Did Russia Buy Rights To Produce Leica Cameras?

Leica Two (1939), with a later Canon lens

The Leica copies originate from the Leica photographic camera that was launched past Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar in 1925, using the Leica 39mm screw mountain of 26 threads per inch (25.4 mm), and the standard 35mm film. The blueprint was carried out past Oskar Barnack, beginning in 1913 past building a camera for 24×36 mm negatives that past now is called the Ur-Leica; just Ernst Leitz did not determine to manufacture it until 1924. Once started, the Leica production volume doubled each year; in 1929, some 16.000 cameras were produced. In 1930, an improved model with interchangeable lens was introduced, followed a yr afterward by the fully adult Leica 2 with standardized film to lens flange distance, and in 1932 the basic Leica Standard; the Leica concept was established. This camera'south features are the basis for defining a Leica copy.^{[ane] [ii]}

The mail 1932 Leica II and Leica Iii cameras were differentiated by the latter having a "wearisome speed dial" on the front of the photographic camera to the left of the lens mount. After 1940, with the introduction of the Leica IIIc, the upper trunk was dice cast rather than stamped and the visual advent of the camera changed with a more prominent shutter-crate around the lens mountain -- this was not covered with leather as in the previous models. The Soviet cameras followed the pattern of the Leica 2, while virtually of the Asian cameras included the ho-hum-speed feature. ^[3] The earlier copies used the stamped upper torso, while a few of the later cameras had dice bandage upper bodies. Several of the Asian brands combined the viewfinder and rangefinder features, this was not done on the Barnack Leica cameras or Soviet copies.

After World War II, the Allied countries made all German patents in their country bachelor to the public free of accuse. Ernst Leitz had no patents registered in the USSR. Cameras introduced later would not cause patent rights infringements equally far equally the early Leica models are concerned.^[3]

One set of specifications which may define a Leica copy, are described past Hans P. Rajner,^[3] is:

• 1 - Predominantly a rangefinder/viewfinder camera type
• two - With the 39mm Leica screw lens mount with approximately one mm pitch
• 3 - and a 28.8 mm motion-picture show to lens flange altitude
• 4 - Using the 35mm motion picture format
• 5 - And employing a focal-plane shutter

Some 500 private camera models that were produced by a big number of photographic camera manufacturers since the introduction of the Leica fall into this category. These originate from about 21 original Leica inspired cameras. However, some of these never made it by the prototype stage, and some came on the market only in very small quantities. There are differing opinions on when the Canon (Kwanon)line of cameras became Leica copies; the earliest of these had Leica inspired bodies, but Contax inspired lens mounts and Nikkor lenses. Those brands that made it to the market past more than a few thousands are listed hither.

(But the kickoff model by each manufacturer is mentioned, while the indicated period encompasses the entire range of models until the end of production)

• 1934 - 1990: The FED manufactured in the Kharkov labour district in USSR.^[4]
• 1934 - 1968: Kwanon (later Canon) manufactured in Japan past Seiki Kogaku, Tokyo, but see discussion page.^[v]
• 1940 - 1961: The Leotax manufactured in Japan by Showa Kogaku, Tokyo.^[half-dozen]
• 1947 - 1959: The Minolta-35 manufactured by Chiyoda Kogaku, Osaka (24×32 mm at first).^[7]
• 1947 - 1954: Kardon manufactured by Premier Instrument Corp., New York, USA.^[3]
• 1948 - 1959: Nicca manufactured in Nihon by Nippon Camera Co. Ltd, Tokyo.^[3]
• 1948 - 1977: Zorki manufactured in USSR by KMZ, Krasnogorsk.^[4]
• 1951 - 1964: Reid Post WWII by Reid and Sigrist from seized Leitz plans
• 1953 - 1959: Tanack IIC manufactured in Japan by Tanaka Optical Co., Tokyo.^[6]
• 1953 - 1961: Periflex manufactured in England by 1000. G. Corfield Ltd. Wolverhampton.^[8]
• 1958 - 1963: Shanghai 58-I manufactured in Cathay by Shanghai Camera Factory.^[nine]
• 1959 - 1960: Yashica YE manufactured by Yashica as a continuation of the Nicca range.^[iii]

Note: Some 35mm rangefinder cameras were besides partly inspired by the Zeiss Ikon Contax.^[10] Among these belong the 1935 Catechism and the 1948 Nikon rangefinder camera.^[11]

References [edit]

1. ^ Brian Long (1997). 35mm Cameras. The Crowood Printing, Wiltshire. ISBN978-1-86126-948-5.
2. ^ Dennis Laney (1992). Leica Collectors Guide. Hove Collectors Books, Hove. ISBN1-874707-00-half dozen.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} HPR (1994). Leica Copies. Classic Collection Publications, London. ISBNane-874485-05-4.
4. ^ ^{a b} Jean Loup Princelle (1995). Russian and Soviet Cameras. Hove Foto Books. ISBN1-874031-02-9.
5. ^ Peter Dechert (1989). Canon Rangefinder Cameras *1933-68. Hove Foto Books, Hove. ISBN0-906447-30-five.
6. ^ ^{a b} K. Sugiyama, H. Naoi and J.R. Bullock (1985). The Collectors Guide to Japanese Cameras "The Rosetta Stone..". The Quarter Planning Co., Ltd. Tokyo. ISBN0-87011-743-two.
7. ^ Scheibel, Anni Rita; Scheibel, Josef (1999). 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik - Von der Nifcalette [sic] bis zur Dynax 9 (in High german) (tertiary ed.). Stuttgart: Verlag der H. Lindemanns Buchhandlung. ISBN3-89506-191-3 . Retrieved 2012-10-16 .
8. ^ John E. Lewis (1985). The Periflex Story. Ericsen Lewis (Publications) Norwich UK. ISBN0-9510211-0-9.
9. ^ Douglas St Denny (1989). Cameras of the people'southward republic of China. Jessop Specialist Publishing. ISBN0-9514392-0-0.
10. ^ Dr. A. Neill and Ivor Matanle (1980). The Collector's Checklist of Contax and other Zeiss classic miniature cameras, lenses and accessories. Photographic camera Collector Books, Sussex.
11. ^ Robert Rotoloni (1983). Nikon rangefinder camera. Hove Foto Books, Sussex. ISBN0-906447-25-9.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_copies

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