Leica German Luftwaffe WWII WWII German Luftwaffe Leica Among the rarest and most sought after Leicas are the Luftwaffe, cameras issued to the Nazi Air Force. The large majority of such cameras are chrome IIIc's, although a few III's, IIIa's and IIIb's have also shown up. A few have also shown up in Grey with a MOOLY motor. It's been said that several thousand were made for the Luftwaffe, but about 10,000 are for sale! A good engraver can easily add the necessary inventory Fl Number, and 'Luftwaffen Eigentun' as well. Beware of fakes. Over the last few years, the Russians have made a cottage industry out of fake Luftwaffe cameras with all kinds of bogus markings.
This are easily spotted as fakes if you know Leica - but a lot of unsuspecting folks thought they were the real thing. After the war MOST Luftwaffe cameras seem to have had their LUFTWAFFE engravings defaced - anything reminding people of the Nazi's was not especially popular. The cameras illustrated on this page are so defaced. Unscrupulous sellers regularly buy plain wartime vintage IIIC's, probably to engrave them with Luftwaffe or other military engravings. Before you waste your money on a real Leica with fake Luftwaffe engravings, check with Leica to make sure that camera was delivered to the military. This Luftwaffe probably had the Luftwaffen Eigentun engraving on the back of the top plate.
This camera presumably the rear vulcanite had the Luftwaffen Eigentum embossing at one time. Notice the marks in the middle of the vulcanite on the back of the camera, running lengthwise. Unlike most Luftwaffe, however, we know this one is for real. It has been documented by Leica as being delivered to the 'Berlin Air Force' on August 24th, 1939. Photos of # 338521 courtesy of Adrian Sternfeld Luftwaffe Leica IIIc Case Luft Leicas are hard to find, the original Luftwaffe cases seem to be even rarer. The 'Luftwaffenegentum' stamping is indeed in the top of the leather case, though it barely shows in this photograph. Note the case for collapsed lens, indicating the original lens was probably a 50/3.5 Elmar.
Revised: November 25, 2003. Copyright © 1998-2002 Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved. This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.
Leica Serial Numbers: M's Sorted by Type Leica M's Sorted by Model and Serial Number 1954 to 1999: M3 to M6 TTL The raw data was supplied courtesy of Leica, by Mr. Horst Braun with the approval of Leica's CEO, Mr. I'm sure I'm speaking for all Leica enthusiasts in thanking them for their help and generosity in sharing this information. I sorted and edited the raw data into its present form to enhance readability. In some cases notes were added and wording revised for clarity. M's are grouped alphabetically M1 to M6, sorted within each group by starting serial number in that group.
Rangefinderless M's are listed together at the end of the page. In this list special models that have collector interest, such as black M3's and special edition M6's are listed together. Many interesting facts come to light with this list, but many other facts are left unknown. For instance, NASA and 50th Anniversary cameras are not listed, nor the M6 Titanium or the original M6.85. To be more exact, I do know the Titanium and original M6.85 numbers are listed, but their numbers are mixed in with regular M6 production numbers. It's probably a fair guess that many variations and special models which get collector's notice, did not get that much notice at the factory, so the serial numbers were just mixed in with the regular production for that model. The reality of it is that the list was not made with all the precision that Leica collectors might like, but then the list wasn't made by Leica collectors - it was made by people simply trying to get their job done - sometimes at the end of a long day at work.
Of special note are the rare and expensive black paint bodies and military M's. While the list is probably as accurate as we are going to have, it has long been accepted by Leica collectors that some real black bodies are 'not on the list.' On the other hand, forgers are getting better and better at making fake black Leicas. To compound the problem, if you had friends in high places at the Wetzlar or Midland factories, special finishes or features could be ordered, and these would not appear on the 'official' list.
As you might imagine, this makes documenting many unusual cameras almost impossible - a nightmare for collectors, an income opportunity for forgers. For perhaps the first time, most Leica M Birthdays are also listed, to be more exact the assignment date of the serial block. You know what this means -another reason to have a Birthday party. Let's see, 6 Leicas, six new Birthday parties. Unless otherwise stated, camera finish is chrome.
. Code names - 10800 KOOHE (body only) - 10308 (body only w/ self-timer) - 10300 = (body only w/o selftimer) - 1964 catalog KEZOO = KOOHE + ELMAM KIHOO 10333 = KOOHE + ELMOM KIOOL 10336 = KOOHE + SOMNI KOOIW = KOOHE + SOOIA - 1958 catalog. Production era - 1957-1968 93,221 assigned numbers (per list below) including ca. 82,000 chrom, 1851 black, 5900 self-timer. Variants - Vorlaufwerk - w/ self timer, Luftwaffe - German air force (gray), ELC - E.Leitz Canada, NASA - US space program, KS-15 (4) Vietnam era camera w/ M4 rapid loading system for US Army (issue of 874 per, M-2R - KS-15 civilian version per.
Manuals & brochures. Courtesy of Joe Chan. Courtesy of Joe Chan. (in German). Craftsman's Monty Witt. Courtesy of John Giordano. Courtesy of Mike Butkus Comment.
The M2 was the second in Leica's line of M-bayonet cameras and was sold alongside the as a lower cost variant. Sold between 1958 and 1966 (although production is known to have begun in 1957), the M2 featured redesigned rangefinder optics with a finder magnification of 0.72, which allowed for the inclusion of 35mm brightlines - a first for a Leica rangefinder (the full range of brightlines were 35, 50 and 90 mm). The M2 also differed from the in using a top casing lacking the former model's ornate frames around the various windows, an external, manually reset exposure counter, and (initially at least) the deletion of the delayed action self timer. There were a number of variations to the M2 produced during its production run, and at least two further versions sold after production had officially ceased. Initially the M2 was launched with a push-button rewind release, but this proved unpopular and was replaced within the first year of production with a lever.
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The self-timer was also offered as an option during the first year (M2 X), before becoming standard equipment later in the camera's lifespan. Additionally versions of the M2 were sold together with the Leicavit rapid winder and marketed as the (a replacement for the discontinued Leica MP). In 1969 a limited run of M2s with the rapid loading system from the M4 were made available to the public, sold as the Leica M2-R. These cameras had been developed for the US military, and were effectively being sold as army surplus through Leica dealerships. The M2 became the basis for all subsequent M-series film cameras.
During a short period in World War II, the Carl Zeiss Otical Factory at Jena built their famous Sonnar lenses in a lens mount that was used by their biggest competitors in the market, Ernst Leitz Cameras in Wetzlar. The president of Carl Zeiss was appointed by the German government to coordinate export of German products during World War II. The Germans needed foreign currencies for their trade with other countries, but trade with Nazi Germany was either restricted or forbidden in most countries.
Various German military organizations were also commissioning Leica cameras to be used by their personnel, most notably by Kriegsberichters, German journalists that were assigned to Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine and the Wehrmacht to deliver heroic images that Joseph Goebbels used to uplift moral with civilians and soldiers. All in all, Ernst Leitz in Wetzlar still had some business going for them.
Leicas were even traded with Switzerland for minerals! The Carl Zeiss-made Contax camera sales had dropped since the war started. To make sure not all profit remained with Leitz, the president of the Carl Zeiss Jena plant ordered that the Leicas should be fitted with Carl Zeiss lenses. And so Carl Zeiss in Jena made several lenses in Leica Thread Mount. They issued a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50mm f2.0, a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 50mm f1.5, a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 85mm f2.0 and a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm f4.0. At the end of the war, the Russians overran the Jena plant on their race to reach Berlin before the Allied Forces. They immediately started dismantling the factory and transplanted it to Charkow in Ukraine.
The FED factories in that city had earlier been demolished by the German military advance. They took everything they could get with them to Charkow: designs, machines, stock, and even workers were forced to relocate to Charkow. The famous Sonnar lenses were the ancestors of the Jupiter-8 (50mm f2.0), the Jupiter-3 (50mm f1.5), the Jupiter-11 (135mm f4.0) and the Jupiter-9 (85mm f2.0). The Russians even adapted the Contax-mount Biogon 35mm f2.8 to their Jupiter-12 35mm f2.8 in LTM (source: ) An ultra rare to find ancestor of the 'soviet' ZK 2/50mm lens (see PT3005 below), released by Zeiss in war-time Germany. It's interesting to mention, that GOI ('Gosudarstvennij Opticheskij Institut') had recalculated Sonnar lens by Bertele in late 1948 (very few GOI lenses under name 'Jupiter-8' in Kiev mount were released in 1948-1949), since the Russian glasses had different optical characteristics in comparison with German ones. That's why ZK 2/50mm lens (PT3005) should be considered as CZJ Sonnar 2/50mm assembled in the Soviet Union.
And the ZK Zorki 2/50mm (PT3010) should be considered as an earliest productional version of 'Jupiter-8' lens. CZJ Sonnar 2/50mm #2709795. Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2/50mm lens, from the original parts assembled in the Soviet Union.
Under initial name 'ZK 2/50 mm' ('Sonnar Kransogorsk'). Very limited batch of these collapsible lenses released by KMZ in 1948. Focal length - 5 cm, aperture range f2 - f22.
Focusing range from 1 m to infinity. Number of elements/groups: 6/3. Angular field - 45º.
Zorki (M39) mount. An earliest so far known lens has s/n #0 (Leica Copies by HPR).
For all other HR related inquires please contact the HRSC at 1-800-545-2555. Rbc employee login my information updater.
PT3110 - Jupiter-8 #7467456. Almost identical to late PT3110 lenses, but under name 'Jupiter-8-1'. Name markings in Cyrillic characters. 7-digits serial number with date prefix engraved on the side-plate. Meter scale markings in green colour. Limited quanitity released by KMZ in 90'ies. Less common to find nowadays.
Lens opposite from private collection in Russia. PT3120 - Jupiter-8-1 lens. An ultra rare lens, very limited batch released by Arsenal (Ukraine) in 1974.
Under name 'Jupiter-8H'. Name markings in Cyrillic characters.
7-digits serial number with date prefix. Zorki (M39) mount.
I apologize in advance for my lack of photographic knowledge, particularly Leica knowledge. I have inherited a camera from my grandfather, an old Leica that particularly caught my attention when I noticed 'Luftwaffe' or 'Luftwaffen Eigentum' in vaious spots on the body and lens. Just today I showed the camera to someone I was referred to in NYC, owner of a Leica showroom/dealership. I came away still intrigued- he couldn't count out the possibility of authenticity, but on the other hand had a few questions as to whether it may be a copy. Here's some basic info he told me (or is on the camera): model IIICK (is that how you write this?) Serial number FL. No.38079, which corresponds to a military model 1943 IIICK 'Luftwaffen-Eigentum' on both body and lens. 'K' in accurate location inside body When compared with authentic IIICK at showroom, the various parts, at least, including lens, appeared to be authentic I am continuing to work to find out more- the gentleman I spoke with gave me the name of a respected Leica mechanic to get it cleaned up and ask further questions.
One thing that works in favor of a legit provenance here is that my grandfather was a doctor in the army, and was in Berlin at the end of WWII (he even, I believe, cared for several german soldiers). My grandfather is still alive, but has alzheimer's, so, sadly, I can't ask him anything more about this interesting part of his life. I am interested in any thoughts, ways people know to check authenticity (I am aware that this is an imperfect science), and (of course!) any ideas as to value, whether it is authentic or not (I was told today that if it's a fake, it's at least a very high quality fake).
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I doubt that your grandfather got a copy - nobody had the time nor the will to make copies of leica, everybody was concerned about how to survive in post-war berlin. At that time leicas were great trading stuff - you could get 400-500 cigarettes for one camera, and luky strikes and camel where de facto better than money.
The luftwaffen-leica was not as valuable then, because people tried to get rid of all the nazi-stuff. Thats why most writings like luftwaffe, kriegsmarine etc were filed off of the body. You most likely have an original here. If you can provide an old picture of your grandfather with the camera, mybe standing in berlin, this would even add value.
Fl No 38079 is the contract number. The camera must have a serial number above that number and the engraving Leica D.R.P on the top plate. K means that the camera is 'K䬴efest' which means it has a ball bearing shutter mechanism and therefore can resist cold to a very high degree. You do not mention whether the camera is chrome or grey, so I gather it is chrome. In normal condition such a camera and matching lens should have a value of 4.000 USD, but the price will vary with the condition. If grey, camera and lens could fetch 5.000 USD.
Do not try to restore the camera and lens before you have consulted a real specialist. Firstly, there exist a large number of copies, although the provenance makes it probable that yours is an original. Secondly, restoration can do much harm to the camera and its value.
I agree that James Lager is an expert in the US that can give you advice. I do not know if he can sell the camera for you, and I do not know who are the specialist dealers in the USA for such cameras. Lager will know. Specialist dealers in Europe: Dr. Martin Meister i Hamburg, Germany (www.leicabeimeister.com), La Maison du Leica in Paris, France (www.lamaisonduleica.com). There are also varios auction houses in Europe that might be of interest to you.
Perhaps Japan is the best place to sell the camera, but I do not know the proper dealers and would like to receive advice on that subject. If you are not already a Leica photographer or collector, it might be advisable to sell the camera and lens - provided that you and not your grandfather is the proper owner. I do not know american law on inheritance, so I do not know how one in the USA can inherit something of such value from a person who is still alive and suffers from demens. It would certainly not be possible in my country. So perhaps, you should make sure that you cannot run into problems with regard to the ownership. Others will probably ask you the same question. Hello, folks, please remember round about over 6000 military Leica cameras are produced, and of this one a littel small pieces 'Luftwaffen Leica' based most on the Leica C in quantity round about 2000 cameras.
The 'Luftwaffen Leica' included 'K' engraved of this 2000 pieces are smaller too. You think self about the chance to have a genuine 'Luftwaffen- Leica'.
But is possible and identified and determinated on littel details. The Color of Camera, engravings,paintings, or FI -Registration Numbers, don't only determinated a genuine 'Luftwaffen Leica'. Many greetings from Germany peter. I agree with a lot of what was said above.
It would be very helpful if you could post several pictures from different angles, and to know the camera serial number (a six digit number on the top plate). It would also help to know the lens serial number, as the serial numbers of lenses sent to the Luftwaffe have been recorded in Leica recors. Feli is right that Jim Lager is the best expert in the field. In fact, he is making a study of Luftwaffen cameras and lenses, and is very interested in all military WWII Leicas.
He has published at least one article in the LHSA magazine Viewfinder on this subject. Most Russian 'fake' military Leicas are not really counterfeits, as they are grossly different from real Leicas, very gaudy, often brass colored, and easy to tell apart.
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However, their are a lot of 'real' counterfeits, by which I mean the intent was to fool the buyer. Often these will start with a genuine Leica IIIc and add military engravings and/or stampings. As far as I know, no Luftwaffe Leica cameras or lenses would be engraved or stamped 'Luftwaffe' per se. The term they all used was 'Luftwaffen-Eigentum', which means 'property of the air force'.
The K engraved on the top plate next to the serial number and/or stamped (usually in white, occasionally red) on the shutter curtain may stand for 'Kugellager' (which means 'ball-bearing'). This is arguable as there are several different ideas about what it represents. What is not arguable is that a genuine IIIcK camera should have a ball-race shutter mechanism (designed for cold temperature use) which ordinary WWII IIICs did not have (it was a post war addition for civilian cameras). Any competent technician could tell you whether it is a genuine K-type shutter mechanism. If it is genuine (both the lens and the camera), the value will be determined, in part, by whether it is gary paint or chrome, the value of the gray paint camera bodies being a little higher. Also, the camera itself should either be engraved 'Luftwaffen-Eigentum' on the rear (metal, top) or else stamped 'Luftwaffen-Eigentum' on the vulcanite. Often the engravings or stampings were defaced at the end of the war, which will reduce the value of the camera.
Photos of the engravings on the camera and lens are very useful, to determine if they are in the proper font, several were used and these are well-described.