This was Leica's first SLR camera, referred to early on as the 'diesel Leica', later known as the Leicaflex Standard to distinguish it from later models. It is made like a tank and feels like one when you pick it up! Its also beautifully made and the more you hold it the more you begin to appreciate it.

 

Like many of my cameras I inherited this one from my Dad who bought it when he was stationed with the RAF in Germany in the 1960's. It is in very good condition, but it is also a bit of a mystery...

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I think the first series of Leicaflex had a fan-shaped exposure counter window and a tripod socket attached by three screws, whereas the second series had a round exposure counter window, a tripod socket integrated in the bottom plate and a meter switch built into the advance lever.

 

Mine is a second series camera, but is also one of the later serial numbers of the first batch of cameras.

 

The first batch made between 1964 and 1965 had 13000 serial numbers assigned (1115001 to 1128000), mine is serial number 1127068. so I guess the design change must have occurred sometime during production of the first batch.

 

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