Leotax G
The Leotax G is a LTM-mount film rangefinder camera, introduced in 1961. Leica camera price index →
Reference maintained by Thomas Boots
General
- Mount
- LTM
- Release Year
- 1961
- Type
- Film
- Model Number
- G
- Serial Range
- Approximately 90105x to 90207x, plus one observed 90587x outlier; serials are non-contiguous
Dimensions
- Weight
- 810g
- Length
- 74mm
- Width
- 140mm
- Height
- 80mm
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Framelines
- Parallax-corrected projected bright-line frames for 35 mm, 50 mm and 90 mm lenses
- Shutter Speeds
- T, B, 1 s, 1/2 s, 1/4 s, 1/8 s, 1/15 s, 1/30 s, 1/60 s, 1/125 s, 1/250 s, 1/500 s and 1/1000 s
- Shutter Type
- Cloth
Features
- Hot Shoe
- No
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- No
- Flash Sync
- 1/30 s
Leotax G
The Leotax G is the company's final and most extensively redesigned LTM rangefinder. Released in 1961, it combines lever wind, an auto-reset frame counter, a single non-rotating shutter-speed dial and a cloth shutter reaching 1/1000 second [1].
Its parallax-corrected finder system provides projected frames for 35 mm, 50 mm and 90 mm lenses. Period documentation identifies white-marked speeds for FP synchronization and yellow-marked settings for X synchronization, with 1/30 second as the highest practical electronic-flash speed [1].
History
Development and Launch
Leotax went bankrupt while developing the G. A subcontractor reportedly assembled cameras from existing parts, and distributor Rokuwa released the model in October 1961 [1].
Production Evolution
Two shutter-dial appearances are documented. The principal observed serial range runs from approximately 90105x to 90207x, with one 90587x outlier. The often-repeated total of 500 assembled cameras remains uncertain [1].
Special Variants
The standard outfit used a 5 cm f/1.8 Topcor-S. Surviving bodies also appear with late f/2 Topcor and Leonon lenses, but their originality is not consistently documented.
Collector Notes
The listed 810 g weight is for the camera complete with the 50 mm f/1.8 lens. Collectors should inspect transport and rewind operation carefully because subcontracted examples are reported to suffer mechanical problems.
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