LEICA IIF

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Leica IIf, designed by Adam Wegner and his team in 1951³⁶⁴, was produced between 1951 and 1956²³ and replaced Leica IIc³⁶⁰. The camera came in 2 variations:

• The Leica IIf Black Dial had serial numbers between 451001-455000³⁶⁰ and 570001-574400³⁶⁰, with production year 1951³⁶⁴ and total production of 8400 cameras³⁶⁰. 
• The Leica IIf Red Dial had serial numbers between 574401-822000, with production years spanning from 1952 to 1956²³.

Technical Specifications

Leica IIf was similar to Leica IIIf camera, but without slow speeds¹⁷¹ and the accessory shoe and spring were fixed to the camera by only two screws, as opposed to four³⁶⁰.

The built-in coupled rangefinder of the camera magnified 1.5x¹⁵.

Leica IIf was capable of later modification and conversion²³. The conversion of the Leica IIf into the Leica IIIf was possible at the cost of 96.00 USD²⁴.

The camera included a significant design advancement that enabled synchronization between the Leica shutter and flash equipment, especially the popular strobe²³.

The Leica IIf Black Dial models had shutter speeds of 1/30, 1/40, 1/60, 1/100, 1/200, and 1/500 of a second, as well as a Bulb setting²⁴. In 1952, these speeds were updated to 1/25, 1/50, 1/75, 1/100, 1/200, and 1/500 of a second, plus the Bulb setting, on the Leica IIf Red Dial models²⁴. In 1954, starting with serial number 676564, a shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second was also introduced³⁶⁴.

It's important to note that there was some overlap in the production of the two types of Leica IIf Red Dial cameras, which have maximum shutter speeds of 1/500th of a second and 1/1000th of a second, respectively³⁶⁰. Starting with camera number 590681, a film alignment prong was added to the baseplate³⁶⁰. This feature was also available as a conversion, so it could be found on cameras produced before the Leica IIf Red Dial model with the 1/1000th-of-a-second shutter speed³⁶⁰.

Code Names

Leica IIf Red Dial with synchronization was code-named LOOSE¹⁷¹. Note that this code was also used for Leica IIc⁵³⁴.

Leica IIf with 50mm (5cm) f/3.5 was code-named LOOEL³⁶⁵. Note that this code was also used for Leica IIc⁵³⁴.

Leica IIf with 5cm f/2 Summicron was code-named LOOUN³⁶⁵.

Making Double Exposures

Issues 2 of the Leica Fotografie journal from 1964 reported that making double exposures with this camera was possible⁴⁸⁰. The following method was described: "Press the release button down and turn the winding knob counterclockwise until it catches. This tensions the shutter without winding on the film."⁴⁸⁰

Engravings

Some cameras produced between 1952 and 1953 have a DRP (Deutsches Reichspatent) mark instead of DBP (Deutsches Bundespatent), with GMBH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) added under Ernst Leitz in later models³⁶⁵.

Price

The Leica IIf was moderately priced²³ and offered the post-war camera buyer a money-saving alternative if the buyer thought slow speeds not necessary for their particular type of photography¹⁷¹.

Gifts and Special Cameras

The camera number 451015 is engraved "Leitz-Eigentum" on the top of the back plate³⁹⁶. The camera was sold for 1440 Euros including buyer's premium at the 27th WestLicht Camera Auction on June 13, 2015³⁹⁶. 

Leica IIf "Leitz-Eigentum" with serial number 570223 dated 1951 was sold for 22000 Euros including buyer's premium at the 5th Wetzlar Camera Auction on October 7, 2023⁴²⁴. The camera came from Allen Collection⁴²⁴.

Leica IIf with serial number of 575000 was presented to Dr. Albert Schweitzer, physician, philosopher, theologian, organist and pacifist, on September 18, 1951³⁶⁴.

Deliveries

In 1951, there were 8400 Leica IIf cameras delivered, with serial numbers ranging from 451001 through 574400³⁶⁴. In 1952, there were 4600 Leica IIf cameras delivered, with serial numbers ranging from 574401 through 615000³⁶⁴. In 1953, there were 5000 Leica IIf cameras delivered, with serial numbers ranging from 650001 through 655000³⁶⁴. In 1954, there were 6990 Leica IIf cameras delivered, with serial numbers ranging from 675001 through 682000³⁶⁴. In 1955, there were 7000 Leica IIf cameras delivered, with serial numbers ranging from 711001 through 789000³⁶⁴. 1956 marked the last year of deliveries, with 3999 Leica IIf cameras delivered, with serial numbers ranging from 799001 through 822000³⁶⁴.