LEICA MD

---

In 1964, the Leica MD was introduced to replace the Leica M1⁵⁷¹. Unlike the Leica M1, the Leica MD did not come equipped³⁶⁰ with a rangefinder¹⁷ or 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. 

Finishes

Most Leica MD models were finished in chrome, although a few were produced in hammertone grey to match Leitz microscopes³⁶⁰. The author of Camera Review No. 28 (Leica-Book '94), published by Asahi Sonorama in Tokyo, confirmed that Leica MD cameras with finishes other than hammertone grey were utilized in Leitz's phase-contrast and metallurgical microscopes.⁵⁷¹ The author believed that a significantly larger number of these cameras had actually been produced⁵⁷¹. 

Catalogue and Prices

10101 - Leica MD, body only⁵³⁴ with standard base plate¹⁸. It was priced at originally priced at 186.00 USD¹⁸. 

14131 - special baseplate with film marking device⁵³⁴. It was priced at originally priced at 19.00 USD¹⁸.

14132 - 100 marking strips⁵³⁴. They were originally priced at 8.00 USD for 100 strips¹⁸. 

Data Imprinting Mechanism

The Leica MD was the first Leica camera to feature a film data recording facility³⁶⁰, via special baseplate with film marking device, listed under catalog number 14131⁵³⁴, which consisted of an index strip that was inserted through the baseplate and placed along one edge of the film³⁶⁰. When one removed the bottom cover of the Leica MD and opened the back cover, one noticed a shallow groove along the left edge of the shooting frame⁵⁷¹. This groove served as a cutout for the upper and lower guide rails of the film gate⁵⁷¹. By using a dedicated bottom cover that featured a light-shielding slit, one could insert a separately sold recording strip from outside the camera⁵⁷¹. Inserting the strip through the slit guided it into the shallow groove, positioning it correctly⁵⁷¹. 

The recording strips were made of light gray transparent plastic with a matte finish on the recording surface, allowing them to be easily written on with ink or a felt-tip pen⁵⁷¹. Each strip was 5.5 mm wide, but the left 2 mm extended beyond the capture area; therefore the data were recorded using a pencil within a 5.5mm wide area during exposure on the film⁴⁸¹. This design reduced the effective negative size to 24 × 32 mm³⁶⁰. After all, the "D" in MD stood for "Documentation"⁵⁷¹. Two small holes at the tip of the strip indicated the writable area⁵⁷¹.  

This recording unit was located on the left side when viewed from the back of the camera, but on the actual print, it appeared on the right⁵⁷¹. Since approximately 10% of the image was cropped, it was essential to keep this in mind when composing the shot⁵⁷¹.

During the exposure, the marking on the strip was transferred onto the film itself¹⁷. 

The Leica Rapid Loading Spool

After the introduction of the Leica M4, in 1968 Leitz announced a new rapid-loading spool designed to bring the Leica MD up to "modern standards" of film loading speed⁴⁸⁵. This new spool came with an accompanying spacer that attached to the back of the Leica camera⁴⁸⁵. When the baseplate was closed, the spacer helped orient the film into the correct position⁴⁸⁵.

Cameras for Post Office Use

1965 Article about Leica MD camera and Alos Monoblitz II

In 1965, The British Journal of Photography described a modified Leica M3 (likely a Leica MD camera (author's note)) camera, highlighting its capability to reduce the reading of 1000 meters from four hours to just ten minutes in Edinburgh³². The said camera featured a 24x27mm negative size and was fitted with a Leitz 35mm f/3.5 Summaron lens in a fixed focus mount³². The lens aperture is set at f/7, but if necessary, a set screw could be loosened to reset the aperture to any value between f/5.5 and f/8, depending on the type of film used³². The camera did not have a viewfinder, but it included a frame counter window calibrated to 60 exposures³². It was designed for synchronization with electronic flash only³². 

The camera housing resembled a truncated pyramid (likely Alos Monoblitz II (author's note)), with the camera and electronic flash attached at the narrower end³². The shutter of the Leica camera was set at the sync speed, allowing for 50 shots to be taken from each full roll of film³². The electronic flash unit was positioned between the camera and the narrow end of the cone (likely Alos Monoblitz II (author's note)) and was covered by a plate designed to hold the necessary filters³². During operation, the front of the cone was positioned against the 23x30 cm area of the 100 phone counters, and the exposure was made³². The resulting negatives were evaluated using a device that consisted of a filmstrip projector, a mirror, and a small screen, all incorporated into a desktop reader³². 

Leica MD Post cameras were specially designed versions of the Leica MD that were created to record the frequency meter of telephone exchanges⁵⁷¹. Since the telecommunications offices in Germany fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, these cameras were referred to as "post-cameras"⁵⁷¹.

There were 2 kinds of Leica MD Post Cameras:

• ones that could record 24x27mm exposures⁴⁰⁶
• ones that could record 24x36mm exposures⁵³⁴

Leica MD Post Cameras were equipped with fixed focus lenses of the following types:

• 35mm f/2.8 Summaron³²
• 35mm f/3.5 Summaron³²
• 28mm f/5.6 Summaron³²

24x27mm Post Cameras

The official first batch of Leica MD Post Cameras was numbered 928923-929000⁴⁰⁶. These cameras were capable of exposures 24x27mm⁴⁰⁶. Among them: 

• Camera number 928929, dated 1958, had internal frame counter up to 60 exposures and was equipped with fixed-focus 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron lens no.1614513 engraved 'Post'⁴⁰⁶. In technical terms, this camera was a Leica M3 without a rangefinder⁴⁰⁶.
• Camera number 928988, dated 1958, had internal frame counter up to 60 exposures and was equipped with fixed-focus 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron lens no.1614553³⁹⁵. The shutter speed of this camera was  fixed at flash sync speed³⁹⁵.

There was another batch of Leica MD Post Cameras with early Leica Ig serial numbers in the 987301-987600 range⁴⁰⁷. These cameras were capable of exposures 24x27mm⁴⁰⁷. Among them:

• Camera number 987539, dated 1963, was labeled with "Post 1963" on the base plate⁴¹⁹. It was equipped with fixed-focus 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron lens no.1564383⁴¹⁹.
• Camera number 987543, dated circa 1963, was equipped with fixed-focus 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron lens no.1613442⁴¹⁴.
• Camera number 987545, dated circa 1961, was equipped with fixed-focus 3.5cm f/3.5 Summaron lens no.1564540⁴⁰⁷ with "Post II-20" engraved on barrel⁴⁰⁷. The camera had "POST" stamped in vulcanite and had only one flash plug⁴⁰⁷.
• Camera number 987562 was illustrated in Viewfinder, Vol. 31 , No . 4 , 1998.

Leica MD Post Camera with Leica M1 serial number 1098233 was illustrated on the page 108 of Dennis Laney's "Leica Collector's Guide" (2nd edition) book⁵³⁴.

Another batch of Leica MD Post Cameras was numbered 1141969-1142000⁵³⁴. These cameras were capable of exposures 24x27mm⁵³⁴. Among them:

• Camera number 1141975 was illustrated in Viewfinder, Vol. 31 , No . 4 , 1998.

24x36mm Post Cameras

There was another batch of Leica MD Post Cameras with Leica M1 serial numbers in the 1067871-1068000⁵³⁴. These cameras were capable of exposures 24x36mm⁵³⁴. Among them:

• Camera number 1067927, dated 1963, was equipped with fixed-at-f/4.5-aperture fixed focus 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron lens number 1931401³⁷⁷. This camera was supplied to Swiss Post Office authorities for recording telephone meters³⁷⁷.
• Camera number 1067945, dated circa 1963, was equipped with fixed focus 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron lens no.1931497⁴⁰⁴.
• Camera number 1067972, dated 1963, was equipped with fixed focus 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron lens no.1931445³⁸⁴. 
• Camera number 1067976 was illustrated in Viewfinder, Vol. 31 , No . 4 , 1998.

Camera number 1085458 was illustrated in Viewfinder, Vol. 31 , No . 4 , 1998.

Another batch of Leica MD Post Cameras was numbered 1114976-1115000⁵³⁴. These cameras were capable of exposures 24x36mm⁵³⁴. 

Another batch of Leica MD Post Cameras was numbered 1141897-1141968⁵³⁴. These cameras were capable of exposures 24x36mm⁵³⁴. 

Leica MD Post Camera number 1164894, dated 1967, was equipped with fixed focus 3.5cm f/2.8 Summaron lens no.2153502³⁸⁷. The camera was outfitted with Alos Monoblitz II³⁸⁷.

Hammertone Finished Leica MD Cameras

Leitz Wetzlar production records indicated that in October 1964, 10 Leica MD bodies in a special grey finish were shipped to Leitz Canada⁷⁹. Additionally, Visoflex III housings in a similar finish were supplied; however, due to a delayed delivery, these housings had a slightly different finish compared to the cameras⁷⁹. The cameras came from official batch with serial number 1102501-1102510⁷⁹. 

Some of the known examples were:

• The camera number 1102502 was illustrated by Japanese collector Shinichiro Mizuchi, its owner in March of 2002, on the pages 16 of Camera Review No. 63 (Leica-Book '02), published by Asahi Sonorama (Tokyo)⁵⁸². It was later serviced by Don Goldberg and auctioned off at an American auction.
  
• The camera number 1102503 was illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Museum Leica" book in 2018⁵⁹⁶. (also see p.107 1/2019 Leica Fotografie International magazine). 
• The camera number 1102504 was illustrated on page 159 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book⁵⁴⁰.
• The camera number 1102505 was illustrated on Lars Netopil Classic Cameras Facebook page in 2011.
• The camera number 1102506 was sold for 156000 Euros including buyer's premium at the 35th Leitz Photographica Auction on November 23, 2019³⁸⁸. 
• The camera number 1102507 was illustrated on page 221 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book⁵⁴⁰. It was also illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Rare Leica" book in 2014⁵⁹⁴. 
• The camera number 1102509 was illustrated on page 221 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book⁵⁴⁰. This camera was part of Charles M. Messer collection, located in The Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio⁴⁹⁶.

Leica MS for Military

During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, the U.S. military sought a 35mm camera that could be operated with one hand for aerial reconnaissance⁴²³. The Leica MS camera developed by Leitz Canada, on the basis of Leica MD³⁵⁷, featured a body with large, see-through viewfinder frame lines for 90mm and 135mm focal lengths⁴²³ and had a light-gathering window at the bottom⁵⁷¹. Fixed-focus (at infinity⁵⁷¹) versions of the 90mm f/2 Summicron and 135mm f/2.8 Elmarit lenses were created in special mounts⁴²³. The system also included a mechanical or electric winder that served to release the camera, facilitating single-handed operation while wearing gloves and a helmet from the cockpit⁴²³. A light pull of the trigger released the shutter, while a full pull advanced the film⁵⁷¹. It was known to have been paired with a motor drive unit made by Ernst Leitz New York, which was utilized in the Leica M2-M and Leica M4-MOT models⁵⁷¹.

The cameras were equipped with three short exposure times: 1/250, 1/500, and 1/1000 seconds, and they were finished in a hammertone gray paint⁴²³. Only ten specimens of the Leica MS camera were made, with five initially sent to the U.S. Navy for testing in 1964⁴²³. Some sources indicated that only 6 cameras, numbered 3490, 3491, 3492, 3493, 3494, 3495 were made⁴⁰⁸. 

Surviving "Technical Report" from the U.S. Naval Photographic Center's Research and Development Department, dated May 23, 1966, summarized the tests conducted with the Leica MS⁴²³. Ultimately, the decision was made not to procure this camera model⁴²³.

Known cameras were:

• Leica MS number 3490 dated 1964 was sold for 450000 Euros including buyer's premium at the 6th Wetzlar Camera Auction on October 12, 2024⁴²³. The lot was described as "...The camera offered here with Leitz New York electric motordrive No. 02523 with a special hand grip, see-through viewfinder and Fixfocus Summicron 90 mm f/2 Nr. 2068797...Included: Technical Report (copy)."⁴²³.
• Leica MS number 3491 was illustrated on page 226 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book⁵⁴⁰.
• Leica MS number 3492 dated 1961 was sold for 96000 Euros including buyer's premium at the 16th WestLicht Camera Auction on December 5, 2009⁴⁰⁸. The lot was described as "...With the camera comes the special load/release rapid winder in grey finish, a Visoflex III with the specially for this camera produced fixed-focus (to infinity) Elmarit 2.8/135mm no.2064146, also included hand grip version E.Leitz New York electric motor (one of 2 existing). In total only 6 cameras were made (nos.3490-3495), this version was not used with the special viewfinder (shutter dial has three shutter speeds only engraved once)...the electric drive with grip is used"⁴⁰⁸. This camera was illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Rare Leica" book in 2014⁵⁹⁴. 
• Leica MS number 3493 circa early 1960s was illustrated on page 223 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book⁵⁴⁰.
• Leica MS number 3495 circa early 1960s was illustrated on page 222 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 1 - Cameras - Signed Deluxe Limited Edition" book⁵⁴⁰. In 2014, this camera was in Leica Archives. It was illustrated in Mr. Lars Netopil's "Museum Leica" book in 2018⁵⁹⁶. The author of this website saw this camera in the Leica Museum in May of 2025.

Closing Remarks

In total, 3216 (or 3345⁴³⁹) units of Leica MD were manufactured before production was discontinued in 1966¹⁸. The serial numbers ranged from 1102501 through 1141896¹⁸ (or 1160820⁴³⁹).  The Leica MD was replaced with Leica MDa¹⁸, which featured Leica M4 specifications⁵⁷¹.