Leica MDa
The Leica MD camera was succeeded by the Leica MDa, which was derived from the Leica M4360. Leica MDa did not have a viewfinder or a rangefinder17. It featured a rapid film loading system and an angled, cranked film rewind lever360.
The first batch of Leica MDa cameras, made in 1966360, had serial numbers from 1159001 through 1160200425. Shortly thereafter, a small final batch of the predecessor model, Leica MD, was made in the serial number range 1160XXX, before production then continued with the model MDa425. The production of Leica MDa continued until 1977 (or 1975439), after which Leica MDa was discontinued in favour of the Leica MD-2360. There were 14395 Leica MDa cameras produced, with serial numbers ranging from 1159001 through 1412550439.
Catalogue Numbers and Prices
10103 - Leica MDa, body only534.
14142 - special registration baseplate534.
14170 - 100 marking strips534.
Special Variants
Post Leica MDa cameras
A few types of Leica MDa cameras were produced for postal office use357:
- Leica MDa "Post camera 24 × 36" was used for taking meter readings and was equipped with a fixed lens357. The author of this website was familiar with cameras in the following serial number batches: 1273XXX, 1293XXX. All cameras author of this website was familiar with were equipped either with 35mm f/2.8 Summaron or, rarely, with 28mm f/5.6 Summaron fixed focus lenses (author's note). According to Camera Review No. 28 (Leica-Book '94), published by Asahi Sonorama (Tokyo), a total of 200 units were made571:
- Leica MDa "Post camera 24 × 27" was used for taking meter readings and was equipped with a fixed lens357. Only half of the usual negative size was used for documentation with this camera357. All cameras author of this website was familiar with were equipped with 35mm f/2.8 Summaron, and none were equipped with 28mm f/5.6 Summaron fixed focus lens. According to Camera Review No. 28 (Leica-Book '94), published by Asahi Sonorama (Tokyo), a total of 226 units were made571:
- 10 units produced in 1968, with serial numbers from 1185291 to 1185300 571
- 20 units produced in 1969, with serial numbers from 1206942 to 1206961 571
- 4 units produced in 1971, with serial numbers from 1273922 to 1273925 571
- 60 units produced in 1972, with serial numbers from 1286701 to 1286760 571
- 132 units produced in 1972, with serial numbers from 1293878 to 1294000 571
- Leica MDa "Blitz Special", dated 1972, was manufactured for the German Federal Post Office357. This model combined a standard format post-camera with a motor drive unit for the Leica M4-MOT, and all winding levers of Leica M4571. The cameras did not have the slot in the baseplate and could be found in the following serial number batches: 1293673-1293770 and 1293776-1293877534. The cameras were primarily used as a medical and scientific equipment571.
Most of these post cameras utilized Leica MD winding levers, though some models were equipped with Leica M4 levers571.
Fundus Camera
In the manufacturing lots of the Leica M4-M and M4-MOT models, certain Leica M4 units featured a body engraved with the letters "Da" below the "M," indicating "motor."571 These bodies, similar to the Leica MDa model, had been designed to allow a recording strip to be inserted into the film gate571. Therefore, a motor drive unit could not be attached to these models; in this context, the letter "M" was interpreted to signify either "medical" or "memory."571
Among the Leica M4-M/Da models, those that had a white circle next to the letter "M" were produced at the request of Zeiss571. At that time, Zeiss had completely ceased camera production, and these units were created as recording devices for their fundus examination endoscopes571. These models were referred to as "fundus" cameras, with "fundus" referring to the back of the eye571.
Some examples of motorized Leica MDa MOT cameras, dated 1970-1971, were as follows:
- Camera number 1267350 had a coupling for Leitz New York motor drive and was engraved "MDa MOT"413. This camera was delivered from Leitz New York to Zeiss New York for use with a Zeiss scientific instrument for medical use called the FUNDUS camera in the early 1970s413.
- Camera number 1267384 had a coupling for Leitz New York motor drive and was engraved "MDa MOT"377. This camera had black controls in combination with a chrome top plate377.
- Camera number 1267405 had a coupling for Leitz New York motor drive and was engraved "MDa MOT"403. This camera was delivered from Leitz New York to Zeiss New York for use with a Zeiss scientific instrument for medical use called the FUNDUS camera in the early 1970s403.
- Camera number 1267409 had a coupling for Leitz New York motor drive and was engraved "MDa MOT"404. This camera was delivered from Leitz New York to Zeiss New York for use with a Zeiss scientific instrument for medical use called the FUNDUS camera in the early 1970s404.
NASA
NASA, the U.S. space administration, modified several Leica MDa cameras for potential use on the moon534. To accommodate the use of heavily gloved hands, they extended the rewind knob, shutter speed dial, shutter release button, and other controls534. Additionally, large tabs were added to the setting rings of the 50mm f/1.2 Noctilux lens for the same purpose534. However, these cameras were never sent to the moon534.
Military
Some of known military cameras include: