LEICA 250 

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The naming convention for early Leica camera models was different in Europe than in the USA. Referred to as "250" in Europe and "FF" (later "GG") in the USA³⁶⁰. The camera was code-named LOOMY³⁶⁰.

The design of the early variant of the Leica 250 camera, known as "FF," was based on the standard production model, the Leica III Model F³⁶⁰. The later variant, referred to as "GG," was based on the Leica IIIa Model G³⁶⁰. The camera's end sections were designed to accommodate a ten-meter film load, allowing for up to 250 exposures, which is how the camera got its name, the Leica 250³⁶⁰.

To facilitate loading, the film was transferred between two cassettes³⁶⁰. While the cassettes had to be loaded in the dark, they could be installed in the camera in daylight³⁶⁰. Additionally, the Leica 250 could also be used with regular spools, but in that case, loading had to be done in the dark³⁶⁰. The cassette-to-cassette system offered the advantage of quicker reloading since there was no need to rewind the film back into the original cassette³⁶⁰. In basic terms, the rewind knob was designed solely to apply tension to the film as it passed from one cassette to the other, allowing for removal without the need to rewind¹⁶⁰.

There are two primary versions of the Leica 250: the "FF" and its successor, the "GG"³⁶⁰. This camera model was produced from 1932 to 1943, with special orders for select clients extending production until 1953³⁶⁰. In total, only 955 units of the Leica 250 were made, making it quite rare³⁶⁰. It is important to note that most of these cameras were used by professional photographers, which has resulted in significant wear on many of the units³⁶⁰.

The first two Leica 250 cameras had serial numbers 114051 and 114052³⁶⁰. They departed from Wetzlar, Germany on December 11, 1932, and November 14, 1933, respectively³⁶⁰. Research and experimentation with large-capacity Leicas had been ongoing since the early 1930s³⁶⁰. Tests were conducted using Leica II Model D cameras, but the challenge of incorporating slow shutter speeds had not yet been resolved³⁶⁰. This explains why the first two Leica 250 specimens do not feature slow speed settings³⁶⁰. These cameras came from an experimental batch, and they were likely the only two to be enamelled and assigned serial numbers³⁶⁰. At this point, the camera had not yet been officially named; it was known by its working description, the 'ten-metre Leica'³⁶⁰. 

Several accessories were specifically designed for the Leica 250 camera³⁶⁰.  These include the ever-ready case (code-named ESFOO), a special template for trimming film (code-named ANZOO), a unique focaslide/rotating copier, and special ten-meter cassettes³⁶⁰. The Leica 250 was utilized by the German armed forces during the Second World War³⁶⁰.

The "FF" Model

The March-April 1934 issue of the Ernst Leitz, Inc. New York Leica Dealers Bulletin discusses the upcoming Leica 250 FF model. This new version of the Leica is described as a special "aerial Leica camera"²¹⁹. The first model of Leica 250 to be produced in quantity was the FF, which was based on the Leica III Model F camera³⁶⁰. The FF was manufactured between 1933 and 1935 and was assigned the following batch numbers: 130001 - 130020; 135601 - 135650; 137,001 - 137050; and 150001 - 150124³⁶⁰. In total, 246 cameras were made³⁶⁰.  

The March-April 1934 issue of the Ernst Leitz, Inc. New York Leica Dealers Bulletin recommended this camera for those who copy manuscripts, take children's portraits, or specialize in news and action photography. Other potential applications include use in universities, hospitals, and various industries²¹⁹.

This model has a top shutter speed of 1/500 second and is equipped with the same small rangefinder/viewfinder as the Leica III Model F³⁶⁰. Due to a ten-meter film load, some slack may occur in the film³⁶⁰. To remedy this, the rewind knob can be used, except when the slack happens within the take-up cassette³⁶⁰. Additionally, on top of the winding knob, there is a knurled ring designed to address this issue³⁶⁰. The rewind knob is also extendable, similar to the Leica Standard Model E³⁶⁰. 

The first two prototype cameras, as well as those from the initial batch (130001-130020), feature an oversized Leica I Model A knob that lacks a slack take-up mechanism³⁶⁰.

The K 250 Model

The third version of the Leica 250 is known as the K 250 Leica³⁶⁰. This camera is fundamentally similar to the "GG" model but features ball-bearing winding and shutter mechanisms³⁶⁰. Additionally, the rewind knob is also equipped with ball bearings³⁶⁰.

Cameras of this model have a white-painted 'K' stamped on the first blind, indicating "Kugellager," which means "ball-bearing" in German³⁶⁰. The K 250s are designed to work with electrically driven motors, and there are three different types of connections used³⁶⁰. It's important to note that the K 250 requires a specifically matched motor, and the camera's number is engraved on the motor's baseplate³⁶⁰. 

The K 250s were produced from 1943 to 1946, with a total production of only 29 units³⁶⁰. Although their serial numbers are not consecutive, they all fall within the range of 353000³⁶⁰.

An entry dated late 1941 (Entry 79b) notes from production records from Ernst Leitz Wetzlar indicate that that the Leica 250, bearing serial number 352376, contains 167 ball bearings of various sizes. Another entry, number 101, dated between December 1941 and January 1942, references 130 Leica 250 cameras with serial numbers ranging from 353601 to 353737. It is worth noting that the Leica 250 cameras with ball bearings were produced before the beginning of February 1942²⁹².

The first cameras equipped with ball bearings were 130 Leica 250 models made for the army, but they had no special markings⁵².

The "GG" Model

The second version of the Leica 250 is referred to as "GG" and is based on the Leica IIIa Model G, featuring a top shutter speed of 1/1000 second³⁶⁰. It was produced from 1936 to 1942, with approximately 709 units manufactured³⁶⁰. In addition to the difference in top shutter speeds, the GG model also differs from the FF in that its rewind knob is not extendable³⁶⁰. The production of GGs occurred directly after the last batch of FFs, with serial numbers ranging from 150125 to 150200, which includes all variants³⁶⁰.

The Leica 250 with serial number 300015 is a version of this later type. It was based on the 1/1000 IIIa Model G rather than the earlier 1/500 III Model F. A Leitz restoration from the 1950s, the Leica 250 with serial number 300015 did not feature the IIIf-type flash synchronization that was common during that period. According to the 1939 New York catalog, the code for this model, which came with a 50mm f/3.5 Elmar lens (the only lens offered at the time), was LOOYE¹⁶⁰.

The Fourth Model

A fourth model of the Leica 250 was produced; however, it is not a variant in terms of mechanical specifications—those are identical to the GG model³⁶⁰. Instead, the difference lies only in its color finish³⁶⁰. All the Leica 250s author examined were either black and nickel finished, with later examples featuring chrome fittings³⁶⁰. 

In the post-war era, a few Leica 250s appeared with chrome finishes, some of which even had IIIf-type flash synchronization capabilities³⁶⁰. There is some debate about whether these models were originally made in black and later chromed after the war, which would align with contemporary fashion trends³⁶⁰. The most likely explanation is that unsold stocks of Leica 250s were chromed post-war to enhance their marketability³⁶⁰. This fourth model is considered very scarce³⁶⁰. 

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The Leica 250 is a notable model in the Leica lineup for two main reasons³⁶⁰. First, it is the only model that produces more than thirty-six exposures in the full 24 × 36 mm format³⁶⁰. Second, it was the last camera designed by Barnack³⁶⁰. From a collector's perspective, the Leica 250 is intriguing and is considered one of the unique models within the Leica range³⁶⁰. 

Finding examples in good condition can be quite challenging, as many were primarily used by professional photographers and often modified to meet more recent specifications, such as those of the IIIF 'White Dial' type synchronization³⁶⁰. Additionally, the winding gears are prone to wear, and as stock of spare parts dwindled, many Leica 250 cameras were likely discarded by their owners³⁶⁰.

Some serial number ranges as well as shipping dates of Leica 250 cameras are indicated in the table below²¹⁹

SERIAL NUMBER(S) OF LEICA 250 CAMERAS219	SHIPPING DATE OF LEICA 250 CAMERAS219
130001	January of 1934
135605	June of 1934
135642-135650	June of 1934
137011	August of 1934
137020-137025	August of 1934
150017-150018	November of 1934
150029	November of 1934
150032-150033	November of 1934
150057	May of 1935
150069	June of 1935
150096-150100	June of 1936
150165	September of 1937
150193-150195	September of 1937
150200	September of 1937
260003-260005	October of 1937
260007	October of 1937
260010	October of 1937
260050	April of 1938
260055-260058	April of 1938
300034-260035	November of 1938
300037-260038	November of 1938
300041	November of 1938
324016	June of 1939
324018	June of 1939
324028-324030	June of 1939
324036-324040	June of 1939
324076	October of 1939
324078	October of 1939
324082-324084	October of 1939

The author determined that only 65 cameras were shipped to Ernst Leitz in New York between January 1934 and October 1939. Additionally, 6 cameras that were originally intended for New York in August 1940 were instead shipped to France. Between 1934 and 1939, 65 Leica 250 cameras were shipped to America. Approximately 520 Leica 250 cameras were manufactured during this time. Ernst Leitz, Inc. in New York received slightly more than 10% of this total production which leaves some doubts regarding accuracy of the shipping and manufacturing records²¹⁹. 

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The Leica 250 Electric Motor

The Leica 250 motor was the first electric motor designed and manufactured by Leitz for a camera³⁶⁰. It was created during an era when clockwork motors were highly popular³⁶⁰. The decision to use an electric motor stemmed from the fact that the film load of the Leica 250 camera was too heavy for a spring-powered mechanism like the MOOLY, which was also a convenient size³⁶⁰. Only the K 250 model (starting from serial number 353001) could be fitted with an electric motor, and even then, it required modifications for the installation³⁶⁰.

Leitz planned to introduce the 250 motor in 1939, but production did not start until 1941³⁶⁰. The motors are numbered from 10001 onward, with the highest recorded serial number being 10,105³⁶⁰. It is believed that around two hundred motors were intended to be produced, with the first 130 allocated to the German army as part of a military contract from 1941³⁶⁰. Given the circumstances of the war, it's reasonable to assume that private demand for such a product would have been minimal, and therefore, only the military contract was fulfilled³⁶⁰.

The 250 motor was built to be extremely durable and is encased in a cast aluminum alloy shell³⁶⁰. It is suitable for both single and continuous operation, with speed adjustments possible by varying the electric supply to the motor³⁶⁰. Different voltage electric motors can be installed, depending on the power supply used³⁶⁰. The following voltage options have been recorded: 

1. 6 Volt DC version operates using a motorcycle battery, with a remote release feature³⁶⁰. 

2. 12 Volt DC version uses a heavy road vehicle battery, and remote control is available³⁶⁰. 

3. 24/28 Volt DC version is compatible with heavy vehicle or aircraft electrical systems³⁶⁰. For example, 24-volt DC operation is possible from a tank, and remote control can be included. 

4. 220 Volt AC/DC version is designed without a remote release for safety reasons³⁶⁰. It requires factory modifications, including cutting the ends of the motor for improved heat dissipation³⁶⁰.

All K 250 cameras that are equipped with electric motors include film guide rollers designed to hold the film against the sprocket drum, ensuring a reliable film advance³⁶⁰. Similar to their clockwork counterparts, the 250 motor was initially made with an external coupling (like the MOOLY) and later adapted to have an internal coupling (similar to the motor of the Leica IIIc)³⁶⁰.