Leftist Leica-Cool FSU "fake"

rbiemer

rbiemer

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In another part of RFF, some one is asking about the most pretty M camera. And said in their post, any M or LTM mount camera, so I was trying to find on ebay an auction for one of those really ugly "leica" repaints--you know just to keep things interesting in that other thread--and found this auction instead:
http://cgi.ebay.com/LEICA-1A-copy-for-LEFT-HAND-MIRROR-copy
I'm not sure calling it a "copy" is quite right; don't know that Leica ever made a left handed camera? Certainly inspired by Leica.
I wonder if Oleg would give this one a CLA?
Of course, I'm not sure just where to get left handed film these days either...
I have to admit, I'm impressed by this!
Rob
 
Certainly not by following the diagram on the second(?) baseplate anyway!
Hadn't noticed the base plates, actually.
And the description is a little terse, I think;"Very interesting thing!!! Working copy of Leica-1A, was made for left hand, very nice.
It's a mirror copy. Condition - VERY GOOD. For the BIN price, I think I'd want a lot more info and some insight about film loading--though I think this will likely be a shelf sitter, I would want to know that I could use it.
I stand by my "cool" assesment, though!😀
Rob
sitemistic said:
The camera could not work. The film would be loaded with the emulsion side away from the lens. And, what up with the two different base plates show with the camera?
Click to expand...
 
Actually, regular film would work, because you're flipping the film end over end, not just turning it. I pulled out my zorki, which this is obviously based on and played around for a few minutes, and I was able to close the baseplate. Modern cassettes have drive lugs on both ends, my old cans from the 50's do not.

My biggest question though is... Why?
 
I've seen this or another one before. Hats off to the guy who had the patience to make it. Almost every part would have to be made from scratch. Even the lens is reversed, notice! It *would* take normal 35mm film, as has been pointed out.
 
sitemistic said:
Bluebird, if it fit, it wouldn't work.
Click to expand...
Sitemistic, it is not the first left-hand Zorki conversion known to humanity. Pirncelle describes a working "left-hand" conversion in his book, and it looks identical to this one. Princelle also mentions that it was made from stock parts with the shutter and wind cleverly reversed.
 
sitemistic said:
But the lens is also relocated. Wouldn't that require a completely new body as well? Just really curious about this one.
Click to expand...
My wild guess is, this was achieved by turning the body casting around. Or in other words, replacing top casting with bottom plate and vice versa.
 
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Yep, it sure looks like way too much labor for possible profit.

EDIT: just noticed it has an $3K pricetag. So, maybe not 🙂
 
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