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The new Mark II Artist’s Viewfinder app is the successor of Viewfinder product line. The Mark II, sporting a completely redesigned main screen and operation paradigm, was rebuilt from the ground up to take advantage of new technologies available in iOS 7 and to create a platform for innovative new features. The new app is also the world’s first real-time distortion correction feature that eliminates the wide converter’s barrel distortion. The Mark II also leverages DIRE Studio’s precise simulation engine and extensive Viewfinder Camera Database, containing more than 400 still and motion picture cameras, 150 medium/large format backs and countless lenses including the whole Leica range. You can get more information about the Mark II Artist’s Viewfinder by visiting its microsite and on iTunes.
Very rare IIIf body with self timer in perfect, original condition, top plate engraved ‘Ernst Leitz Canada Limited Midland Ontario’, with matching Ernst Leitz Canada Ltd. Midland Summarit 1.5/5cm no.1246980 (cap) and Leicavit SYOOM engraved ‘Ernst Leitz Canada Limited Midland Ontario’ only small batches of the IIIf were prepared by Leitz Canada and engraved with the name of the Canadian manufacturer.
These four cameras (ex Leitz Museum) show the evolution of M6 from the wooden design model to a working prototype camera:
(1) wooden demonstration model with metal lens mount, frame selector and apparently very long film winding mechanism, covered with leather and marked ‘ MADE BY LEITZ PORTUGAL ‘ on the back , the top plate is unmarked, but with the typical Leica Museum sticker numbered ‘1405’.
(2) The second model already has metal applications, the base plate is removed by a centrally placed screw, only the shutter speed dial, the rewind crank and the frame selector lever can be moved, the top plate shows the red Leitz logo and the lettering ‘LEICA M6 ELECTRONIC’.
(3) The third model is probably the most planned study, the base plate has a battery chamber and a motor connection with a cut-away model of a Motor Drive R4, the top plate is beveled on the side of the rewind crank, the shutter speed dial, engraved with 100, B, X and 1-1/1000 sec. above the ISO setting dial and exposure compensation, on the back of the top plate is a switch similar to the Leica R3, the back is fitted with a DIN/ASA indicator, top plate engraved ‘LEICA M6’. With unmarked dummy lens.
(4) The last camera is already a fully functional prototype, the top plate is engraved: ‘ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR GMBH’, on front: ‘LEICA M6’, the base plate with the Leica Museum sticker with number ‘2308’, shutter speed dial and film indicator show clear differences to the later production model, the cameras leather covering is marked ‘MADE IN GERMANY’, with serial number 1621532 (approx.1983) which is assigned to M4-P. The first official production camera is no.1657251. The Leica M6 was the first Leica with TTL exposure metering in a classic M housing. All the electronics finally found space in the area of the previously built-in self-timer.
Unique chrome Monochrom ‘Ralph Gibson’ edition with red signature on top plate and red leather covering, in new condition with certificate and maker’s box, with matching chrome Summicron-M 2/35mm Asph. no.4047586, complete in maker’s box.
Very rare Japanese Leica III copy in beautiful and 100% original condition, with Nippon-Kogaku Tokyo Nikkor-QC 3.5/5cm no.571107, according to the Nippon expert Prof. Ryosuke Mori (see Camera Review no. 58) a maximum of only 100 cameras were buit just after the war using also parts of other cameras, only about 20 are known to exist, this is probably the best of all known cameras regarding its condition.
Leica Camera Japan will release a new “Leica X2 Red Leather” camera to commemorate the first anniversary of the Leica Daimaru Shinsaibashi store. Only 20 pieces will be produced. The price will be ¥273,000 (around $2,600). The camera will be released on March 1st, 2014.
Second part of the interview that Leica Akademie Italy has made with Joel Meyerowitz in Milan, in which the American master talks about the Leica M, a camera that has been his tool of choice for street photography in the ’60 and ’70, and that today is his companion for daily shooting.
