Leitz close-up magnifiers. from left:
chrome 5x LVFOO, 30x LWHOO, 5x chrome LGCOO and black 5x LVFOO, all with vision correction
Toronto. … you with, said the wolf to Little Red Riding Hood. In the last century, Leitz made close-up devices for the Leica. Both various focussing slide gadgets and mirror boxes used common five power magnifiers code named LGCOO (on top of box at left) and LVFOO (on either side of box at left), plus stronger magnifiers like the squat 30x LWHOO.
The subject could be viewed through an Elmar or other lens with the magnifier before the camera was moved into position (or a mirror flipped up) to capture the close-up scene on film.
These magnifiers continued into the early M-series line of Leicas until the focussing slide was phased out and a newer mirror box (Visoflex II) came to market using a different shaped magnifier.
The LVFOO lingered on briefly as a negative and slide inspector, but the asking price was too steep compared to 8x acrylic magnifiers.
The need for special accessories for close-ups changed with faster film, close-up capable lenses, and finally the digital revolution, when almost any camera could reliably snap close-up images on its own.
At our fairs, like the one this May, both Leitz and other makes of various film camera based close up gadgets are often offered.
NB. The above post title is familiar to all who read fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm as a child.
