Tag Archives: Leica

the old is new again …

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … or is nothing sacred these days? In 1975 I bought a 35mm summicron for my new Leica. I later (much later) learned it was the third iteration of  the lens and designed up in Midland by Dr Mandler. … Continue reading →

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a better view

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In a recent post, I looked at the Visoflex  ‘chimney’ for the mirror box fitted between a Leica and its bellows. Even before the Visoflex series went to market, Leitz made mirror boxes like the PLOOT which came with … Continue reading →

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not up in smoke

Posted on April 29, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Leitz came up with a mirror box housing that converted its famous Leica rangefinder to an SLR for close-ups and telephoto shots. The first version (Visoflex I) came with the 5x vertical magnifier (LVFOO). A 45 degree 4x magnifier … Continue reading →

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one ringy dingy …

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Who can forget comedian Lily Tomlin and her hilarious send up of the telephone company? Leitz often separated the lens assembly from the focussing mount. To use the lens on the bellows, a ring would connect the lens (or … Continue reading →

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compact but wide

Posted on December 21, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Taking advantage of the rangefinder (no need for mirror clearance) Leitz marketed a pocket watch size extra wide field of view 28m lens – the Hektor 2.8cm f/6.3 ‘HOOPY’ in 1934. This little lens allowed for ultra wide outdoor … Continue reading →

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come here, you little rascal …

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Robert

Toronto.  … I pictured my mother saying as I ran out of the kitchen. When I was born, the movie short ‘Our Gang‘ or ‘the little Rascals’ was popular in movie houses. Leitz began marketing the Leica mid 1924. The … Continue reading →

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Lazarus

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The famous little Leica and 35mm film have a long and storied history. The evolution of the current Leica Camera group from the old E Leitz organization is nicely covered by Dennis Laney in his 1992 “Leica Collectors Guide“. … Continue reading →

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what the heck?

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Around 1931, Leitz decided to make their tiny Leica an interchangeable lens camera and produced the first few new focal length lenses. Within a year, the Leica’s film to lens mount distance was standardized and thereafter any screw mount … Continue reading →

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a Johnny come lately

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Introduced in 1924, the Leica by Leitz was a flat out success. Two years later, in 1926, its competitor, Zeiss formed the Zeiss-Ikon group to rationalize the German photographic Industry. By 1932, the first Zeiss Contax reached market – … Continue reading →

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combatting deep fakes

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Unless you have being living ‘off the grid’, you have heard about artificial intelligence (AI) and deep fakes. Even TV programs have addressed the issue where a ‘deep fake’ is made by using images of a person and possession(s) … Continue reading →

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