Leica 11

1932

Early Black and Nickel model

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

Germany

Lens:

f3.5, 50 mm Elmar, iris diaphragm to f18, continental iris scale. Depth of field scale. Screw mount. Serial no. 95411 .

Shutter:

Focal-plane speeded 1/20 - 1/500, Z. Speeds are varied by delaying the second blind.

Construction:

Vulcanite covered metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm cine film held in cassette, film is re-wound into cassette.

Focusing:

Helical, scale to 3.5 feet.

Attributes:

Coupled rangefinder, swing prism type, double image. Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Auto-stop on film-advance coupled to shutter. Film-advance tensions shutter. Exposure counter.

Identification:

All

early points listed below. 11 o'clock infinity release on lens.

Serial Number:

94102 (1932) .

Notes:

Produced in the first batch.

With:

Lens cap.; Ever-ready case version without retaining screw.; 2 cassettes one in tin.; Red box for lens.; Yellow filter 1. In red box, screw fitting, white lettering.; Yellow filter 0.
Angular finder. Early type with large eye-cup.
"Directions for Model II", d. Jan 1933.
Belun copying device for 1:1 reproduction. Early model marked 'Elmar'. In box.
"Auxiliary Reproduction Devices", Pamphlet d. May 1932.

Code Names:

LYKUP - Camera.; ESNAR - ERC.; FILCA - Cassette.; FIRHE - Yellow filter 1 (intr. 1931).; FIXTA - Yellow filter 0 (intr. 1931).; List 7280 - "Directions for Model II".; BELUN - Copying device. (intr. 1932).; List 7207 - "Auxiliary reproduction devices".; WINTU - Angular finder. (intr. 1933).

Leica 11

Later Black and Nickel model

1933

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

Germany

Lens:

f3.5, 50mm Elmar, iris diaphragm to f18. Depth of field scale. Screw mount. Serial no. 233453 (1934).

Shutter:

Focal-plane speeded 1/20 - 1/500, Z. Speeds are varied by delaying the second blind.

Construction:

Vulcanite covered metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm cine film held in cassette, film is re-wound into cassette.

Focusing:

Helical, scale to 3.5 feet.

Attributes:

Coupled rangefinder, swing prism type, double image. Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Auto-stop on film-advance coupled to shutter. Film-advance tensions shutter. Exposure counter.

Identification:

Small

shutter dial. Angular speed dial housing. Large retaining pin to base.

Serial Number:

192871 (1936) .

With:

Ever-ready case.
Slow speed timer. For speeds of 1 - 1/8s. Black/nickel finish. In red box.
Panoramic head. Version with interchangeable ring. With 5 cm ring. For up to 10 exposures horizontal and 14 vertical. Nickel finish.
Tripod head with spring catch. Nickel finish.
Angle Bracket. Version of c.1933. Long base model with strap lug cut-out. Square accessory shoe.
Yellow filter no. 1, small screw-in version.

Code Names:

ABOOT - Camera.; ESNAR - ERC.; HEBOO - Slow speed timer (intr. 1935).; FARUX - Panoramic head (intr. c.1933).; SDOOG - Tripod head (intr. 1936).; FIAVI - Angle Bracket.; FIRHE - filter.

Leica 11

Later Chrome model

1933

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

Germany

Lens:

f2, 50mm Summar, iris diaphragm to f12.5. Depth of field scale. Screw mount. Serial no. 419297 (1938).

Shutter:

Focal-plane speeded 1/20 - 1/500, Z. Speeds are varied by delaying the second blind.

Construction:

Vulcanite covered metal body.

Format:

36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm cine film held in cassette, film is re-wound into cassette.

Focusing:

Helical to 1 metre.

Attributes:

Coupled rangefinder, swing prism type, double image. Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Auto-stop on film-advance coupled to shutter. Film-advance tensions shutter. Exposure counter.

Serial Number:

279229 (1938) .

Notes:

Distributors

name engraved on base plate: Lutz Ferrardo & Cie. Rio de Jeneiro. Sao Paulo. Import stamp inside base plate.
Album manufactured by F. Howard Doulton & Co. Ltd 73/75 Minories London. E.C.3.

With:

Filters, screw fitting: Yellow 1.; Yellow 2.; Green.
Lens hood.; Delayed action release, giving delay of 12 - 15s.; Orange view-finder filter.
Auxiliary Close-up device BEHOO. For 5 cm lens giving magnification ratios of 1:1.5, 1:2, 1:3, using extension tubes. Comprises: clamping ring, 4 legs, 3 extension tubes.
Rotating Stage Plate (OORES). The Rotating Stage was introduced in 1934, this is a later example of around 1937. It has fixings to allow two lenses to be fitted at the same time but it still has the 'slide-in' fitting for the magnifier, later a bayonet would be used.
Helical focusing mount for Summar when fitted to OORES, (ZWOOTU-HESUM).; Short focusing mount for 13.5 cm Hektor when fitted to OORES, (COOHS intr. 1938).
Pamphlet "Auxiliary Reproduction Devices". d. March 1936.; Pamphlet "Copying Equipment for use in conjunction with the Leica". d. March 1935.; Pamphlet "Filters" d. Nov 1938.; Pamphlet "Delayed Action Release" d. Sep 1938.; Leitz General Cat. 4th Ed. London d.1938.
Leica Negative Album. Leica logo on front cover, 108 film strip sleeves for 4 negatives with index sheets to record exposures.

Code Names:

ABOOT - Camera.; FBXOO - Green filter (intr. 1935).; FIOOC - Yellow 1 filter (intr. 1935).; FAVOO - Yellow 2 filter (intr. 1935).; SOOMP - Lens hood (intr. 1936).; APDOO - Delayed action release.; ORAKO - Orange view-finder filter.; BEHOO - Auxiliary Close-up device.; OORES - Rotating Stage Plate.; 7613 - "Filters".; 7806 - "Delayed Action Release".; 7485 - "Copying Equipment for use in conjunction with the Leica".

The Model 11 is the first coupled rangefinder Leica. It remained in production until 1948. The finish was either black and nickel, black and chrome or chrome. Early models show some variations compared to later models:

Large speed dial (15.5 mm diameter).
Yellow filter over one rangefinder window.
Indent around speed dial housing which is also curved rather than angular.
Additionally the early Elmar lens has an 11 o'clock infinity release catch.

The price in 1932 was £22.

The FARUX panoramic head replaced the earlier FIAMI of 1931. The newer model had interchangeable rings for different lenses. A number of accessories could be used with the panoramic head:

Angle bracket - FIAVI.
Case level (spirit level) - DOOLU or FIBLA.
Ball-jointed tripod head - FIAKU or KGOON.
Curved lateral holder, to protect the base plate of the camera - VEZUK.
Tripod head with spring catch - SDOOG.

The Angle bracket was used to align the lens over the centre of the panoramic head. The FIAVI was introduced in 1929, early versions had a rounded accessory shoe and a base length of 97 mm. With the introduction of strap lugs on cameras (1933) a cut-out had to be introduced in the base, the length remained the same. Later the tripod socket, to which the bracket attached to the panoramic head, was moved closer to the accessory shoe this meant that the vertical alignment was wrong so a longer base model, 110 mm, was introduced.

The BEHOO unit was especially useful when photographing books, coins and other flat objects. In use one of the 3 tubes is screwed between the lens and the camera. The clamping ring attaches to the front of the lens and the legs screw into the clamping ring. Around the ring are positions for the legs marked 1.5, 2, 3, V, these correspond to the tube in use (V was the position for using close-up lenses on the BEOOY). The legs have sets of yellow and white rings painted on them, yellow is for the Summar lens, white is for the Elmar and Hektor. The legs are extended to the appropriate ring, these are marked for each of the extension tubes, the 1.5 tube requiring the shortest extension.

Older models, then called BEMAR, had only the white rings for the Elmar.

References & Notes:

BP 371252/1932. BP 379954/1932. BP 383233/1932. BP 383911/1932. BJA 1933, pp. 268, 514.; PJ 5/32, p. xix (drawing of lens).; Leica Cat. 1933.; Leica Cat. 1936.; Leica Cat. NY, 1939.;Hasbroeck, Leica

Early Photography

Leica 11

1932

Early Black and Nickel model

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

Germany

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

Notes:

With:

Code Names:

Leica 11

Later Black and Nickel model

1933

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

Germany

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Identification:

Serial Number:

With:

Code Names:

Leica 11

Later Chrome model

1933

E. Leitz G.M.B.H.

Wetzlar

Germany

Lens:

Shutter:

Construction:

Format:

Focusing:

Attributes:

Serial Number:

Notes:

With:

Code Names:

References & Notes: