Reid & Sigrist Reid I

Reid I

The Reid I is a simplified British LTM camera introduced by Reid & Sigrist in 1958. Based on the established Reid body and comparable in concept to the Leica Standard, it omits both the coupled rangefinder and the front slow-speed mechanism. A fixed direct-vision finder is fitted on the top plate, while an accessory rangefinder can be used when required [1][2].

Its cloth focal-plane shutter covers B and instantaneous speeds from 1/20 to 1/1000 second. The 39 mm screw mount retains the Leica 28.8 mm register, allowing standard LTM lenses, although focusing is not coupled because the body has no built-in rangefinder [2][3].

History

Development and Launch

Reid & Sigrist began regular production of its Leica IIIb-derived camera in 1951 after a lengthy postwar development program. The lower-specification Reid I followed in 1958, aimed principally at British military requirements. Approximately 500 were manufactured [1][3].

Production Evolution

Surviving cameras commonly carry P-prefixed serials and military property numbers. Collector records disagree on a simple continuous allocation: Reid I examples include P1723 and P3478, while broader surveys place many bodies within approximately the P2001 to P35xx group. No complete factory serial ledger survives [2][4].

Special Variants

Military Broad Arrow and service-registration markings are normal provenance features, not special editions. The announced Reid Ia replaced the built-in finder with a second accessory shoe and should not be silently merged when a clearly identified example appears [2].

Collector Notes

Confirm the absence of rangefinder windows and a front slow-speed dial, the small direct-vision finder, front synchronization connection, P-prefixed body number and any military markings. Do not mistake a service registration number for the camera serial. The Reid I remains a Standard model despite its scarcity and predominantly military distribution [1][2].