LEITZ HALF FRAME CAMERAS
Leica is not well-known for the few half-frame cameras that they made. Since few were made, they are extrememly valuable today.
In 1948, Leitz decided to modify a Leica IIIa and make it into a half-frame. All other features were the same -- except for the vertical viewfinder and the frame counter. Speeds of B, 1 - 1/000. Coupled rangefinder. Leica lenses from 21mm to 135mm. No meter. Manual exposure control. So it was one of the first half-frame cameras, but also one of the most feature-rich half-frames. Only about 200 of these cameras were made -- about three-quarters in Canada, the rest in Germany. Needless to say, these cameras are very rare and sell at auction for over $20,000 today.
Given that, it should not come as a surprise that counterfieters have made copies of the Leica 72 -- as they have with many other valuable cameras. Here's a "Leica 72" from Russia:
Around 1960, Leitz Canada decided to unofficially modify a Leica IIIg and make it into a half-frame. All other features were the same. All are marked "18x24", and most "Leitz Midland".
In the early 60's, Leitz was playing with the idea of a half-frame 35mm camera to actually compete with the "big boys" at the time. It had a spring motor like other half-frame cameras, but never made it into production.
(1980) Another unauthorized factory product with a half-frame format instead of the standard full-frame. Only a handful were made, and they are all marked "Half-frame". Otherwise the features are the same as the Leica M4-2 which is like the M4, but is designed for fast action work since it accepts a motor drive and lacks a self-timer.
(1983) Yet another unauthorized factory product with a half-frame format instead of the standard full-frame. Only a handful were made, and they are all marked "Half-frame". Otherwise the features are the same as the Leica M4-P which is the same as the M4, but had different frame marks in the viewfinder to allow for the use of more lenses.
This is a rare half-frame version of the Leica MD-2 (which is a modified version of the Leica M4-2). The main feature is the lack of a viewfinder. All other features were the same. This was a prototype and it never went into production. Only a couple of these cameras were made -- in Canada -- all black. Needless to say, these cameras are very rare and are valued at over $15,000.
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