Leica copies
Encyclopedia
After World War II
, the Allied countries
made all German patents in their country available to the public free of charge. Ernst Leitz had no patents registered in the USSR. Cameras introduced later would not cause patent rights infringements as far as the early Leica models are concerned.
; the Leica concept was established. This camera's features are the basis for defining a Leica copy.
(Only the first model by each manufacturer is mentioned, while the indicated period encompasses the entire range of models until the end of production)
Note: Some 35mm rangefinder cameras were also partly inspired by the Zeiss Ikon Contax
. Among these belong the 1935 Canon and the 1948 Nikon rangefinder camera
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Allied countries
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
made all German patents in their country available to the public free of charge. Ernst Leitz had no patents registered in the USSR. Cameras introduced later would not cause patent rights infringements as far as the early Leica models are concerned.
The Leica
The Leica camera using the 35mm perforated film was launched by Ernst Leitz, Wetzlar in 1925. The design was carried out by Oscar Barnack, beginning in 1913 by building a camera for 24×36mm negatives that by now is called the Ur-Leica; but Ernst Leitz did not decide to manufacture it until 1924. Once started, the Leica production volume doubled each year; in 1929, some 16.000 cameras were produced. In 1930, an improved model with interchangeable lens was introduced, followed a year later by the fully developed Leica II with standardized film to lens flange distance, and in 1932 the basic Leica StandardLeica Standard
The Leica Standard, Model E was the fourth version to be launched from Ernst Leitz in Wetzlar, Germany. The concept was conceived by their employee Oscar 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...
; the Leica concept was established. This camera's features are the basis for defining a Leica copy.
The set of specifications chosen to define a screw mount Leica copy
As described by HPR:- 1 - Predominantly a rangefinder/viewfinder cameraRangefinder cameraA rangefinder camera is a camera fitted with a rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus...
type - 2 - With a 39mm diameter screw lens mountLens mountA lens mount is an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a photographic camera body and a lens. It is confined to cameras where the body allows interchangeable lenses, most usually the single lens reflex type or any movie camera of 16 mm or higher gauge...
with approximately 1mm pitch - 3 - and a 28.8mm film to lens flange distanceFlange focal distanceFor an interchangeable lens camera, the flange focal distance of a lens mount system is the distance from the mounting flange to the...
- 4 - Using the 35mm135 filmThe term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
film format - 5 - And employing a focal-plane shutterFocal-plane shutterIn camera design, a focal-plane shutter is a type of photographic shutter that is positioned immediately in front of the focal plane of the camera, that is, right in front of the photographic film or image sensor.-Two-curtain shutters:...
Leica copies
Some 500 individual camera models that were produced by a large number of camera manufacturers since the introduction of the Leica fall into this category. These originate from about 21 original Leica inspired cameras. However, some of these never made it past the prototype stage, and some came on the market only in very small quantities. Those who made it to the market by more than a few thousands were:(Only the first model by each manufacturer is mentioned, while the indicated period encompasses the entire range of models until the end of production)
- 1934 - 1990: The FEDFED (camera)The FED is a Soviet rangefinder camera, mass produced from 1934 until around 1990, and also the name of the factory that made it.FED is indirectly named after Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Cheka...
manufactured in the Kharkov labour commune in USSR - 1940 - 1961: The Leotax manufactured in Japan by Showa Kogaku, Tokyo
- 1947 - 1959: The Minolta-35Minolta 35The Minolta-35 was launched in the spring of 1947 by Chiyoda Kogaku. It was the first successful new 35mm rangefinder camera with Leica specifications to emerge on the market after World War II that utilises the 39mm screw lens-mount. The Minolta-35 range of cameras was manufactured in quantities...
manufactured by Chiyoda Kogaku, Osaka (24×32mm at first). - 1947 - 1954: Kardon manufactured by Premier Instrument Corp., New York, USA
- 1948 - 1959: NiccaNiccaThe Nicca Camera Co. Ltd. started as the optical workshop Kōgaku Seiki Co. in 1940, founded by former employees of Canon. Its first camera, the Nippon, a close copy of the Leica rangefinder camera, was produced in 1942....
manufactured in Japan by Nippon Camera Co. Ltd, Tokyo - 1948 - 1977: ZorkiZorkiZorki is the name of a series of 35mm rangefinder cameras manufactured in the Soviet Union between 1948 and 1978.The Zorki was a product of the Krasnogorsk Mechanical Factory , which also produced the Zenit single lens reflex camera...
manufactured in USSR by KMZ, Krasnogorsk. - 1951 - 1968: Canon III manufactured in Japan by Seiki Kogaku, Tokyo, but see discussion page
- 1953 - 1959: Tanack IIC manufactured in Japan by Tanaka Optical Co., Tokyo
- 1953 - 1961: PeriflexCorfield PeriflexThe Periflex 35mm rangefinder camera was launched by K. G. Corfield Ltd, England in May 1953 as the first and original model from this source. The camera resembles the Leica Standard and qualifies fully as a Leica copy...
manufactured in England by K. G. Corfield LtdK. G. Corfield LtdK. G. Corfield Ltd was an innovative camera and lens manufacturing company based in Wolverhampton. The company produced high quality cameras and lenses basing many design features on the Leica range of 35mm cameras. One unique design was employed in the Periflex series of cameras which utilised a...
. Wolverhampton - 1958 - 1963: Shanghai 58-I manufactured in Shanghai China.
- 1959 - 1960: YashicaYashicaYashica was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras.-History:The company began in December, 1949 in Nagano, Japan, when the Yashima Seiki Company was founded with an initial investment of $566. Its eight employees originally manufactured components for electric clocks...
YE manufactured by Yashica as a continuation of the Nicca range
Note: Some 35mm rangefinder cameras were also partly inspired by the Zeiss Ikon Contax
Contax
Contax was a camera brand noted for its unique technical innovation and a wide range of Zeiss lenses, noted for their high optical quality. Its final incarnation was a line of 35 mm, medium format and digital cameras engineered and manufactured by Kyocera, and featuring modern Zeiss optics...
. Among these belong the 1935 Canon and the 1948 Nikon rangefinder camera
Nikon S-Mount
The Nikon S-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount used by a series of Nikon 35mm rangefinder cameras...
.