Pecole Posted July 29, 2010 Share #1 Posted July 29, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) On the occasion of a Belgian Air Force's squadron training at the Solenzara air base in Corsica in the late 1970s, I discovered that a local diving club who pioneered submarine photography for the Coustaud Group, had developed for 15 years a specific submarine casing for the Leica IIIf/Summaron 35 called "Aquaphot". After many visits, I succeeded in buying a heavily used but complete and working set. On photos 1 and 2, front and rear views of the "beast". On photo 3, detail of the distance lever allowing to focus on 1, 3, 4 meters and infinity. And finally on the 3 last photos, the details of the installation of the Leica. The open and dismantled casing shows clearly the dented ring around the Summaron and the coupling dented wheel inside the casing, the release "pusher", the four securing bolts and, on the top of the casing, the protruding "bicycle tire-type" valve for applying internal air pressure. One will note on the rear part of the black painted aluminium cast casing, the marks "Aquaphot" and "Made in France". 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! 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/127248-fontenelle-archives-10-aquaphot-for-leica-iiif/?do=findComment&comment=1391050'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 29, 2010 Posted July 29, 2010 Hi Pecole, Take a look here Fontenelle archives 10 : Aquaphot for Leica IIIf. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
aesop Posted July 29, 2010 Share #2 Posted July 29, 2010 ...amazing, sturdy looking casing - any idea of the depth limits of this equipment? My assumption is that, dependent on depth, some sort of flashgun or lighting device would have been required. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SideB Posted July 29, 2010 Share #3 Posted July 29, 2010 Thanks for sharing this with us. I don't think I'd trust my precious IIIf and Summaron in that contraption. I have just used them during a visit to Greece and been delighted with the results but I made sure not to allow them anywhere near the water as salt is highly corrosive. Is the V sight on top the remains of the viewfinder or was that it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
likalar Posted July 29, 2010 Share #4 Posted July 29, 2010 I really enjoyed your excellent write-up and detailed photos. Well done! Thanks for taking your time to share this unusual casing. Larry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted July 30, 2010 Share #5 Posted July 30, 2010 Looks like there is a blanked off socket above the camera for a flash socket to be fitted. FWIW both Leica and R G Lewis of London built housings for rangefinder cameras. I remember working at R G Lewis when I was learning to dive as a student. The then manager, Bert Curry, had tales of going down to Lulworth Cove in the 1950s to test out their prototype housings - from what I gathered they had no dive training, simply bought the scuba gear and waded in with the camera housing. I'm not sure how many were built or sold but I have seen one which was brought into the shop. R G Lewis still held a few spares for it in those days although these were passed onto Ocean Optics in the early 80s. Cast housings like these usually had a minimum economic run - at a guess 25~50 - so they are likely to be fairly rare these days. They were very difficult to use and almost certainly died out with the advent of the Calypsophot/Nikonos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted July 30, 2010 Thanks for sharing this with us. I don't think I'd trust my precious IIIf and Summaron in that contraption. I have just used them during a visit to Greece and been delighted with the results but I made sure not to allow them anywhere near the water as salt is highly corrosive. Is the V sight on top the remains of the viewfinder or was that it? All what I know is that French divers trusted the equipment, but used it in limited depths (probably not more than 5 to 7 meter, as far as I can remember). The V thing on top is not a remain, but the actual "viewfinder", of gunsight type. Looks coarse? don't forget it is 50 years old and quite inovative for these times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted July 30, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) On the occasion of a Belgian Air Force's squadron training at the Solenzara air base in Corsica in the late 1970s, I discovered that a local diving club who pioneered submarine photography for the Coustaud Group, had developed for 15 years a specific submarine casing for the Leica IIIf/Summaron 35 called "Aquaphot". After many visits, I succeeded in buying a heavily used but complete and working set.On photos 1 and 2, front and rear views of the "beast". On photo 3, detail of the distance lever allowing to focus on 1, 3, 4 meters and infinity. And finally on the 3 last photos, the details of the installation of the Leica. The open and dismantled casing shows clearly the dented ring around the Summaron and the coupling dented wheel inside the casing, the release "pusher", the four securing bolts and, on the top of the casing, the protruding "bicycle tire-type" valve for applying internal air pressure. One will note on the rear part of the black painted aluminium cast casing, the marks "Aquaphot" and "Made in France". CORRECTION !!!! I'm sorry, but reading again my old notes about the Aquaphot, I realize I confused two things in my original description of the pixes (my wife would sigh "Alzheimer"...). The big button is the film advance system, with the corresponding friction disc inside the housing, and the protruding "valve" is in fact the release "button". And I can add that the depth limit for use was 6 m and no flash connexion was foreseen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted July 30, 2010 Share #8 Posted July 30, 2010 Just a detail... in your 3rd image it looks that onto the front "hole", behind which there is the lens, seems there is NOT a glass plaque : is it missing or is there one, but more recessed ? Surely they could not keep the lens' front element directly in contact with water... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted July 30, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted July 30, 2010 Just a detail... in your 3rd image it looks that onto the front "hole", behind which there is the lens, seems there is NOT a glass plaque : is it missing or is there one, but more recessed ? Surely they could not keep the lens' front element directly in contact with water... Hi, Luigi! There is definitely a glass in front of the lens ! Maybe I cleaned it too well before taking the pix... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted July 31, 2010 Share #10 Posted July 31, 2010 CORRECTION !!!!I'm sorry, but reading again my old notes about the Aquaphot, I realize I confused two things in my original description of the pixes (my wife would sigh "Alzheimer"...). The big button is the film advance system, with the corresponding friction disc inside the housing, and the protruding "valve" is in fact the release "button". And I can add that the depth limit for use was 6 m and no flash connexion was foreseen. Dear Aloïs, the release button is on the front of the case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pecole Posted July 31, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted July 31, 2010 Dear Aloïs,the release button is on the front of the case. OK, autant pour moi, as we use to say in franglais. I believe that my wife will now add the first name of...who are we talking about? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted July 31, 2010 Share #12 Posted July 31, 2010 OK, autant pour moi, as we use to say in franglais. I believe that my wife will now add the first name of...who are we talking about? La vie est rude parfois ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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