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FILCA Clone


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I've posted before about the different film cassettes made for other cameras, and how almost all are variations of the Contax cassette design that won't work with Leica, and Leica cassettes generally don't work in the Leica clones - except the Japanese Nicca cameras do work with the FILCA.

Well, I finally found a true FILCA clone, made (of course) by NICCA. The sample I found shows no signs of having been used - it looks pristine. The design and dimensions are also very close to the FILCA (not the IXMOO) in all details:

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Even the felt seals in the ends of the cassette seem identical to the FILCA. The rivets for the spring are in the same place, but slightly smaller, and the end of the spring is slightly different: not rounded. (possibly a damaged part before assembly) The spool on the NICCA is plastic, but otherwise a copy of the FILCA design, even to the internal catch for the film leader.

It of course works in my two NICCA bodies (which also work with FILCA), and works in most of my LTM Leica bodies, but on a couple the bottom won't close - probably due to the shape of the spring end and also the variations in shape of the "finger" on the baseplates that should lift the spring. I've also found some genuine FILCA that don't work in all my LTM bodies without some tweaking on the end of the spring.

I also have a Type A FILCA that doesn't have any markings on it to indicate it is Leica, so I don't know if it is just very early, or a clone.

I'm curious if anyone else has found copies of the Leica FILCA?

 

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