Leica LTM What is the smallest size leica other than the CL

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
holgaguy

holgaguy

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I was at the local Leica dealer where they have about 100 used leicas in cases. Some of them look a little smaller than others. Were some of the early screw types smaller than others ?
thanks
holgaguy
 
yes the barnack leicas are a little smaller than Ms but they're viewfinders aren't as big, bright or easy to frame with, granted they are lot's of fun to shoot with. I used to have a canon III screwmount which was similar to the leicas but had rangefinder and viewfinder all in one window instead of the 2 separate windows.
 
The smallest Leica would have to be the standard for sure due to having no rangefinder mechanism ... I have a Leica 1a which is the model before the standard and had a fixed lens ... it's tiny. With the lens barrel retracted it fits comfortably into a shirt pocket.

A bit tricky for candid snaps with scale focus, front adjusting (fiddly) aperture ring and limited shutter speeds. That said though it takes as good a photo as any camera I own! :)
 
Starting with the Leica IIIc, the Screw-Mount bodies were slightly larger. Not by much, about 1/4~1/2 inch or so.
 
I would agree that the Leica "Standard" or " A " is the smallest of Leicae.

As Brian noted, the -c and later screw-mounts are slightly larger - I measured the body on my III-f as being about 1/8" longer than my III or black II (D). I think I found this out when I was trying to put my IIIf into the case for my D... no go.

If you put an Elmar 35 mm lens (doesn't need to be pulled-out & locked like the 50) on a screw-mount, you have a very slim camera indeed !

I just got my first Contax RF ( IIIa), and my screw-mount Leicas are both smaller and noticeably lighter...

Wish we had a Leica dealer ( or any camera shop ) around here, with a case full of used gear...

Luddite Frank
 
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