Latest pictures of Ilford Witness inc. Case & Lenses

[Dunk]

The case needed repair (see new stitching) thus took it to local saddler who has done an excellent repair job. One reason the case was split was that it had been used with the Dallmeyer Septac lens which was slightly too long for it and had pushed the front out. The case is probably more scarce than the camera. A case of prudent restoration



But with the collapsible Daron lens fitted the camera fits the case quite nicely The case required extensive stitching as can be seen from the new thread.


Dallmeyer Septac fitted ... Daron lens is tiny in comparison


Daron lens fitted ... Septac lens is 'front down' to show the "interrupted thread" which enables the LTM lens to be quickly bayoneted to the body ... not to be confused with the inner focusing helicoil.






Rear views ... at the time the Witness camera was made c. 1951 the Leica M3 was not in production (although the M3 prototype shutter had been patented in 1934)




Camera is much better balanced with the collapsible Daron lens attached. With the Septac lens fitted the camera will not sit without tipping forward.

Have yet to find a Dallmeyer Super-Six f1.9 2" lens as fiited to most Witness cameras. They do turn up occasionally in LTM but seldom by themselves with the 'interrupted thread."

Thanks for looking.

Cheers

dunk

[Silva Lining]

Wow! a rare thing indeed... Are you intending to use it at all, I'd be interested to see some pictures from the Daron...

[Dunk]

Originally Posted by Silva Lining

Wow! a rare thing indeed... Are you intending to use it at all, I'd be interested to see some pictures from the Daron...

Photos taken with the Witness using both lenses are part of an ongoing project and will be posted in near future. Need to find some lens hoods to fit beforehand.

Cheers

dunk

[John Robertson]

Hi Duncan
Showing it off eh!!
Nice one, I'm off down the Foca road these days.
John R
P.S. did you ever get an Advocate?

[Dunk]

Originally Posted by John Robertson

Hi Duncan
Showing it off eh!!
Nice one, I'm off down the Foca road these days.
John R
P.S. did you ever get an Advocate?

Yes John, Showing off the Daron lens :-) ... And yes I have an Advocate now ... see reply in your Advocate thread in Scale 35s

Cheers

dunk

[xayraa33]

the Ilford Witness should win the most handsome camera award.
it might even beat the Nikon SP in the looks department.

[Dunk]

Do you think there is a bit of Ilford Witness shape in the Leica R8?

Cheers

dunk

[John Robertson]

Originally Posted by Dunk

Do you think there is a bit of Ilford Witness shape in the Leica R8?

Cheers

dunk

No the Witness is MUCH better looking!!

[Brian Sweeney]

That is a beautiful camera.

Do you have some photos with those lenses that you can post?

[Dunk]

Originally Posted by Brian Sweeney

That is a beautiful camera.

Do you have some photos with those lenses that you can post?

Is an ongoing project.

Cheers

dunk

[shadowfox]

That is a stylish camera, I bet the Minolta A rangefinder engineers took more than a cue from this.

And what a name... who would've think of it?

[rpsawin]

Wow...what a treasure. Thanks for sharing.

[dazedgonebye]

Very attractive camera.
Thanks for showing me something I'd never seen before.

[nikon_sam]

Beautiful camera...The leather case is just as nice...I would buy and use this camera just to show off the case...
It's good to read that others find this to be a very nice piece of photo gear...

[kdemas]

Every time I see the Witness I am struck by the design. As mentioned above it's right there with the SP for being a real looker

Nice, thanks for sharing.

Kent

[John Robertson]

The huge pity is that so few were made, in comparison with the Reid, which is still relatively easy to find and which, although nice and beautifully made, is just a slavish copy of a Leica.
I was offered a nice Witness at Morgan Cameras in Tottenham Court Road, when I worked in London in 1976, for £300 together with a Dalmeyer 135mm lens in the correct mount. I remember how beautifully finished it was and how clear the R/F appeared. It was too much money for me then and I didn't want to put it on my credit card. Oh how I wish I had.!!

[vashti]

Dunk. Forgive me if I am not observing the correct protocol but I am absolutely new to any forums. I am anxious to connect with anyone with knowledge of the Ilford witness and every search seems to point me into your direction. If you can help with two points please. Firstly I am at a complete loss as to where I can find the serial number on the camera body. In addition to this I am interested to know whether all witness cameras came in the high quality leather covered velvet lined wooden box which mine is in. I look forward to your kind help.