Dan Ryan Posted January 20, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 20, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) LEICA LEITZ II SYN BLACK PAINT SCREW MOUNT CAMERA - eBay (item 300514553682 end time Jan-20-11 06:00:30 PST) From the serial # it seems to be a III - after consulting Leica Historica by JC Braconi, And what is that patch on the front which looks like the one on a IIf ? I see from LH that the III is shown with a slow speed dial in that position. Has this one been removed? Hey, just noticed the same guy has sold this as a IIf http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemnext&item=300485645157.html Is the eyepiece at the rear correct for a IIf? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 20, 2011 Posted January 20, 2011 Hi Dan Ryan, Take a look here is this a real Leica II ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Michael Hiles Posted January 20, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 20, 2011 This looks inconsistent to me. There were many upgrades made by Leitz, but I wonder. I am anxious to hear what the experts say. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismon Posted January 20, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 20, 2011 Dan, I guess you could call either camera whatever you want. Both are still Leicas. Both are 1950's factory upgrades from earlier models, one was a II, the other a Standard. Now both have strap eyelets, chrome fittings, a III rangefinder, and a new (IIIF-type) shutter mechanism with a top speed of 1/1000. Both are nice cameras. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted January 20, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 20, 2011 Dan, The serial numbers on my web site give you the first and last one issued for that specific model, but that does not means that in between serial numbers were not allocated to other models. So this one seems to be a Leica II upgraded to a IIf. (no slow speeds dial knob on the body front, so this place is covered by a circular plate, vulcanite covered) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted January 20, 2011 Share #5 Posted January 20, 2011 I think to call it a "IIa sync." was right. After the last war Leitz offered an "updating" possibility for older cameras which had no flash synchronisation. In those cases they did not change the bodies, but made a completely new camera and gave it the serial number of the original which was sent to them by the customer. In case of an old II they didn't use the housing of the II, but those for the III and IIIa which had the slow speed knob in front and just closed the hole for the missing knob in the way they dealt with the IIc, IIf. Here you find more explanations about this practice especially in the postings by "elkinon": http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-sammler-historica/127510-das-ist-doch-keine-leica-iif.html#post1345458 In the last no. of "vidom" by Leica Historica e.V. you find an essay about those "sync." cameras with many illustrations. Leseproben Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Ryan Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share #6 Posted January 20, 2011 Thanks Michael, Ismon and JC Braconi. Uliwer those links were very good. I enjoyed the conversation in that other thread. Every question which had occurred to me was discussed. The Vidom is a fascinating publication. I am so glad that I placed my question here. I can see how people get very involved in the history and collecting of Leica cameras. Dan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ron (Netherlands) Posted January 21, 2011 Share #7 Posted January 21, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Personally I find these the most beautiful LTM Leica's made, in fact they are so special since they were not ready available in the shop, but could only be acquired as an conversion. and in fact they are kind of a mixture of other models. Most I have seen are the Leica IIa synch conversion (the one also in the Ebay ad). The III is very rare. At the time these conversions were very expensive since they changed almost the complete camera: not only the shutter was changed to make it ready for the flash synchronization, and not only the top cover was changed, but the camera became also the wider body of the later IIf and IIIf cameras, so also the body shell and the bottom plate were part of the conversion! btw here's mine (conversion from an original 1932 Leica II) - shown before in another thread on conversions: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ismon Posted January 21, 2011 Share #8 Posted January 21, 2011 I have examples of models D and F (D in black, F in chrome) with factory conversions to "G-sync.". I much prefer the black body, and both retain the original short-body shells. 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/142100-is-this-a-real-leica-ii/?do=findComment&comment=1565277'>More sharing options...
Guest Ron (Netherlands) Posted January 21, 2011 Share #9 Posted January 21, 2011 I have examples of models D and F (D in black, F in chrome) with factory conversions to "G-sync.". I much prefer the black body, and both retain the original short-body shells. Ismon it seems indeed that my camera also has the small original body length. So I guess what I wrote about the bigger bodies doesn't apply to your and my cameras. First time I see that chrome one btw, very nice (can you post a bigger picture?) and the III is very rare IMHO Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted January 21, 2011 Share #10 Posted January 21, 2011 ...At the time these conversions were very expensive since they changed almost the complete camera: not only the shutter was changed to make it ready for the flash synchronization, and not only the top cover was changed, but the camera became also the wider body of the later IIf and IIIf cameras, so also the body shell and the bottom plate were part of the conversion! ... It is true that the "sync-models" were (almost) completely rebuilt. According to what I read from forum member "elkinon" and in the last number of "vidoom" which covers the conversions, the original II and III bodies were not changed to the larger IIf and IIIf bodies. Leitz used housings for the III/IIIa to convert the old cameras. According to "Leitz Informationen für den Photofachhandel" no. 5 from April 1951 there was no conversion from Leica I, II oder III/IIIa to IIf or IIIf, but only from Ic, IIc or IIIc to the different f-models or from a lower to a higher c- or f-model. In April 1951 the prices were: Leica II to III: 140,- DM Leica II to IIIa : 165,- DM At the same time the price for a new Leica IIIf without lens was 510,- DM; a IIc without lens was 330,- DM. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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