Leica I Model A Anastigmat

Leica I Model A Anastigmat

The Leica I Model A Anastigmat is one of the earliest production Leica cameras and one of the most historically important 35mm cameras ever made. Introduced publicly at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925, it represents the beginning of regular Leica production after the earlier prototype and Null-series cameras [1][2].

The camera has a fixed 50mm f/3.5 Leitz Anastigmat lens. It does not use Leica Thread Mount and does not accept interchangeable lenses. For database purposes, the mount should therefore be recorded as none, not LTM or M39 [1][2].

The Leica I Model A Anastigmat has a simple built-in optical viewfinder and no coupled rangefinder. Focusing is done by scale focusing on the lens. For more precise focusing, photographers could use an external accessory rangefinder, but the camera itself has no built-in focusing rangefinder [2][3].

The shutter is a horizontal-travel cloth focal-plane shutter with speeds up to 1/500 second, plus Z for time exposure. Like other early Leica I cameras, it has no built-in exposure meter, no flash synchronization, no self-timer and no battery-dependent functions [1][2].

The body follows the early Leica I shape with black lacquer finish, nickel-plated controls, fixed collapsible lens, accessory shoe and bottom-loading construction. Early examples may show small production details such as mushroom shutter release, early baseplate locking key, early rewind knob and coarser body covering [2][4].

History

Development and Launch

The Leica I was developed from Oskar Barnack’s small-format camera concept and became the first Leica to enter regular production. Leica Camera’s own historical material describes the Leica I as the first successful mass-produced 35mm camera using cinema film format, and notes that it was presented to the public in 1925 [3].

The Anastigmat version sits at the beginning of that production history. Pacific Rim Camera describes the Leica Anastigmat group as the first production Leica camera, introduced at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925, starting where the Null-series production ended [2].

Anastigmat Production

The Anastigmat version is extremely rare. Leica Wiki lists 144 cameras with the Anastigmat lens, while Pacific Rim Camera describes production as starting around serial number 126 and continuing until about 300, before the lens design was changed to the Elmax [1][2].

Because the Anastigmat and Elmax cameras occupy the earliest Leica I production period and sources do not always agree perfectly on exact boundaries, the safest database wording is 126 to approximately 300, approximate Anastigmat subset, not a complete official continuous block.

Relationship to Leica I Model A Elmax

The Leica I Model A Anastigmat should be kept separate from the Leica I Model A Elmax. Both are early fixed-lens Leica I Model A cameras, but the Anastigmat is the earlier and rarer lens type. Pacific Rim Camera notes that the Anastigmat design changed to Elmax at about serial number 300 [2].

The Elmax retained a five-element design, while the later Elmar simplified the optical formula and became the dominant Leica I lens variant.

Relationship to Later Leica I Model A Variants

The Leica I Model A continued with fixed Elmax, Elmar and Hektor lenses. These are fixed-lens cameras and should not be treated as LTM bodies. The interchangeable-lens Leica system begins later with the Leica I Model C, first in non-standard screw-mount form and later in standardized LTM form [1][2].

For matching and cataloguing, the Anastigmat, Elmax, Elmar and Hektor versions can be stored as separate fixed-lens camera variants because the attached lens is central to the identity, value and historical classification of the camera.

Identification

The Leica I Model A Anastigmat is identified by its early fixed-lens Leica I body, fixed 50mm f/3.5 Leitz Anastigmat lens, black lacquer and nickel finish, built-in optical finder, lack of rangefinder, lack of interchangeable lens mount and very early serial number.

Common listing names include Leica I Model A Anastigmat, Leica IA Anastigmat, Leica 1A Anastigmat, Leica I Mod. A Anastigmat, Leica Anastigmat and Leica I 50mm Anastigmat. These should point to the same base model.

Collector Notes

The Leica I Model A Anastigmat is among the most collectible production Leica cameras. Its value is driven by its position at the start of Leica production, the rarity of the Anastigmat lens, early body details and the survival condition of the fixed lens and original finish.

Collectors should carefully check the serial number, lens engraving, body finish, shutter release type, baseplate lock, rewind knob, viewfinder style, vulcanite pattern and whether the camera has been altered, upgraded or converted. Early Leica bodies were sometimes modified by Leitz or later repairers, so visual confirmation matters as much as the serial number.

The Leica I Model A Anastigmat should be treated as a separate fixed-lens film camera because it does not have a lens mount and because its Anastigmat lens marks the earliest and rarest production form of the Leica I Model A.

Sources

• [1] Leica Wiki. Leica I, model A. https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/Leica_I_%28model_A%29
• [2] Pacific Rim Camera. Leica A, Leica Anastigmats. https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/leicaa.htm
• [3] Leica Camera AG. The History of the Leica I. https://leica-camera.com/en-int/photography/100-years/the-history-of-the-leica-I
• [4] Chiswick Auctions. A Leica IA Anastigmat Camera. https://www.chiswickauctions.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-165---a-leica-ia-anastigmat-camera/
• [5] Summichronica. Leica I Model A. https://www.summichronica.com/leica-i-model-a