Germany 1957 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Leica III G (often said to stand for “Gorgeous”) was introduced by Leica in 1956. It was the last of the screw mount Leicas as designed by Oscar Barnack. Barnack did not actually design the III G as he passed away in 1935 after releasing … Read moreLeica
Leica IIIG
Germany 1958 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. In 1958 Leica introduced the M2 as a budget alternative to the M3. To reduce the price range, some features of the M3 were removed but none that would impact the ability to make quality photographs or to make the experience feel cheap. Typically the self-timer was … Read moreLeica
Leica M2
USSR 1950 – Compact – 35 mm – Common. Leicas are exclusive devices that forged the very concept of the modern camera through quality and innovation. For years a large part of the industry tried to produce alternatives (or imitations) with equivalent features at a much more accessible price point. Imitations range from cameras “inspired by … Read moreVarious USSR
Leica 2
Germany 1939 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Contax II emerged as a pivotal element in Zeiss Ikon’s concerted effort to challenge Leica’s dominance during the 1930s. Manufactured starting from 1936, the Contax II’s innovative prowess is believed to have vaulted it a decade ahead of the Leica III. At its core, it … Read moreZeiss Ikon
Contax II
Germany 1947 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Akarette I, introduced in 1947 by Apparate & Kamerabau (AkA), was the original and earliest model of the Akarette line, preceding the more widely encountered Akarette II. Designed just after WWII by the Armbruster brothers, it featured advanced elements for its time, including interchangeable lenses, … Read moreAka
Akarette 1
Italy 1947 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. Ferrania, was formerly known as SIPE and had been manufacturing dynamite since 1882. In 1917 they started producing celluloid and in 1947 the first european color film. In 1947, they signed an agreement with the renowned optics manufacturer, Officine Galileo, to produce the Condor, their first … Read moreFerrania
Condor 1
Japan 1956 – Reflex TLR – 127 film – Infrequent. While not incredibly rare, the Ricohmatic 44 serves as a captivating example of an ambitious yet largely unsuccessful attempt to enhance the user’s photographic experience. Ricoh’s engineers dedicated their efforts to crafting an appealing design, highlighted by a stylish semi-transparent flip cover (though it unfortunately … Read moreRicoh
Ricohmatic 44
Japan 1972 – Compact – 35 mm – Infrequent. The Olympus OM-1 was presented in 1972 and was then called the Olympus M-1. Since Leica’s flagship rangefinder cameras are known as the M Series, Leica complained about the name of the M-1, forcing Olympus to rename it OM. Nikon had made the 35 mm … Read moreOlympus
OM 1
Japan 1952 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Tanack are Japanese Leica copies, made from late 1952 by Tanaka Kōgaku The Tanack IV-S, whose design is very close to that of the Leica III, is the most popular of the series which had started with the Tanack 35. The main difference to the … Read more95 Tanaka
Tanack IV-S
Germany 1952 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Edixa Reflex was produced by Wirgin in 1952 and was West Germany’s most popular series of SLR’s with focal plane shutter. The Edixa Reflex was the early brainchild of a then unknown technical mechanic named Heinz Waaske that later created one of the most successful … Read more91 Wirgin
Edixa Reflex
You must be logged in to post a comment.