Film Camera English Instruction Book Manual $15.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ EXTENDER R 2X FOR LEICAFLEX SL/SL2 $74.99 |
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Leitz 14158 extension rings Leicaflex (T9) $45.00 |
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Leica Leitz LeicaFlex SL Body – TREAT YOURSELF TO A LEICA $329.95 |
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LEICA LEITZ BROCHURE-M5-LEICAFLEX-CL-LEICINA-from 1974 $12.99 |
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Leicaflex SL Camera Film Cassettes Leica Fotografie Magazine 3 1968 Prints Leitz $16.95 |
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Leitz camera Cover for Leicaflex 1&2 R3 $59.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/49882 $10.00 |
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LEITZ BODY CAP FOR LEICAFLEX/141056 $20.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/34123 $10.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/34122 $10.00 |
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Original Leitz Leica and Leicaflex Catalog #39 1966 $20.00 |
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ORIGINAL VINTAGE LEITZ WETZLAR LEICAFLEX BODY CAP – 14 103 Q $29.00 |
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Leicaflex Leitz Wetzlar Camera 50mm 1:2/50 Summicron – R Lens w/ Leather Case $107.50 |
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NEW Leitz Leicaflex Elpro V II a Close Up Lens NOS $69.99 |
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NEW Leitz Leicaflex Elpro VII G Close Up Lens #16533G $69.99 |
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NEW Leitz Leicaflex Elpro VI a Close Up Lens #16531 NOS $69.99 |
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NEW Leitz Leicaflex Elpro VI b Close Up Lens #16532 NOS $69.99 |
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1967 LEICA CAMERA CATALOG BROCHURE -M4-M3-M2-LEICAFLEX-LEICA-LEITZ $17.99 |
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Leica Leitz 14135 Extension Tube LEICAFLEX AND LEICA R $34.99 |
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Picasso Leicaflex Camera Leitz Lens Leica Fotografie Magazine 6 1965 Photography $17.95 |
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Leica Leitz 14135 Extension Tube LEICAFLEX AND LEICA $19.99 |
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LEITZ LEICA R LEICAFLEX CAMERA LENS CAP 14162 BOX NICE $19.99 |
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NEW LEITZ LEICA R LEICAFLEX CAMERA BODY CAP NEW 14103 $19.99 |
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Leica Leitz Leicaflex SL 35mm SLR Film Camera Body EXCELLENT $245.00 |
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Leicaflex Leitz Wetzlar Black Body Top Plate Original Spare Replacement PART $79.99 |
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NEW OLD STOCK LEICA LEICAFLEX LEITZ WETZLAR ELPRO 16531 VIa MACRO NEAR LENS $66.99 |
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LEITZ 60mm MACRO ELMARIT f/2.8 LENS BROCHURE–LEICAFLEX $12.99 |
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LEITZ WETZLAR ELPRO VIa LEICA LEICAFLEX CAMERA LENS NEW $99.00 |
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LEITZ SLR LEICAFLEX CAMERA BACK DOOR NEW SPARE PART NR $39.00 |
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LEITZ 14134 LEICAFLEX SL TUBE ADAPTER MOUNT MINT BOXED $149.00 |
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LEICAFLEX SL TUBE ADAPTER MOUNT LEITZ 14134 MINT BOXED $149.00 |
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LEICAFLEX SHUTTER CURTAIN LEITZ SET OF 4 PAIRS NEW $199.00 |
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LEICAFLEX LEITZ SL2 CAMERA HOUSING SKELETON NEW SPARES $199.00 |
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LEICAFLEX CAMERA LENS NEW ELPRO VIa LEITZ WETZLAR LEICA $99.00 |
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NEW Leitz Leicaflex -0.5 Diopter Eyepiece 98107 NOS $34.99 |
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Leicaflex Leitz Wetzlar Standard W/ 50mm F/2.0 Summicron-R Lens $449.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA AND LEICAFLEX CATALOG #41 1968/133225 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX INSTRUCTION BOOK IN GERMAN/141064 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE 111/77A/141065 $15.00 |
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Leica Leitz Leicaflex SL 35mm SLR Camera Body $299.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/62264 $12.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/64201 $12.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE 111-75B/117123 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/92033 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/54437 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/54438 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL MOT SALES BROCHURE/56719 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/108666 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/108667 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/108668 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/126456 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/126457 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/125852 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA LEICAFLEX SL2 SALES BROCHURE/125855 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA LEICAFLEX SALES BROCHURE/125869 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/125856 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/125857 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA LEICAFLEX SALES BROCHURE/125870 $15.00 |
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LEITZ LEICA LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/125871 $15.00 |
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NEW GENUINE LEICA LEITZ LEICAFLEX CAMERA INSTRUCTION MANUAL GUIDE BOOK $13.99 |
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Leicaflex Collecting Will McBride Light Leica Fotografie magazine 2 1968 Leitz $16.95 |
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VintageLeica Leitz Leicaflex SL 35mm SLR Camera Body New Meter Used Exc to Exc+ $329.99 |
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Leicaflex Leitz Lenses Leicina Super Leica Fotografie Magazine 1971 Photography $12.95 |
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Black 55mm front Lens cap f. Leica Leitz Leicaflex SL E55 Summicron lens $17.80 |
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Elmarit-R 90mm F2.8 Telephoto Lens by LEITZ – LEICA R Leicaflex Canon EOS NIKON $782.26 |
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Leicaflex SL Camera Film Cassettes Leica Fotografie Magazine 1968 Leitz Factory $14.95 |
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ORIGINAL LEICA FLEX Instructions Book Leitz 1956 $17.50 |
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1968 Ad Leitz Wetzlar Leicaflex SL Photo Camera $36.95 |
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Leica Leitz Extender-R 2x for Leicaflex SL/SL2 Box only $29.95 |
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Leica Leitz Leicaflex R3 Original Instruction Book – Red cover 1976 $17.95 |
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Leica Leitz Leicaflex SL Original Instruction Book – Red cover 1972 $19.95 |
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Leica Leitz Leicaflex SL Original Instruction Book – Red cover 1973 $19.95 |
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LEICA LEITZ PRODUCT SALES BROCHURE LEICAFLEX SL .. Nice $15.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ PRODUCT SALES BROCHURE LEICAFLEX SL …pm $14.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ PRODUCT SALES BROCHURE LEICAFLEX SL notes $14.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ PRODUCT SALES BROCHURE LEICAFLEX SL (stamp) $14.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ PRODUCT SALES BROCHURE LEICAFLEX SL 111/75b $15.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ PRODUCT SALES BROCHURE LEICAFLEX SL 111/75c $15.00 |
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LEICA LEITZ PRODUCT SALES BROCHURE LEICAFLEX SL2 $15.00 |
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Leitz Lens Leicaflex Photographers Leica Fotografie Magazine 3 1971 Rudolf Auer $11.95 |
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1969 Leica Camera ad, Leitz, Leicaflex SL $6.49 |
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Leica Leitz Wetzlar Case Genuine for Leicaflex SL SL2 with STRAP Vintage rare $129.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/49836 $10.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/49837 $10.00 |
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LEITZ LEICAFLEX SL SALES BROCHURE/49840 $10.00 |
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Leica and Leicaflex Lenses Gianni Rogliatti Leitz Hove Foto Book Guide Manual $28.75 |
