Leica Standard
 |
|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Type | 35 mm camera |
| Lens | |
| Lens mount | Leica 39 mm |
| Focusing | |
| Focus | helical |
| Exposure/Metering | |
| Exposure | 24 × 36 mm on 35 mm film |
The Leica Standard, Model E was the fourth version of the original 35 mm Leica camera to be launched from Ernst Leitz in Wetzlar, Germany. The concept was conceived by their employee Oskar Barnack in 1913. Production of the camera began in 1925 but it wasn't until the end of the decade that it was perfected and full-scale production was established.
The Leica Standard, Model E was the fourth version of the original 35 mm Leica camera to be launched from Ernst Leitz in Wetzlar, Germany. The concept was conceived by their employee Oskar Barnack in 1913 at which time two prototypes were built. However, it was not until 1924 that Leitz decided to go ahead with the concept and production began the following year. By the end of the decade, the camera had been perfected and full-scale production was established.
The Leica Standard was introduced as a basic model by Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar in October 1932. The camera was in production at the same time as the Leica II and Leica III models that have coupled rangefinders; the latter also has the faster speed of 1/1000 sec. It has a standardised lens mount with distance from film plane to lens flange fixed to 28.8 mm, a Leitz standard. This feature was first seen on late Leica I model C cameras in 1931, and all Leica II, Model D from 1932, identified by a "0" (zero) stamped on the lens mount flange at the top, to indicate the implementation of the standard, a practice that was continued for some time. It is found on early Leica Standards as well. On the back of these models there is a hole covered by a black plug, presumably for back focus calibration. The original lens for the Leica Standard when introduced was the Leitz Elmar 1:3,5 F=50mm in a collapsible nickel-plated focusing mount with infinity catch.
The Leica Standard was at first only finished in black enamel with nickel-plated lens barrel and camera controls. The only improvement over its predecessor, the Leica I model C, was the smaller diameter extendible rewind knob. The accessory shoe at the top plate sits exactly above the lensmount for fitting either a rangefinder or an accessory viewfinder. The serial numbering began at 101.001 and continued consecutively to 106.000. These cameras were made between October 1932 and early 1934. By this time, production of chrome-finished Standard cameras had started in small numbers. After 1936, however, most of the production was finished in chrome, and from 1940, the Standard was available in chrome finish only. Not many were made each year after 1940, except that 461 cameras were made in 1947. The Standard camera was replaced in 1949 by the viewfinder-less Leica Ic as the basic camera in the Leica line. Those made after 1945 share body casting with the contemporary models prepared for slow speeds. A disc covers the spot occupied by the slow speed dial found on the other Leica models.
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