"Null-Serie"("0-Serie")
The "Null-Serie" cameras began with a pilot run of 25 units produced in 1923540. The initial production of handmade models received serial numbers ranging from 10129 to 125424. They were first introduced to the public at the Spring Fair in Leipzig in 1925, and, at that time, they did not have a specific model designation29.
Technical Specifications
These cameras were equipped with several notable features. Film advance was intricately linked with shutter cocking29 . An "automatic " exposure counter was calibrated to 4029 . The non-interchangeable collapsible 50mm lens ensured maximum compactness and ease of transport29 . The bottom-loading design included an accessory clip and self-closing film cassettes29 . In contrast to the original Ur-Leica prototypes, which lacked cassettes and utilized a focal plane shutter with a fixed slit width of 4 centimetres, the "Null-Serie" cameras introduced the variable slit width29 .
This meant that the exposure time could be adjusted by manipulating the slit width, which was controlled via a small dial located at the top of the camera29. To change the slit width, users turned a winding knob until a dot on the shutter speed dial (more accurately known as the "slit width dial") aligned with an index on the camera's top29. After aligning the dot, the dial could be depressed and turned until a pin engaged with a hole next to the desired setting29. One important aspect of this setup was that the selected setting could be read even when the shutter was wound29.
Interestingly, on the "Null-Serie" cameras, the highest number displayed on the speed dial indicated the slowest speed100. The various slit widths corresponded to specific shutter speeds: a slit width of 2 allowed for 1/1000 of a second, while a setting of 5 corresponded to 1/500 of a second, and so forth, down to 50 for 1/30 seconds29. However, it was likely that the original spring tensions were lower, restricting the maximum shutter speed to 1/500 of a second29. Furthermore, the focal plane shutter in the initial pilot models was not self-capping, requiring the insertion of a lens cap before advancing the film or rewinding it into the cassette29. This inconvenience was subsequently addressed after the pilot run of "Null-Serie" cameras29.
In the initial cameras from "Null-Serie" series, there was a single negative viewfinder lens paired with a collapsible post29. This design necessitated holding the camera at nearly arm's length from the eye, resulting in a diminutive image29. This impractical feature was quickly replaced by a more familiar optical viewfinder that could be held closer to the eye for a better experience29. This optical tubular viewfinder came in 2 variations: with alignment crosshairs and without them540.
The frame counter index was marked by a small line that was positioned perpendicularly to the back edge of the top deck and concentric with the winding knob29.
Not all of the "Null-Serie" cameras were completed as fully functional models, and delivery book records suggested that only about 22 of these cameras reached full assembly269.
During the developmental phase of "Null-Serie" cameras, the cameras were known as Barnack's cameras338. Only when production began did it receive the official name, "Leica"338. Interestingly, one of the early names considered for Leica I Model A was "LECA," a unique spelling featured in an early brochure338. Ultimately, the more appealing name Leica, which stood for "LEItz CAmera," was chosen338. Production of the actual series started with Leica I Model A number 126596 and several significant improvements were implemented based on user feedback from the "Null-Serie" pilot run29.
Known Whereabouts
In 1923, Leitz distributed between 20 and 30 cameras from "Null-Serie" series to the factory personnel and a select group of trusted individuals337. These models aligned with Barnack's expectations; however, his colleague Anton Baumann expressed concern that photographers might forget to cover the lens when cocking the shutter for the next shot, as the shutter curtains did not overlap357. Barnack addressed this concern, and by the spring of 1924, he had constructed four cameras equipped with a new shutter design357. This change happened with Leica I Model A number 131 and that camera was the first one to receive self-capping mechanism29. In addition, the shutter speed dial was recalibrated to display fractions of a second, providing users with greater precision in their settings29. The design of the top "deck" of the camera was also revamped29. Furthermore, the lens mount and knobs transitioned from their original black finishes to a more refined nickel-plated appearance29.
"Null-Serie" 101
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the first of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- It was given to August Bauer, an employee of Leitz357 (however, according to Dirk Daniel Mann, this camera never had association to Mr. Bauer - this camera was believed to have remained in the Leitz family's possession)501.
- In 1983, this camera was in private collection360 (most likely in Germany (author's note)). It had the first type of viewfinder that featured a folding design with a negative lens and a pivoting foresight360. It included a crossline graticule on the negative lens to assist with sighting360. However, this type was often inaccurate, as the foresight must be positioned at least 10 cm away from the eye, which could also lead to camera shake360. The viewfinder was attached to the top plate using two 4.7 mm screws360.
- In 1984, this camera was in private collection598.
- In 2005, this camera was in private collection534.
- This camera was illustrated on the advertisement for Lars Netopil Classic Cameras in 2019 (p.124 5/2019 Leica Fotografie International magazine).
"Null-Serie" 102
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the first of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- It was given to Ernst Leitz357. This camera remained in the Leitz family's possession501. It had the first type of viewfinder that featured a folding design with a negative lens and a pivoting foresight360. It included a crossline graticule on the negative lens to assist with sighting360. However, this type was often inaccurate, as the foresight must be positioned at least 10 cm away from the eye, which could also lead to camera shake360. The viewfinder was attached to the top plate using two 4.7 mm screws360.
"Null-Serie" 103
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the first of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- It was in possession of Kipper Berghäuser of Oberhausen, Germany361 / (Bergassessor Kipper, Oberhausen (Mining Assessor Kipper, Oberhausen))597
- This camera remained in the Leitz family's possession501.
- In 1970s, Rolf Fricke acquired the camera in Wetzlar and held onto to it until 2025597. This camera had the first type of viewfinder that featured a folding design with a negative lens and a pivoting foresight360. It included a crossline graticule on the negative lens to assist with sighting360. However, this type was often inaccurate, as the foresight must be positioned at least 10 cm away from the eye, which could also lead to camera shake360. The viewfinder was attached to the top plate using two 4.7 mm screws360.
- In 1990s, this camera was illustrated on page 13 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book540. The photograph was credited to "Leitz Wetzlar Photo"540. The illustrated camera had a central tubular viewfinder and missed the lens cap attached by a short string540.
- In 2005, this camera was in private collection534.
- This camera was illustrated on the advertisement for the 8th Wetzlar Camera Auctions in July of 2026 (5/2026 Leica Fotografie International magazine).
- The camera was expected to be auctioned off at the 8th Wetzlar Camera Auctions on October 10, 2026597. The camera came from Rolf Fricke collection597.
"Null-Serie" 104
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the first of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- This camera possibly remained in the Leitz family's possession after its production501.
- On October 31, 1979, a major exhibition was organized at the Munich City Museum to celebrate Oskar Barnack's 100th birthday 592 . At this exhibition, the "Null-Serie" number 104 was displayed alongside the Ur-Leica (the original Leica) and Barnack's handmade prototype camera (Barnack's Handmuster Camera 1) 592 .
- In 1983, the "Null-Serie" number 104 was displayed in the Leitz Factory Museum in Wetzlar, Germany360. This camera had the first type of viewfinder that featured a folding design with a negative lens and a pivoting foresight360. It included a crossline graticule on the negative lens to assist with sighting360. However, this type was often inaccurate, as the foresight must be positioned at least 10 cm away from the eye, which could also lead to camera shake360. The viewfinder was attached to the top plate using two 4.7 mm screws360.
- In 1984, this camera was in Leica collection of Leitz598.
- In 1984, it was illustrated in Kikuo Urago's "Leica MANUAL" book598.
- It was illustrated in the 1984 "Leica Manual Book" (1st Edition) by Kikuo Urago (Towa Photo Forum Co Ltd.)598.
- In 1985, it was illustrated on pages 55-56 of the "10 Jahre Leica HISTORICA: Beiträge zur Geschichte der LEICA" book595.
- In 1994, the camera was in Leica Collection in Solms, Germany501.
- The camera was illustrated on the page 50 of the Dennis Laney's "Leica Collector's Guide" (2nd edition)534. The camera was "modified...with tubular viewfinder in off-set position and accessory shoe cover lens axis partially covering the engraving "Ernst""534.
- The camera was illustrated on pages 30 and 31 of Dr. Hans-Günter Kisselbach's "Barnack's First Leica" book 592 .
- In 2005, this camera was in the factory museum in Solms534.
- Thai collector Surat Osathanugrah owned this camera at one time511.
- The camera was illustrated in Lars Netopil's "Prototyp Leica" book (see Viewfinder 43, Number 4, 2010).
"Null-Serie" 105
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the first of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- It was commonly believed that this camera belonged to Oscar Barnack148. This ownership was supported by the letters his son, Conrad Barnack, wrote to Jim Forsyth in October 1960151. According to notes from Oskar Barnack and the delivery records from 1923, the "Null-Serie" number 105 was initially intended for Henri Dumur336, board member and co-director of Ernst Leitz G.m.b.H.338.
- It was known that Conrad Barnack, who used the "Null-Serie" number 105 until 1939, loaned it to the Photographic Technology Display at the Deutsches Museum in Munich338.
- The camera then remained at the Deutsches Museum in Munich from 1939 to 1945338.
- After World War II, it was returned to Conrad (for the period of time 1945 and 1954338), who later sent it back for another exhibition from 1954 to 1960338.
- In 1960, Conrad decided to sell this "Null-Serie" camera to American collector Jim Forsyth338. A letter dated October 9, 1960, from Conrad to Forsyth discussed the potential sale of this significant piece of photographic history338.
- In 1969, Forsyth sold the camera to its next owner, Frank Christian337.
- It was known, however, that the camera was serviced in the early 1970s at the Leica facility in Rockleigh, New Jersey, although no parts were replaced at that time337. A letter from Manfred Neul indicated that he remembered repairing one of the first Leica cameras, numbered 105593. The camera had been sent to him with strict instructions to make it functional without replacing any parts593. In the years following, Frank Christian sold the "Null-Serie" camera to Al Clarke, a founding member of the Leica Historical Society of America338. Al Clarke cherished the camera for about 25 years, from the early 1970s until the mid-1990s, selling it to its next owner338. This camera was modified to include the new tubular viewfinder, a feature that later became standard on the "Null-Serie" models and subsequent Leica I Model A cameras, extending to the Leica Standard Model E338. Despite the update, traces of the original folding viewfinder remained visible on the body of the camera, including marks and a screw-plugged hole where the front post used to attach338.
- At the beginning of 1990s, the photographs of this camera appeared on page 14 James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book540. The illustrated camera had a central tubular viewfinder and missed the lens cap attached by a short string540.
- In 2021, visitors were able to admire this historic camera at the reopening of the Ernst Leitz Museum in Wetzlar593.
- On June 11, 2022, it was sold for a staggering 14400000 Euros including buyer's premium at the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction337.
- In October of 2025, it was displayed in Yodobashi Fujisawa Camera Museum in Tokyo, Japan.
The "Null-Serie" number 105 was especially noteworthy because it features the name "Oskar Barnack" engraved on its viewfinder, reflecting an Anglicised version of his name151. Though well-crafted, the engraving can be hard to notice due to its light-colored filling merging with the patina of the viewfinder151. The engraving and the spelling is very controversial338. The identity of the individual responsible for this unusual spelling and the engraving itself remains a mystery338.
Notably, it was believed that the "Null-Serie" camera with serial number 105 originally came with a folding finder that had crosshairs337. However, over time, it was replaced by one of the tubular Galilean types without a crosshair337.
The "Null-Serie" number 105 originally featured a rewind knob that was later replaced with a newer design used in the Leica I Model A337. Ottmar Michaely noted that the update was necessary to accommodate standard Leica FILCA film cassettes, as the original cassettes for the "Null-Serie" cameras had become increasingly rare by the late 1920s337.
The first batch of "Null-Serie" cameras were designed with non-capping shutters337. The lens had to be capped during the winding and shutter-cocking process337. A clip on the front of the camera held a short string attached to a leather lens cap337. In addition to the leather cap, the "Null-Serie" number 105 also came with a metal cap featuring the initials "O.B."337.
"Null-Serie" 106
The camera was produced in the first of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501. The author of this website could not find evidence of this camera's existence and believed that it had not survived to the present day.
"Null-Serie" 107
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the second of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- This camera was delivered to Patent Office in New York, United States in 1923361 .
- In 1983, the "Null-Serie " 107 was in private collection in Belgium and it was illustrated on the page 25 of Paul-Henry van Hasbroeck's "The Leica: A History Illustrating every Model and Accessory" book360 . In that photograph, it lacked the leather covering360 . This camera had frame counter that went from 5 to 40, without the crossed circle below 40360. It had the first type of viewfinder that featured a folding design with a negative lens and a pivoting foresight360. It included a crossline graticule on the negative lens to assist with sighting360. However, this type was often inaccurate, as the foresight must be positioned at least 10 cm away from the eye, which could also lead to camera shake360. The viewfinder was attached to the top plate using two 4.7 mm screws360.
- In 1984, this camera was in private collection in Belgium598.
- In 2005, this camera was in private collection534 .
- On November 17, 2007, the camera was sold for 336000 Euros including buyer's premium at the 12th WestLicht Camera Auction412. It was sold to "private European collector" for a record price at the time.
- The camera was sold for 1320000 Euros including buyer's premium at the 19th WestLicht Camera Auction on May 28, 2011405 . The lot was described as "...in excellent and fully working condition, all parts including the paintwork are original, though the camera was published years ago without lens and leather covering. The original Leica 0-series lens and the contemporary Leitz leather have been mounted by Ottmar Michealy in Wetzlar, the folding finder has been replaced by the later Galilean finder as usual. It is the only camera known with 'Germany' engraving on the top plate. The factory record indicates delivery to New York for patent applies. This means that this camera is not only one of the major rarities existing, it is also the first Leica being exported. This is the second 0-series Leica ever being offered in a public auction and the unique chance to buy the most important collectable Leica camera. "405
"Null-Serie" 108
The camera was produced in the second of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
It was originally delivered to Rudolph Zak, manager at Leitz361.
The author of this website could not find evidence of this camera's existence and believed that it had not survived to the present day.
"Null-Serie" 109
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the second of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- This camera was originally delivered to Kutschinsky, Leitz dealer in Berlin, Germany361.
- In 1970, the camera was displayed in the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York State, United States (see Viewfinder, Volume 3, No 3B from July-August 1970). This camera had the first type of viewfinder that featured a folding design with a negative lens and a pivoting foresight360. It included a crossline graticule on the negative lens to assist with sighting360. However, this type was often inaccurate, as the foresight must be positioned at least 10 cm away from the eye, which could also lead to camera shake360. The viewfinder was attached to the top plate using two 4.7 mm screws360.
- In 1984, this camera was in the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York State, United States598.
- In 2005, it was still in the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York State, United States534.
"Null-Serie" 110
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the second of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- This camera was originally delivered to Kittner in Vienna, Austria361.
- In 1979, it was illustrated in the 1979 Kazuo Nakagawa's "Leica History" (Reprint, 1994) book.
- In 1983, the "Null-Serie" number 110 was in private collection in Japan360. At some point in time, it was owned by Eiichi Kawahara of Osaka, and was the only "Null-Serie" camera in Japan590. This camera had the first type of viewfinder that featured a folding design with a negative lens and a pivoting foresight360. It included a crossline graticule on the negative lens to assist with sighting360. However, this type was often inaccurate, as the foresight must be positioned at least 10 cm away from the eye, which could also lead to camera shake360. The viewfinder was attached to the top plate using two 4.7 mm screws360.
- In 1984, it was illustrated in Kikuo Urago's "Leica MANUAL" book598. At that time, camera was in private collection in Japan598.
- Sometime before March 25, 2004, this camera was donated to the Japan Camera Museum (JCII / 日本カメラ博物館) by Ichizo Kawahara, son of Eiichi Kawahara590.
- The camera was illustrated on page 88 of Camera Review No. 71 (Leica-Book '04)590.
"Null-Serie" 111
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the second of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- It was originally delivered to Zieler, Leitz dealer in New York, United States361. Wolfgang Zieler, who served as a Technical Representative at Leitz, was believed to have been loaned this camera in 1923568.
- According to Alan Stokes' research, the camera underwent updates since 1923 (the date of these updates was unknown, but was estimated to be around 1930)568. Its original fold-up viewfinder was replaced with a later Galilean optical finder568. Additionally, the original 5-element 50mm f/3.5 Leitz Anastigmat lens was substituted with a later 50mm f/3.5 Elmar lens (circa 1930) in a non-standardized focusing mount that would have originally been fitted to a camera with a serial number ending in 674568.
- The camera was housed in the Leitz factory museum in 1938, where its museum reference number was M738568.
- Leitz service records indicated that this camera received some work in the Leitz service department in September/October 1955, although the specifics of the work were not documented568. A later color photograph of the "Null-Serie" number 111 showed it equipped with an 50mm f/3.5 Leitz Anastigmat lens, prompting Alan Stokes to suggest that this modification might have occurred at Leitz in 1955568.
- In 1995, the camera was part of Kenjiro Nakamura's collection and was exhibited at the "History and Development of Imaging" exhibition at the Memorial Museum of the Machine Industry569. It was known that the exhibited camera featured cylindrical viewfinder, a leather lens cap, and the original strap of the lens cap569.
- The photographs of the camera were featured on the cover and on the pages of Camera Review No. 37 (Leica-Book '96), published by Asahi Sonorama (Tokyo) in 1996569.
"Null-Serie" 112
Brief history of whereabouts of this camera:
- The camera was produced in the second of two phases of "Null-Serie" camera production501.
- Historical records Werkstattbuch and Auslieferungsliste338 indicated that camera with the serial number 112, was originally in Oskar Barnack's possession337. However, evidence has emerged suggesting that he later utilized the camera number 105337. It was illustrated on page 27 of Viewfinder, Volume 28, Number 1, Q1 of 1995, with text suggesting that the camera belonged to George Sauppe, who was a partner in Spindler and Sauppe, the earliest West Coast Leitz distributors. The camera was later owned by his son, Norman Sauppe.
- In 1983, the "Null-Serie" number 112 was in private collection360. This camera had the second type of viewfinder utilized a tubular negative front lens (equipped with a crossline graticule) and a positive lens as the eyepiece360. This version was secured to the top plate by four 1.4 mm screws360.
- In 1984, this camera was in private collection598.
- Some time before June 9, 1994, it