Leica MD
In 1965, the Leica MD was introduced to replace the Leica M1360. Unlike the Leica M1, the Leica MD did not come equipped with a viewfinder and was primarily used as a film advance and shutter mechanism, often in conjunction with a microscope or a Visoflex reflex housing attachment360. It was commonly used with special models like the Post Leicas360. The Leica MD was the first Leica camera to feature a film data recording facility, which consisted of an index strip that was inserted through the baseplate and placed along one edge of the film360. During the exposure, the marking on the strip is transferred onto the film itself17. This design reduced the effective negative size to 24 × 32 mm360. Most Leica MD models were finished in chrome, although a few were produced in grey to match Leitz microscopes360. Leica MD was not equipped with rangefinder17.
Leica MD was sold for 186.00 USD for body only18 . The special base plate could be purchased for 19.00 USD, while the marking strips were priced at 8.00 USD per 10018
The camera with the standard base plate had catalog number 1010118
In total, 3,216 units were manufactured before production was discontinued in 1967360 (or 196618) and replaced with Leica MDa18. The serial numbers ranged from 1102501 through 114189618.
Special Variants
There are a few versions of Leica MD made for post office use. Leica MD "Post 24 × 36”, produced in 1963, didn’t have a rangefinder but had a lens fixed to the body. This lens would usually be the 35mm f/2.8 Summaron. Another version was Leica MD "Post camera 24 × 27", produced in 1965. This camera also didn’t have a rangefinder but had a lens fixed to the body. Only half the usual negative size was used for the documentation. One more version, Leica MD "Post camera", was produced in 1966 for scientific purposes. This camera was equipped with 35mm f/2.8 Summaron or 28mm f/5.6 Summaron lenses fixed to the body. Lastly, Leica MD "Post camera 24 × 27" produced in 1966 was developed for scientific purposes. In addition to 227 units in the normal 24 x 36 mm format, 32 units were developed in a 24 × 27 mm format and delivered to the German Federal Post Office. The cameras were equipped with 35mm f/2.8 Summaron lenses fixed to the body357.
The British Journal of Photography described a modified Leica M3 (most likely they were referring to Leica MD) camera in 1965, highlighting its capability to reduce the reading of 1000 meters from four hours to just ten minutes in Edinburgh. This camera features a 24x27mm negative size and is fitted with a Leitz 35mm f/3.5 Summaron lens in a fixed focus mount. The lens aperture is set at f/7, but if necessary, a set screw can be loosened to reset the aperture to any value between f/5.5 and f/8, depending on the type of film used. The camera does not have a viewfinder, but it includes a frame counter window calibrated to 60 exposures. It is designed for synchronization with electronic flash only. The camera housing resembles a truncated pyramid, with the camera and electronic flash attached at the narrower end. The shutter of the Leica camera is set at the sync speed, allowing for 50 shots to be taken from each full roll of film. The electronic flash unit is positioned between the camera and the narrow end of the cone and is covered by a plate designed to hold the necessary filters. During operation, the front of the cone is positioned against the 23x30 cm area of the 100 phone counters, and the exposure is made. The resulting negatives are evaluated using a device that consists of a filmstrip projector, a mirror, and a small screen, all incorporated into a desktop reader32.
Collector's Corner
'Hammer-grey' finished MD (Leica MD Gray Hammertone) with its Visoflex III is a very desirable collectible78. Leitz Wetzlar production records indicate that in October 1964, ten Leica MD bodies in a special gray finish were shipped to Leitz Canada. Additionally, Visoflex III housings in a similar finish were supplied; however, due to a delayed delivery, these housings have a slightly different finish compared to the cameras79. The cameras came from official batch with serial number 1102501-110251079.
Military
Leica MS “US Navy” was produced in Canada in 1962 on the basis of Leica MD. The camera was used by the US Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Leica MS “US Navy” had only three shutter speeds (1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec.) and came in hammertone finish. The camera also had had an additional handle with shutter release and a Visoflex Il with an 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit lens, with the focus fixed at infinity357.