A Leica camera has come into my possession from a deceased estate in Australia and I would like to know exactly what it is? On the top plate it has Leica No205318 D.R.P. Ernst Leitz Wetzlar It appears to be in very good condition. Everything works smoothly and quietly. Shutter works at all speeds.(very nicely, I might add) The lens is a Leitz Elmar 50mm f3.5 retractable unit. Focusing is via a rangefinder window, framing through the adjacent window. It has a well used leather ever ready case which is in good condition considering the age of this thing. I have no knowledge of these older Leica cameras having only owned a reflex model some years ago. I can understand why people get very excited about these rangefinder cameras. I am very impressed with the mechanical precision of what is presumably a camera approaching it's 50th birthday. Thanks in advance for any light shed on my enquiry.

Daniel Brilliant Brisbane, Australia.

-- Daniel Brilliant (friends@bigpond.net.au), January 13, 2001

Answers

According to serial number lists (located at the URL below), it is a Leica IIIa from 1936.

http://www.cameraquest.com/classics.htm

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), January 13, 2001.