What camera is this soldier using?

[Francisco]

Funny photo, isn't it? What camera is he using?

[Martin W]

Looks like a Leica too me.I am not too sure on the focal length of the lens though.Maybe a 135mm Elmar or Hektor or longer?

Regards,Martin.

[seekwhence]

Leica III; although from the photo I cannot see which type. The lens is almost certainly a Leitz Hektor 13,5cm/4,5. I doubt seriously it would be an Elmar 13,5cm/4,5 since Leitz halted production of this model in 1936 to concentrate on the Hektor.

seekwhence

[Martin W]

Leica III; although from the photo I cannot see which type. The lens is almost certainly a Leitz Hektor 13,5cm/4,5. I doubt seriously it would be an Elmar 13,5cm/4,5 since Leitz halted production of this model in 1936 to concentrate on the Hektor.

seekwhence

Thanks for info on the lenses.

Regards,Martin.

[juoneen]

I also concurr. Leica is my guess also.maybe hes a kriegsberichter, could that ba a cufftitle on his right cuff?

[bobcam1]

Agreed....Leica III

[BergführerKiser]

Grüß Di' Bildberichters,

Here are a few more shots from this Bundesarchive series showing the Leica III camera and lens:






When I was working at HQ V Corps in the old IG Farben building in the 1980's, our photographers were still using these Leica camera kits! I wish I had been able to get one when they were DX-ed!!


Bildberichter vor!

[seekwhence]

Thanks BergführerKiser for showing the camera related images from the Bundesarchiv! Quite an interesting assortment of Leicas, lenses and viewfinders are depicted!
The first image shown in #7 is clearly a Leica IIIb. I have never seen an actual photo from the war that depicts this particular model. Quite a rare shot of a rare camera!
Here is a scan of one of the most incredible war era, camera related images I have ever seen! Can anyone guess as to why that might be the case? Sorry, no prize for the winner other than acclaim!

seekwhence

[SiPo]

Here's mine.

[SiPo]

Serial #

[SiPo]

Check out the lens

[seekwhence]

Very nice Leica IIIa with Kripo markings! Are there any markings on the camera to show it goes with the lens (i.e. on the back of the rangefinder housing)? What is the serial number of the lens? Too bad the focusing knob is bent. Do you have any other Leicas or other German 35mm cameras from the war era?

seekwhence

[SiPo]

Unfortunately, the rear of the camera is not marked with 'Kripo'. The serial # of the lens is 271273 which I believe dates it to around 1935.

The lens is undamaged apart from the focusing knob, however this appears to have been deliberately bent, possibly for ease of use. Having the camera in hand and using the lens, I can honestly say that the bent knob actually does make it easier to use.

[byterock]

Yep it is common to find IIIAs bent like this. This one is from 1938 so it is pre war.

Now for the mystery photo my guess it is 'Manfred Leitz' in the photo taking his own picture in a mirror?

The camera I think it a 'RAF III' of 1939 that is the only III era camera that I can think of that had a R/F and not slow speed dial on the front.

By the way most of the period sales lit I have never use the term III II or I just A B C and alike. I think the III was added after the "M" series came out after the war.

And now for two Leica trivia questions

Why were the name called 'Hecktor'?
Why were the Luftwaffe Leica painted grey?

[seekwhence]

Very good observation byterock! Your response to the mystery photo was very close! The exact answer is it depicts a chaplain taking a picture of himself in a mirror with a Leica II. You thought it was a Leica III because it had a rangefinder housing but no slow speed dial. I think you meant to say a Leica II. That model had a rangefinder but no slow speed dial. The Leica III had a slow speed dial but differed from later model III's because its shutter speed only went up to 1/500 of a second (IIIa-c's went up to 1/1000 of a second). Your observation about the bent focusing knob being common has me stumped though. I am a serious Leica collector and I have only seen one or two examples which I attributed to the lens being screwed down too tightly or the lens being dropped while disassociated from the camera.
As to your trivia questions:

1) Dr. Max Berek (Leitz's chief lens designer) had 2 dogs - one named Rex, the other Hektor. Do you see where the name Rex came into use (i.e summarex)?

2) Gray painted Leicas were not all for the Luftwaffe. In fact most were made for civilian use! The reason for the color is that chromium used for plating was progressively harder to get as the war proceeded. Paint was a lot cheaper!

seekwhence