Rangefinder differences

[lmans]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

FODIS.....FOFER.....FOKOS...   Am I on the right track here:

The FOFER has a larger wheel......     

The FOKOS is horizontal and meant for the Leica Standard.

The FODIS has a smaller wheel than the FOFER.

What am I missing? 

Edited September 3 by lmans

[alan mcfall]

Please see the this forum posts, starting March 13, 2017 for previous analysis of the long based rangefinders, FODIS and FOFER. Just use the forum search function.

[lmans]

Thanks...I h ave searched and found some info, but more or less incomplete....I was looking to update that.... 🙂

[willeica]

5 hours ago, alan mcfall said:

Please see the this forum posts, starting March 13, 2017 for previous analysis of the long based rangefinders, FODIS and FOFER. Just use the forum search function.

Alan, the search function is not as good as it used to be. I often cannot find my own posts these days, whereas at one stage I could always find them. The probable cause is that it is not 'smart' and now throws up too much information usually based on the most recent reference to a term in the forum. This is not unusual, as Google itself these days assumes that you want to buy something rather than simply do search/research and you often have to wade through commercial offerings to find what you want. 

5 hours ago, lmans said:

FODIS.....FOFER.....FOKOS...   Am I on the right track here:

The FOFER has a larger wheel......     

The FOKOS is horizontal and meant for the Leica Standard.

The FODIS has a smaller wheel than the FOFER.

What am I missing? 

These are the main variants, but the range of rangefinders goes back to before the Leica with models for large format etc. They also produced rangefinders for other manufacturers, such as Nagel, for whom they produced the 'N' marked FOFER which has closer minimum focus distances, designed for use with the Nagel Pupille. Last June I attended a talk by Peter Karbe on Leitz rangefinders at the 100th Anniversary celebrations and I happened to have a FOFER N with me. I asked Peter about the differences compared to the normal FOFER and Ottmar Michaely, the great Leica mechanic, who had worked with Peter on his presentation, was able to tell me that the FOFER N had a different metal cam inside to handle the different distance scales. You should be aware as well that all of the main Leitz rangefinders were available in both metre and feet scale variants. I have the FOFER N in both scales. 

Peter's talk is available online now

The huge rangefinder is only for display purposes and it 'lives' in the Ernst Leitz Museum in Wetzlar. For a full list of Leitz rangefinders you would need to look at Dennis Laney's Leica Collector's Guide. 

William 

[luigi bertolotti]

7 hours ago, lmans said:

 

What am I missing? 

Some good book... 😉 (Laney - Lager, just to start...) and, as is for other Leitz items, codes do spread depending on what is included in the commercial item : for instance, FODIS is identical to FODUA, but buying a FODIS one took also its leather case EUDIT, and so on... Btw, Laney quotes also some rangefinders not made for photo, but for surveying usage (and their codes, not by chance, are typically GEOxx)

[jerzy]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb willeica:

FOFER N had a different metal cam inside to handle the different distance scales

yes, but as well the wheel is different. I do not mean here engravings, this is obvious but the cutout on the backside of the wheel, similar to this on the right photo. N version rotates roughly 300 degree while on regular Fofer it is roughly 280 degree. Other parts are the same.

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!

[lmans]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

8 hours ago, willeica said:

Alan, the search function is not as good as it used to be. I often cannot find my own posts these days, whereas at one stage I could always find them. The probable cause is that it is not 'smart' and now throws up too much information usually based on the most recent reference to a term in the forum. This is not unusual, as Google itself these days assumes that you want to buy something rather than simply do search/research and you often have to wade through commercial offerings to find what you want. 

These are the main variants, but the range of rangefinders goes back to before the Leica with models for large format etc. They also produced rangefinders for other manufacturers, such as Nagel, for whom they produced the 'N' marked FOFER which has closer minimum focus distances, designed for use with the Nagel Pupille. Last June I attended a talk by Peter Karbe on Leitz rangefinders at the 100th Anniversary celebrations and I happened to have a FOFER N with me. I asked Peter about the differences compared to the normal FOFER and Ottmar Michaely, the great Leica mechanic, who had worked with Peter on his presentation, was able to tell me that the FOFER N had a different metal cam inside to handle the different distance scales. You should be aware as well that all of the main Leitz rangefinders were available in both metre and feet scale variants. I have the FOFER N in both scales. 

Peter's talk is available online now

The huge rangefinder is only for display purposes and it 'lives' in the Ernst Leitz Museum in Wetzlar. For a full list of Leitz rangefinders you would need to look at Dennis Laney's Leica Collector's Guide. 

William 

Very nice response all around....fascinating video as well. Thanks for including this. I will have to get the book listed Laney and Lager and read up on this.

You are also right regarding the searching of information on this forum and no, it is not easy. I feel most people that have questions 'stumble' upon 'some answers' that might repsond to their question. The forum itself is cumbersome to search. 

jim

[willeica]

13 hours ago, jerzy said:

yes, but as well the wheel is different. I do not mean here engravings, this is obvious but the cutout on the backside of the wheel, similar to this on the right photo. N version rotates roughly 300 degree while on regular Fofer it is roughly 280 degree. Other parts are the same.

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!

That is probably what Ottmar was describing to me, Jerzy. He was using the word 'cam' and waving his hands about, but he could have been describing the extra 20 degrees.

William 

 

[jc_braconi]

When you have found all the names you can apply them to this picture ...
.

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!

[jc_braconi]

This design belongs to Dirk Daniel Mann, with his courtesy :

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!