Leica - History - Help?

[Dave G]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a website or book easily available that details the history of the Leica M series. I'm interested in the development between models and lens.

Many thanks,

David

[richard_l]

There is a list of resources at http://www.younghistorians.com/photography/leica.html

Richard

[Dave G]

Thanks Richard - very helpful.

[Graybeard]

Whatever other books you might read, I suggest that you have a look at the "Leica Manuals" by Morgan and Lester or by Morgan alone. These began publication and form a practical history of 35mm photography.

The 14th edition (1962) covers both the Barnack Leicas and the M series; both were in production then. The 15th, and last edition, covers the M-series up to the M5 and the first two Leicaflexes. The earlier editions, particularly those published before 1940, have a wealth of detail on all of the odd acessories Leitz offered for the Barnack cameras.

I had a chance to do some shooting from a neighbor's Cessna recently and the section on aerial photography in the 15th edition of the Leica Manual was more than helpful in preparing for the shoot.

[peter_n]

I heartily 2nd Graybeard's recommendation of Morgan & Lester. I have the 13th edition, published in 1955 and picked up om eBay for $3. The full title of the book is the Leica Manual and Data Book.

If you fancy an attractive coffee-table type of book there is Leica: Witness to a Century by Alessandro Pasi. Full of beautiful photographs of the cameras and the pictures they took, the book is very well printed. I found it a little disappointing in terms of detail but its a nice book to have and not too expensive.

[photodog]

First, the Leica Pocket Book by Hove Foto. I have the third edition published in 1986. The book lists almost all of the Leicas and Leitz lenses produced. Has production information and serial number list for the cameras.

Second, in the 1980s James Lager wrote three books that were a visual catalog of Leica cameras and lenses. These are difficult to find but the series is good because of the many photos.

[SolaresLarrave]

There's also the Sartorious book, "Identifying Leica Lenses." It's a very concise book with the variations and history of almost every Leica lens ever made (from the SM to the R models). I've used it to inform my lens searches.

Passi's book is a nice piece. Light, fluffy reading but some of the photos are remarkable, and the history of Leica is quite well documented.

Of course, there's always www.cameraquest.com : Steve Gandy's extensive and ever growing website...

[richard_l]

Originally Posted by SolaresLarrave

There's also the Sartorious book, "Identifying Leica Lenses." It's a very concise book with the variations and history of almost every Leica lens ever made (from the SM to the R models). I've used it to inform my lens searches.

Sartorius' Identifying Leica Cameras is another must have for Leica buffs. It covers the features, variations, and production facts of all the Leica cameras through the M6 TTL (and all the SLRs through the R8).

Richard

[macmac]

"Leica: M6 to M1 Rangefinder Practice" 3rd edition by Andrew Matheson and Dennis Laney, published by Hove Booksw. This small and practical book has the the information you want, as well as much more.
Macmac

[TimF]

"The Leica Collector's Guide" by Dennis Laney has just re-emerged in a spanking new edition. I have the first edition of this one, which is excellent.

"50 Years Leica M" by Gunter Osterloh is fairly recent. Parts are somewhat coffee-table, but other parts are very useful indeed IMHO.

Definitely agree with recommendations for the Pocket Book (I have copies of the 1st and current editions), and for Lager's trilogy if you can find them (these also cover the screw cameras and reflexes of course).

If you can find it, Brian Bower's "Leica M Photography" is a good read, as is Jonathan Eastland's Leica M Compendium".

Then there are the relevant sections of "Collecting & Using Classic Cameras" by Ivor Matanle, and our very own Roger Hicks' "History of the 35mm Still Camera", both of which are stalwarts of any respectable library IMVHO.

[SolaresLarrave]

Hmmm... I was very "underwhelmed" by Bower's book. Wouldn't really recommend it. However, Laney's stuff is really useful. He has another book, "Lens Practice: Using and choosing Leica lenses" that, even if it's not a history, contains lots of interesting suggestions and objective evaluations of the M and R systems and their glass.

Richard, thanks for the Sartorious title. I didn't know he had written the book on cameras as well!