Film cameras
Leica User manual
User manual for Leica. 55 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
55 pagesEnglish4.5 MB PDF

Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Leica
- Model / document
- Leica
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 55
- File size
- 4.5 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 2 · Read text
@
f " t t lI I, lil e", 304||udsnr$treet,lleyrYsrk13,l{.Y" @E" [.oitz,RegisreredInc., NewTrodeYork,Mqrk"N, Y.View original page 2Page 3 · Read text
tafrc&"ctian
While this instructionbooklet is written primorilyfor use with the Model IIIf
Leicocomerowith built-insynchronizotion,informotionin it is opplicobleto oll
otherLeicocomeros.EveryLeico,from the very firstModel A to the lotestModel
IIIf Leicocomerohos the somebosicgeneroldesign.The moin differencesbe'
tween the voriousmodelsore the odditionol,unusuolLeicofeoturesodded to
eochsucceedingmodel.A brief descriptionof eochmodelof the Leicocomerois
givenon poges44to47.Thiswillenobleyou to identifythemodeldesignotionof
your comero,so thot you corleosilyopply the informotionin this bookletto it.
2
www.orphancameras.com l'\ru*:View original page 3Page 4 · Read text
n. TWIN-EYEPIECEFORVIEWFINDERAND RANGEFINDER poge'17
12. WINDOW OF THEBUILT-INVIEWFINDER pogel7
13. wlNDows oF THE RANGEFINDER,the ouromoricfocusing
o b mechonismwhichis coupledwith the lensfocusingmount poge18
t4. RANGEFINDERTELESCOPEADJUSTMENTLEVER poge19
r5. RE-wlNDlNGKNOBto wind the exposedfilm bock inrothe firm
cortridgeor mogozine poge 27
t6. REVERSINGLEVERset to R before rewinding film. Ser to
A (Advonce)beforeloodingthe comeroogoin poge34
17- ACCESSORYCLIPto hold lmorecrFinder,erc. poge17
lB. sYNcHRo-coNTAcrpotNT. .. . poge16
19,SYNcHRo-sELEcToRDIAL. . poge,Z
,.
20. FILM-SPEEDINDICAToR . poge32
aView original page 4Page 6 · Read text
1. WINDING KNOB,odvoncesthe film ond windsthe shutter,ot the
sometime , poge 6
2. AUTOMATICEXPOSURECOUNTER pose 6
3. SHUTTERRELEASEBUTTON pose 6
4. FASTSHUTTER-SPEEDDIALfor high speeds,1/30-1/lOOOsec.ond
Bulb(to be set ofter windingshutter) poge 6
5. SLOW SHUTTER-SPEEDDIALfor slow speeds,I full second-1/30
sec.ond Time poge 8 :
6. APERTUREPOINTERfor settingthe lensdiophrogm poge12
7. APERTURESCALE(lensdiophrogmscole) poge12
8. LENSFOCUSINGLEVER(with infinitycotch) poge 13 :
9: DISTANCESCALE. pose 14
10. DEPTHOF FIELDSCALEsymmetricollyengrovedon both sidesof
the distoncescole index poge14
;
1
. t*iView original page 6Page 7 · Read text
Turn ,irji.Jirri.ri':.i. i.,it"-'rr(os indicoied by orrow) os for
os it goes to o stop. This simultoneouslywinds the shutter
ond odvoncesthe film for the next exposure.Double expo-
suresore not possible.
"j F .. A.i_r'iill",ip,Ilil[;,,i,C::i;iiI i-C;:r;i.iiii] The countingdisc
b r is turned counter-clockwiseby meonsof two lugs.(i.e"in the
oppositedirectionof the orrow on the winding knobJ.
The Leico film mogozinesor doylight looding cortridges
con hold o sirip of film, 51/afeet long, which is sufflcient
for 36 pictures(24x36mm in size).
', ',ii,; i i i i:il Fli::ii Al,i rtlj i lr-lt , The exposureis mode by
gently pressingthe releosebutton.
The next picture con be token only ofter ogoin turning the
Winding Knob (1) os for os it goes. Accidentoldouble
exposuresore impossible.A speciol coble releosecon be
screwedover the releosebutton, between the butfon ond
ihe outer collor.
'r The ijA-.,i .,i:i-jiirk .;Pi:ID i;rAt shows exposure- ,l000
figuresfrom 30 to (l,,il'to 1r,,,,,,).Intermediotespeeds
www.orphancameras.comView original page 7Page 8 · Read text
i ,i] ... iurn the
Win d in g Knob
u n til ii stops.
se l Shut-
ter-Speed Diol 'frFm* @ffiffiw' l:,"'j"o;::;:'"
connoi be set.Set to B (Zl, ihe shutterremoinsopen while Lift ond set Diol so thot the
the releose button is presseddown. When set to the red index orrow points to the
figure30-,l,the odditionolslow speeddiol (5)is put in oction desiredspeed"
(nextpoge).
The Moin Shutter-SpeedDiol con be odiustedonly ofter the
shutterhos been wound. Re-windingthe shutterbringsthe
speeddiol bock to its originol position.
The requiredscolesettingsof the Synchro-Dioldepend on
the type of flosh bulb used ond on the shutterspeed re-
quired.They ore reod off from the toble enclosedwith every
synchronizedLEICAond con be slipped into ihe bock of
the evereodycose.
7
i*"t&View original page 8Page 10 · Read text
When chongingfrom the slow speedsof the Front Diol to the high speedsof the
Moin Diol, the Front Diol must be set to the red figure 30. Consequentlyboth
diols ore set to 30 when r7136sec. is required.
The Front Diol con be
turnedeitherwoy between
slops.
lirView original page 10Page 11 · Read text
The mountsof the Leico stondord50mm. lensesELMARI/3.5, SUMMAR[/2 ond
SUMMITARf /2 ore of o collopsibletype.
r r : r I r : t _ - - . r i i . : a . :
To push lensbock into the comerobody, unlock it counter-clockwise.
When locking the SUMMITARor SUM-
MAR lens,toke core thot only the front
ring is gripped not touchingthe other
milled ring which servesfor odiusting
the operture.
The lens-chongingflongeollowson eosy
ond ropid interchongeof lensesof vori-
t n
www.orphancameras.comView original page 11Page 13 · Read text
The light
tronsmittingcopocity of o photogrophic lens is con-
trolled by its diophrogm.This hos the some functionss
the iris of the humon eye which widens or norrows ihe
diometer of the pupil occording to the intensityof the
light reoching the eye.
The diophrogm of the ELMAR50mm. is odiusted by o
smoll lug with index line. The diophrogm of oll other
lensesis operotedby o milled ring.
' ,r,i:,i,i.rIiii.i r:.]-,iii' The figures indicote the relotive operture of the lens.
The relotion between lens operture ond relotive time o{ exposureis os follows,
L e n s o p e r t u r e { s c o ie
1 .r 1 .5 .:t 2 .2 ti n 3 .2 3 .5 i; 4 . 5 i "r 6"3 iJ I I i 12.5 tr . 16 j'i f i g u r e s * ]
R e l o t i v e e x p o s u r ei ime ir:t 0.6, t ,., :| 2.5 3 :]i 5 !; l0 i.',' 20 .j.: dS r:-r tS 1iir
The toble shows thoi smoll diophrogm openings,which noturolly necessitote
longer times of exposure,ore indicoted by higher scole figures,ond vice verso.
; r , : 'r , . re p re se n t th e in te rn o tio n o l (A S A ) sco le of oper tur e volues, which hos been
o d o p i e d f o r o l l L e ico le n se so f re ce n t p ro d u ctio n
1 2
www.orphancameras.comView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
When stopping down to the next higher scole figure, the time of exposurehos
to be doubled.
lf , {o r e x o m p l e , i h e e x p o su reme te r in d ico ie so n e xp o su retime lri60 sec. for o diophr ogm setting
of 5. 6, t h e i i m e o f e x p o s u remu st b e d o u b le d with th e d io p h ro g m s topped down to 8 i.e. ll'30 secl
O r, if t h e c o r r e c t e x p o s u re is 1 i6 A se c. o t 6 .3 , th e sp e e d sh o u id be chonged to 1,r 30 when the
dio p h r o g m i s s t o p p e d d o wn io 9 . (Wh e n u sin g le n se se n g ro ve d with the for m er Eur opeonSystem .)
Th e d i o p h r o g m s e t t i n g 2 on th e o th e r h o n d wo u ld re q u ire o n e xposur e tim e of j l4BO sec. In ,l,1 5 0 0
pro c t ic ey o u s e t t h e s h u t t e r to se c. o s yo u wo u id se t it to 1/2A when your exposur em eter
re o d s l , / 2 5 s u c h l i t t l e d i f ie re n ce sb e in g o f n o imp o rio n ce o win g to the gr eot lotitude in the
s ens it i v i t yo f m o d e r n f i l m s .
r:i '.. ,r.li. i, rir.ii: When not in use,the helicolmount of the lens is locked
ol the infinityposition(x). Pressingihe knob on the end of
the focusinglever releosesthe cotch,ond the lenscon then be
roioted for focusingL,,pto 3.5 ft. (l ml. The locking device is
found only on lensesof 50mm. focol length or less.
Long-focuslensesore focusedby meonsof o knurled ring"
1 2View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
9. DISTANCESCALE.The distonce moy be reod off the figure of the distonce
scole which lies neorestthe index mork.
In oddition to the moin index, Leico lenseshove o second index denoted by R
which servesfor focusing when toking iNFRA-REDphotogrophs (with the excep-
tion of the 28 mm ond 35 mm wide ongle lenseswith which moximumshorpness
in the cose of infro-red exposuresolwoys lies within the depth of field). The lens
'is first focusedin the usuol monner,then the helicol mount moved until the index
R points to thoi position on the distonce scole which wos first indicofed by the
moin index.
O
10. DEPTHOF FIELDSCALE.The moximum shorpnessobtoinoble by o photo-
grophic lens lies in o plone ot the distonceto which the lens hos been set. From
this plone decreosing shorpnessextends to the foreground os well os to the
bockground.This ronge of shorpnessis colled the "depth of field" or lessoccu-
rotely "depth of focus" ond depends, for o given lens, on the relotive operture
ond the distonceto the subiectfocusedon. The smollerthe operture(by s!opping
down the lens diophrogm)the greoter will be (for o given distonce)the depth of
field. The neorer the distonce,the smollerthe depth of field for o given operture.
1 4
www.orphancameras.com
.ru.View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
To enoble one to reod the depth of field ronge ot
ony lens operoture ond distonce, direct from the
Leico comero, o speciol scole is provided on the
bose of the lens mount. lt beors the operture figures
on either side of the index mork, ond showsthe dis-
tonces in front of ond behind the octuol focusing 8distonceot which sufficientlyshorp focus is obtoined. O
O
In the cose of o lens opertureof 2 ond o distonceof F{ Or.c)24leel the scole shows o depth of field ronging from '10
obout 20 leet to 27 {eel to m, ond when the lens is
stopped down to I I this depth of field extends from
obout l2 feet to m (infinity)without ony olterotion
to the lens focusing being necessory.This lotter od-
iustmentis porticulorlyusefulwhen os lorge o fore-
ground os possibleis to be included in o londscope
photogroph.
NOTE: For lens colibroted in meters, colculote one meter -
opproximotely 391/zinches.
t 5View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
l-lowever,it should oiwoys be borne in mind thot the moximumshorpnesslies ot
the disionce fo which the focr:singscole hos been set. Therefore,for distonce
views, with a {oreground which con be neglected,lhe focusing scole should
olwoys be set ot v; (infinityi"
The reoding of the depih of fleld scole is sufficientlyoccurotefor oll procticol
purposes.lf desired,further doto moy be obfoined from our speciol DEPTHOF
FIELDTABLES.
The beginnerwill flnd it odvisoble not to worry obout the depth of field scole"
'wili His first oim be to obtoin his resultswith the following seitingsof the focusing
scoie,For londscopesond similorobiectsot long distoncesstop down to 5.6 or 8,
i6.3 or 9) ond set iens to infinity.For snopshotsstop down to 5.6 (6.3),ond focus
'"::::.:r,:.,:.,,:,*.-:,#;#Ft:El:jto the mosl importont porf of the subiect.For portroits,
use iull lens operture, ond locus occuroiely on the
ffiffiffiffieyesoflheperson. ,&'.+H!
r6
www.orphancameras.comView original page 17Page 18 · Read text
Pushthe flosh unit plug into the socketof the LEICA
in o horizontolposition;the engrovedorrow should
point towords the fwin eyepiece.When ihe plug is l r *
correctlypushed in. turn it downwordsso thot the l * *
orrow now points to the top. To remove the plug,
turn it so thot the orrow is horizontolcgoin ond
pointsto the twin eyepiece.
The combines the eye-ienses
of the viewfinderond the rongefinder.
The is o direct-vision
finder, ond shows ihe fleld covered by the iensesof
the 50 mm stcndord focol iength. it is to be helci
centrollyto the eye. Bring your eye to the twin-
eyeprecesos close os possible.A slighl movemenf
of the eye is sufflcientto chonge from viewfinderto
rongefinder.
1 7View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
The rongefinder
is coupled to the helicol focus-
ing mountof the lensso thot when
lhe lens is turned the rongefinder
is outomoticollyput into opero-
tion. Correct focus is obtoined
when the iwo imoges oppeoring
in the rongefinderore fused inio
one by turning the focusingrnount
of the lens(coincidenceprincipleJ.
Th e o u to mo tic coupling of the Leicc com er n em bodies o
micromeler-rnovemenlrnechonisnrwitl'r {wo compenscting
d e vice so f o d e gr ee of pr ecisionsuch cs is found only in
ve ry h ig h p rice d m icr oscopes.
It sh o u ld b e e speciolly noted thot oll inter chongeoble
L e ico le n se s o re suitobie for use on ony Leico com er o
with b u ilt-in ro ngefinder .
1 8
www.orphancameras.comView original page 19Page 20 · Read text
14. RANGEFINDERTELESCOPEADJUSTMENT.In order to increosethe occurocy
ond eose of focusing, the viewing operture of the rongefinder is fitted with o ,|.5
telescope hoving o mognificotionof times. The rongefinder eyepiece is
odjusted by turning the smoll lever fitted under the rewind knob. This permits
focusing on neor or distont obiects to the greotest possibleshorpness,compen-
soting for slight deficienciesof the eye.
Correction lenses ore ovoiloble for owners of Models IIIb, Iic, IIIc, IIf ond
IIIf (only)who weor eyeglosses.
FOR BEGINNERSWE RECOMMENDTHE FOLLOWING
PRACTICINGMETHOD:
Sight o distinct object obout 12 lo 15 ft. owoy, ond cover the left rongefinder window l3 q with
t h e midd l e f i n g e r . O n l y o smo ll circu lo r fie ld with th e o b ie ct o t w h:ch you or e oim ing will be
visible. See lo it thot your eye is centered bchind the rongefinder eyepiece so thot you con get o
completely circulor field of the imoge. Adiust the lever l4 to obtoin the greotest possible shorp-
ness. Keep the obiect in the center of the field, ond uncover the left window of the Rongefinder.
N o w y o u w i l l s e e o d o u b l e imo g e o f th e o b ie ct in o lo rg e r circu lcr rfield. Alwoys keep your eye
in o centrol position so thol the smoller field is in the middle of the lorger field. Turn the focusing
mount of the lens until ihe two imoges fuse into one, ond thus obtoin correct focus.
After procticing this method severol times, you will hove no difiiculty in focusing ony obiect
ccrrectly without covering the left window of the rongefinder.
1 9
{,. .:-.,.,,.,:,e*ffimk::.View original page 20Page 22 · Read text
resulting in shoking the
comerowhile releosingthe
shutteris illustrotedot ihe
right. Insteod:
Ploce the holiow of the
right hond underthe bose-
plote to counterocf the
downword oction of the
forefinger.Give ihe com-
ero 0 good support by
pressing your elbows to
your body, ond bring the M
eye used {or sighting or
focusingclose to the eye-
lens of the viewfinder or
ro ngefinder.
a l
1 lView original page 22Page 24 · Read text
Hold comero os described
on poge 20. Chongeover
to verticol position,right
hond on top, right index
finger on releose button,
ond left hond supporting
c o m e r o o n d o p e r o t i n g
{ocusingIever.
23View original page 24Page 26 · Read text
6, Compose the subject in the
1. Set the shutter speed diol oc- viewfinder. Do if corefully. Good
cording to exposuremeter reodings composition is importont.
or exposure foble recommendo-
tions.
8. Squeeze the shutter releose
5. Set the lens diophrogm to ihe 7. Focus the lens with the ronge- button to expose the film. Move
operture indicoted by the exposure finder. Both imoges should over- only the finger on the button, nol
meter or toble, lo p so th o t o sin g le imo g e is seen. the entir e or m .
25
..- ..*--'r* .-g{E&i.- " e;*:' .r:"irView original page 26Page 27 · Read text
llrc Arilfr,onf */fd @aJ6h*na. 1/* "1,
Film monufocturerssupply perforoted 35 mm film for the Leico comero in the
following wo/S:
'1. {
DAYLIGHT LOADING CARTRIDGES.The cortridge is used once only. lt is
opened in the dorkroom when the film is to be developed.Speciol worning is
given ogoinst the re-looding ond the repeoted use of these cortridges.Such o
proctice involvesthe risk of domoge both to the film ond to the shutter.
The insertionof the doylight looding cortridgesinto the comero, ond olso their
removol, is done in the some woy os with the oll-metol Leico mogozine.
For further detoils see poge 28
2. Contoiners hoving 271/2 fr. of film - Five Leico mogqzine loodings. Eoch
looding - suffjcientfor 36 exposures- is tongued on one end ond notched on
the other end, simplifyinginsertioninto the Leicomogozine. poge35
.|003. Conioinersof bulkfilm hoving50, or morefeetof film.Thefilm is o single
lengthwithoutony notching,etc.lt is necessoryto cut ond trim the film correctly
when insertinginto Leicomogozines. poge 41
www.orphancameras.comView original page 27From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.


