Leica Standard or Leica I

[raid]

I have a black Leica camera that may be a Standard or a Leica I. It has serial number 160933. It is a small camera. What exactly are the differences between Leica I, II, III and the Standard?
Shutter speeds go from "Z" 25-1 30 40 60 100 200 500.
Which camera do I have here?
I found this online: 160701 161150 Leica I 1935 camera

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Awesome camera!

Standard has screwed in VF?

 

[raid]

Someone may have removed the fixed 5cm viewfinder in my camera and replaced it with an accessory shoe. The camera looks much better than in the quick snapshots shown here. It could be a modified Standard. Stephen's list of SN's lists my camera as a Leica I but Stephen states that some Leica I listings on his list could be Standard Leica cameras.

 

[Pioneer]

I am certainly no expert but it seems they are all Leica 1(s). The original Leica 1 was a Model C. The Leica 1 that was commonly called the Standard came out as the Model E in the same year that the Leica II, also known as a Model D, was introduced. I believe that the name "Standard" designates that the lens flange distance was standardized (which was identified with the little '0' on the cameras flange.)



Based on your Serial Number, and the general chronology, yours should be a Model E Leica 1, also known as a Standard. However, you do not appear to have the little viewfinder on top no can I see the little number '0' on your camera's lens flange.


Very interesting.

 

[B-9]

Looks like a 1

Likely modified with the extra shoe.

The mount could have been replaced hence the lack of “o”

Very interesting and cool camera!

Maybe extra intriguing to someone shooting wide angle. VF and bubble level! Sounds like something your into Raid.

Nice find!

 

[raid]

Thanks for the input.
I have been using this camera with a Rokkor 2.1cm and the Canon 19mm. The middle accessory shoe is used with the VF. There is no need for a RF here. The DoF is huge with such wide angle lenses. The shutter is smooth like butter. How can a camera be working so smoothly if it was made in the 1930's?!

 

[raid]

I am certainly no expert but it seems they are all Leica 1(s). The original Leica 1 was a Model C. The Leica 1 that was commonly called the Standard came out as the Model E in the same year that the Leica II, also known as a Model D, was introduced. I believe that the name "Standard" designates that the lens flange distance was standardized (which was identified with the little '0' on the cameras flange.)



Based on your Serial Number, and the general chronology, yours should be a Model E Leica 1, also known as a Standard. However, you do not appear to have the little viewfinder on top no can I see the little number '0' on your camera's lens flange.


Very interesting.

My camera seems to have received a chrome replacement lens flange, so that is why we cannot see the "0".
The 5cm viewfinder was replaced with an extra accessory shoe (for some reason).

 

[Rob-F]

My serial number listing shows it is both a I and a standard, listed as "I standard." The model I would have the "hockey stick" infinity stop on the front panel. Yours doesn't, suggesting it is a transitional piece between the I and the standard. I agree with Pioneer the Standard has the standardized mount with the "O" engraved at the top. The absence of the "O" on yours might just mean they hadn't yet thought of engraving the "O" during the transitional period. Does it focus correctly at infinity with one or more of your thread-mount lenses?

Edit: Rogliatti lists it as a"I Standard." Hove Pocket guide 7th edition, simply as a I.

 

[Sumarongi]

Dear Raid,

there's a lot of confusion simply because US Americans and the rest of the world have developed different terminologies regarding the Thread Mount Leicas!

I guess this article here may shed some light on it:
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Leica_Standard

🙂

 

[Erik van Straten]

Raid, it is a 1 Standard from 1935, not a 1. I did not know that "1 Standard" Leicas exists, but here is the proof. Rob-F is right.

I knew that there was a Leica "1" and a Leica "Standard", but not that there was a Leica "1 Standard". 450 pcs made.

Congratulations!

Erik.

 

[raid]

Thank you all! This is very interesting.
It focuses correctly with several lenses, including a 5cm 3.5 Elmar with guess focus.
Having a "I Standard" is a cool thing to uncover here. I was not sure if it was a Standard or a I.

 

[raid]

Dear Raid,

there's a lot of confusion simply because US Americans and the rest of the world have developed different terminologies regarding the Thread Mount Leicas!

I guess this article here may shed some light on it:
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Leica_Standard

🙂

Thank you for the link on the Leica Standard. I will go over the material there.

 

[raid]

Raid, it is a 1 Standard from 1935, not a 1. I did not know that "1 Standard" Leicas exists, but here is the proof. Rob-F is right.

I knew that there was a Leica "1" and a Leica "Standard", but not that there was a Leica "1 Standard". 450 pcs made.

Congratulations!

Erik.

Thank you, Erik. So there exist only 450 I Standard cameras? This is "rare" or "uncommon", I guess. It seems to me now that this model was a transition model in 1935. It is amazing that such old cameras can function so smoothly.

 

[raid]

My serial number listing shows it is both a I and a standard, listed as "I standard." The model I would have the "hockey stick" infinity stop on the front panel. Yours doesn't, suggesting it is a transitional piece between the I and the standard. I agree with Pioneer the Standard has the standardized mount with the "O" engraved at the top. The absence of the "O" on yours might just mean they hadn't yet thought of engraving the "O" during the transitional period. Does it focus correctly at infinity with one or more of your thread-mount lenses?

Edit: Rogliatti lists it as a"I Standard." Hove Pocket guide 7th edition, simply as a I.

Thank you Rob.
Yes, the Hockey Stick is not there! There is no "O" either.

 

[mcfingon]

It’s almost like they deliberately made variations on the theme to keep us amused 83 years into the future, Raid. Very forward-thinking company, Leica.
John Mc

 

[Erik van Straten]

It seems to me now that this model was a transition model in 1935.

I hope I will sleep tonight because I will be tormented by the question "WHY". Why did they make such a thing? Were all 450 cameras with two accessory shoes? Is it made from left-over parts because of the change to chrome models? Is it intended for use with a PLOOT (mirror house) or on a microscope.


Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

I can't quite see but is the vulcanite correct for the year?

My quick way of telling what is what is what is the size of the rewind knob (but don't rely on it). Big = 1 Small = Standard.

I too have never noticed that there was a '1 Standard'.

 

[raid]

I hope I will sleep tonight because I will be tormented by the question "WHY". Why did they make such a thing? Were all 450 cameras with two accessory shoes? Is it made from left-over parts because of the change to chrome models? Is it intended for use with a PLOOT (mirror house)?


Erik.

Don't worry about it all, Erik. I asked myself the same questions this morning! Who knows what "they" were thinking, and who are "they" anyways? There was no WWII then, so metals should have been available.

 

[raid]

I can't quite see but is the vulcanite correct for the year?

My quick way of telling what is what is what is the size of the rewind knob (but don't rely on it). Big = 1 Small = Standard.

I too have never noticed that there was a '1 Standard'.

I have had this camera since (maybe) 15 years now. The past owner was/is a RFF member. Maybe he can dsicuss it here.
He told me that this camera is "rare" but I don't recall why he emant it as being a rare camera. It could have been the fact of the camera being black, but it seems that many Standard cameras were in black.

As for the rewind knob, does my camera sport a big knob or a small knob?

 

[Erik van Straten]

Raid, you have a small rewind knob, you can pull it up for easier rewind. The original Leica 1 had a much thicker rewind knob that could not be pulled up.


From now on I will take a close look at all the Leica Standard to see if they have a number that fits in this batch.



Erik.