for Leica II (or model D) with a removable Elmar 5cm lens
Toronto. When Leitz first marketed the Leica in the mid 1920s, it was an innovative success. By 1933 other makers had competing cameras out. The mighty Carl Zeiss organization not only marketed cameras, but their Tessar lens was a excellent product well known to the photographic industry. And their Contax – an answer to the Leica – came out in 1933 too.
To compete, Leitz promoted their Elmar lens as a universal lens at home on camera, projector or enlarger. And as a great lens for closeup shots via extension tubes (to allow subject distances under one metre). The lens could even be used for stereo shots with a beam splitting prism attachment.
This February, 1933 issue of American Cinematographer shows a typical Leitz NY advertisement of the period. Featured is a Leica II (Leica model D in the USA) with the interchangeable Elmar lens. Thanks are due to my good friend and fellow photographic historian for sharing this find with us!
Note, the title of this post is a riff on the title of Robert Bolt’s 1954 BBC radio play, “A Man For All Seasons” about Sir Thomas More.
