New to the Leica world! Just inherited a Leica D...

[Filmmaker78]

...or a Leica II.

I just inherited what I'm pretty sure is a Leica D (or II - don't know the difference yet) from my grandfather who recently moved out of a house he's been in for 30 years. Doubtful that this is a fake since he was into photography in his younger years (although it's always possible).

It is No. 74765.








My first step is to get the body and lenses serviced, and to then find an intro class. I'm in SoCal, so if anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears. Thanks!

[luigi bertolotti]

Very uneven it's a fake... some more pics of the body would be appreciated, but indeed this looks like a genuine Leica II ("model D" was the name used for USA market): interesting for it's of the very first production batch (they started at 71200) and the year was... 1932 ! More than 3/4 of a century ! If it's still working (not impossible) is really a fine pice, though not rare in itself (to give an idea, more than 50000 Leica II were produced, more than 20000 in 1932 only...). But in the Leica collectors world, a "five digit" body has always a certain add-on value. It surely deserves to be kept with care: if not properly working, it can also be restored by some labs.
The two Leitz lenses are two common "classic normal", the 5cm Elmar and the superluminous 5 cm Summar, while the tele looks a Leica-compatible Canon (I do not know them well... could be a 135mm, I think). The additional Viewfinder looks like an original Leitz multifocal known as VIOOH, not rare, but appreciable: but I'm not so sure, looking at the posted pic... several external viewfinders were made by 3rd parties too.

[jc_braconi]

I second Luigi on this post, just add that the speed wheel is of the large one model as found on first model Leica II with nickel knobs and wheel.

[Filmmaker78]

Thank you both for the quick response. Yes, the tele on it is a Canon -- "Serenar 1:4 1.35cm."

Here are some more images (note the slide film that I recovered from the camera):









The underside:

[Dáithí]

I have my dad's old D (or II) and it works just fine. Leica screw mounts were made for so long there are lots of used accessories on the market.

Yours has a few dings but I certainly would check it with a roll of film. I should note that nowadays I only use the II for B&W and do color on my MP.

Enjoy it!!

Edited to add:
I am sure there are old copies of the hardbound "Leica manual" on the market. Check out Alibris.com and Abebooks.com. I have found a lot of older books through them. The manual can get you through loading, rewinding, setting shutter speeds and such basics.

[lars_bergquist]

That Canon lens is somewhat interesting. Seiko Kogaku adopted the 'Canon' name in 1947. The mount is outwardly of the first type, which was originally not rangefinder coupled, but had the rangefinder coupling at least since 1949. Check if the rangefinder reacts when you move the focusing ring. Check also if the lens is marked 'Made in Occupied Japan', probably crosswise on the underside near the camera mount. In that case it is from before 1951, when Japan regained its formal independence.

Postwar Canon rangefinder cameras used a compatible Leica 39mm thread mount for their lenses. Nikon (ex-Nippon Kogaku) also made versions of their lenses in that mount, and 39mm mount lenses of both brands were widely sold for use on Leica cameras, especially in the U.S.A., after photographers covering the Korean War had made these brands known in the West.

Also look carefully at the Summar, a lens that was discontinued in 1940. The front lens was made of somewhat soft glass, and reasonably unscratched specimens are not common. If yours is one, clean it very cautiously. Leitz prewar lenses were all uncoated. If this lens is coated, the coating has probably been applied later; Leitz did offer this service during the late 1940's, maybe even later.

The old man from the Age of the LTM

[vickersdc]

That looks neat - I've got a later 1937 Leica II and it still comes out with me on a daily basis! Although thay don't seem to command the high premium of other Leica's (which is how come I can afford one!), they are notable for being the first model fitted with a rangefinder; also lots and lots of lenses and general paraphenalia to go with them too.

Well worth getting it serviced and actually using it.

David.

[Filmmaker78]

Thank you everyone, and David -- Yes, I definitely plan to get it serviced and then start running some film through it. I think in this digital age film can be more fun if it's something more unique and challenging.