pgk Posted November 23, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) More out of curiosity than anything elseI wondered just how much Leica RF cameras have been used by mountaineers, climbers, hill walkers and the like? I realise that they are often regarded as a 'street' photographer's tool, but as an avid browser in secondhand book shops I am forever coming across old books on mountains, hills, national parks, etc., and I wonder how many images may have been shot on lightweight RF Leicas. Some are - such as the images by W A Poucher - but I'm sure others used similar cameras in the hills. Does anyone have any thoughts? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 23, 2009 Posted November 23, 2009 Hi pgk, Take a look here Leica mountaineers & climbers. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 23, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 23, 2009 Paul, I can't imagine that the leica were not used, I have been scanning my grand fathers negatives, and find him hiking in Greenland, boating, climbing etc. I just posted some of his images in the people forum http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/people/106917-1958-greenland-hp.html He put his cameras as much in harms way as I do, and probably more. . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 23, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) I am an AVID mountaineer and climber (expecially when younger, about climbing... ), have always had interest in history of mountaineering and have several books about: well, Leica is undoubtly part of the history of mountaineering photography, for it was the first really LIGHT camera that could be carried with in certain situations, with excellent results in term of quality and resistance to weather, cold etc... I have a nice volume on history of photo in mountains in which the Author clearly writes that a certain kind of "action pictures" that started to be published in the '30s, at the times of the rush to 6th grade climbings, is definitely due to the availability of the Leica. Many pics of those years shows famous climbers with Leica in their hands ; one has also to consider that in the '30s there was a specific breed of top climbers coming from Germany (and Italy, indeed) - see the big wins in the famous "North faces problems" (Eiger - Matterhorn - Gr. Jorasses). You know, there has been also an old Leitz lens (Elmar 10,5 cm f 6,3) that is commonly called the "Alpine Elmar" because it was advertised as an excellent tele lens for mountaineering... very light and portable, and the Leica brochure specified that its limited max aperture "is not a problem at high altitudes, for the strong light that usually one enjoys in such environments". BTW, I recently bought in Paris an old and rare book : the official report of the French expedition that "made" the first 8000 (Annapurna, Herzog - Lachenal, 1950) ; at the end page, a small note details that the photos are taken with a FOCA Camera... the French sister of Leica that had a short but honorable story in the '50s... Edited November 23, 2009 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted November 23, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 23, 2009 Willi Unsoeld used an M3 (I think rather than an M4 which he also owned) to document his first ascent of the West Ridge of Everest with Tom Hornbein in 1963. Many of the photos in Hornbein's famous book- Everest- The West Ridge were taken with Willi's Leica. A few years ago, Willi's widow Jolene, who still has his cameras, told me Willi said the M3 (?) performed perfectly despite being hauled over the top of Everest slung over his neck and out of its case. Hornbein and Unsoeld were also the first to traverse Everest. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael-IIIf Posted November 23, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 23, 2009 BTW, I recently bought in Paris an old and rare book : the official report of the French expedition that "made" the first 8000 (Annapurna, Herzog - Lachenal, 1950) ; at the end page, a small note details that the photos are taken with a FOCA Camera... the French sister of Leica that had a short but honorable story in the '50s... One of my treasured climbing books is an original 1952 edition of Herzog's book. Was it originally published in English? There is no mention of a translator's note. Mine isn't in mint condition and probably isn't worth anything but I love it for it's photos and elegant fold-out map. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shac Posted November 24, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 24, 2009 I believe Barry Bishop used them on the same Everst expedition as Unsoeld and Hornbein (I think Tom used a Nikon F). At least the second Canadian Everest Expedition (if not the first) also used both Leica M's and R's (not b/c of the commemorative model - but b/c a friend used them on the 2nd climb). As others have said there are no doubt many more examples Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted November 24, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 24, 2009 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) One of my treasured climbing books is an original 1952 edition of Herzog's book. Was it originally published in English? There is no mention of a translator's note. Mine isn't in mint condition and probably isn't worth anything but I love it for it's photos and elegant fold-out map. The one I found is not the Herzog's book , which I red, even if haven't it : there is one at my local Alpine Club section... btw I seem it originated some disputations, after publishing, by Lachenal and Terray... ; mine is the "official" CAF-published report of the expedition.... I found it last autumn in one of those delicious small used bookshops in Paris, near the Pantheon... Edited November 24, 2009 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted November 24, 2009 Thanks for the information everyone. I'm surprised that not more has been made of the Leica M as a 'mountain' camera given its weight and size. I'm fascinated by the relative lack of change in some upland areas and often see pictures similar to those I've shot recently in quite old books. Having tried to 'retake' old photographs, its a great deal easier if you know what camera and lens were originally used (especially as many early postcard photographers used 'rising front' as a matter of course). I'll keep browsing the bookshops! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodger Posted November 24, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 24, 2009 Chris Bonington has a gorgeous array of well-used Leicas and equally well-used lenses in a drawer in his office. Alongside them are some brassy old OM cameras and lenses. He must have used Leicas on his early climbs in the 60s and the Olys on later ones into the 70s.....but a lot of his later mountain pix were on an Oly XA. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael-IIIf Posted November 24, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 24, 2009 Chris Bonington has a gorgeous array of well-used Leicas and equally well-used lenses in a drawer in his office. Alongside them are some brassy old OM cameras and lenses. He must have used Leicas on his early climbs in the 60s and the Olys on later ones into the 70s.....but a lot of his later mountain pix were on an Oly XA. I remember reading an article by him in Amateur Photographer back in the '80s; by that time he was already sponsored by Olympus having been given OM-1s for his '75 Everest expedition, but in the article he said if ever he was being paid to take photos in the mountains the only camera he would rely on was the Leica M4. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyp Posted November 24, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 24, 2009 Don't know about M cameras, but I've seen photos of Reinhold Messner using R cameras. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elansprint72 Posted November 24, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 24, 2009 Kenneth, don't even start: we have got the measure of you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shac Posted November 25, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 25, 2009 Just talked with Tom H - he took his Retina 1a to the top of Everest and confirms Unsoeld took his own Leica - but not sure which model Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted November 26, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 26, 2009 Leica pioneer Stephan Kruckenhauser was maybe more of a skier than a climber, but he took quite some summit pictures with his Leicas in the 1930's. 'Kruck' got M3 no. 700,000 presented to him. (It was manufactured in 1955 and retro-numbered; the count started on 700,001 of course.) The old man from the Screwy Age Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted November 26, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 26, 2009 Willi Unsoeld owned an M3 and M4 according to his wife Jolene. Since they climbed Everest in 1963 Willi had to have used an M3 on the West Ridge. Correct? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryzet Posted November 27, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 27, 2009 Austrian legend Herbert Tichy used a Leica - as can be seen in Kisselbachs Leica-Buch from 1957 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/104668-leica-mountaineers-climbers/?do=findComment&comment=1132578'>More sharing options...
giordano Posted November 27, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 27, 2009 Note the missing lens hood: those clamp-on A36 hoods are very easily knocked off in rough country. Also the ERC with non-removable front, a real nuisance but required because there were no strap lugs on the body. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted November 27, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 27, 2009 Leica pioneer Stephan Kruckenhauser was maybe more of a skier than a climber, but he took quite some summit pictures with his Leicas in the 1930's. 'Kruck' got M3 no. 700,000 presented to him. (It was manufactured in 1955 and retro-numbered; the count started on 700,001 of course.) Kruckenhauser elaborated quite a bit on the Leica as a mountaineer's camera. Two of his books (see covers below) are still worthwhile reading today and provide some interesting insights into the spirit and standards of outdoor photography at the time. http://www.tirol.gv.at/uploads/pics/buch04_01.jpg http://www.tirol.gv.at/uploads/pics/buch01_01.jpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryzet Posted November 27, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 27, 2009 not to forget Austro-Italian Director Luis Trenker and Nazi-bitch Leni Riefenstahl, who both were mountaineers Both used leicas from the 1930s on - i saw Trenkers camera for sale in the 1970s: A Leica A with Elmar and 135mm lens, both non-standarised. Riefenstahl used a IIIa, which is on the backcover of her book "5 lives" Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted December 5, 2009 Share #20 Posted December 5, 2009 Barnack used his invention to take on his ski trips to the mountains. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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