MOTORIZED ACCESSORIES FOR BAYONET MOUNT LEICAS

Shortly after the Leica M3 was introduced in 1954, Leitz Wetzlar began working on an electric motor drive for the new camera³⁸⁷. The earliest experimental models of motorized Leica M3 cameras (Leica Betriebsk. M3-1147, Leica Betriebsk. MP-1166, Leica Betriebsk. MP-1167, to name a few) were developed by designer Werner Hilgendorf in 1957, which led to the creation of the motorized Leica MP2 by Adam Wagner in 1958³⁸⁷. However, neither of these models went into commercial production³⁸⁷.

Camcraft

The electrical motor drive that was later sold by Ersnt Leitz, New York for the Leica M2-M and Leica M4-M/MOT cameras, beginning in 1965, originated from work by a New York based camera craftsman³⁶⁰ Norman Goldberg in the early 1960s³⁸⁷. Goldberg designed, manufactured, and marketed an early motor called the Camcraft N-5⁵⁷⁴. This electric motor, compatible with Leica MP of 1956, Leica M2, and Leica M1 cameras, consisted of a highly modified Leicavit MP (SYOOM-M) baseplate, fitted with an electric motor and a hand grip equipped with a trigger³⁶⁰. The early models featured an external trip switch, similar to those used in the early Leica-Motor MOOLY clockwork motors for screw-mounted Leicas³⁶⁰. Later, more advanced models included an internal switching mechanism³⁶⁰. Thus, several of these Camcraft N-5 motors were modified and labeled as the Camcraft N-5A⁵⁷⁴. The Camcraft N-5A introduced internal linkage between the camera and the drive⁵⁷⁴. 

In late 1964, a more compact and streamlined version with internal linkage was created⁵⁷⁴. This updated model was sold to Technical Photomation Instruments (TPI) in California and was showcased as the Remodrive at The International Printing Machinery and Allied Trades Exhibition (IPEX) in May 1965⁵⁷⁴. 

It was believed that less than 30 units of this version were completed³⁸⁷.

Known Camcraft devices included:

• Camcraft N-5 without serial number and missing plague was auctioned off together with Leica M2 number 1108588 at the 36th Leitz Photographica Auction on June 13, 2020³⁸⁷. This lot was bought by a collector from the Netherlands.
• Camcraft N-5 number 3 was illustrated on the Camcraft N-5 leaflet⁵⁷⁴. This motor was later modified into Camcraft N-5A number 3 and was auctioned off at an American auction in October 27 and 28, 2012.
• Camcraft N-5 number 9 was illustrated on page 67 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 3 - Accessories" book⁵⁷⁴.
• Camcraft N-5 number 16 was illustrated on page 67 of James L. Lager's "Leica: An Illustrated History - Volume 3 - Accessories" book⁵⁷⁴.
• Camcraft N-5 number 19 was auctioned off at the 11th WestLicht Photographica Auction on May 26, 2007⁴¹³.
• Camcraft N-5 number 25 was auctioned off together with Leica M2 number 1087110 at the 21st WestLicht Photographica Auction on May 12, 2012⁴⁰³.
• Camcraft N-5 number 28 was auctioned off together with Leica M1 number 1067783 at the 27th WestLicht Photographica Auction on June 13, 2015³⁹⁶.
• Camcraft N-5 number 29 was auctioned off together with Leica M2 number 1137765 at the 22nd WestLicht Photographica Auction on November 24, 2012⁴⁰².

Ernst Leitz, New York Motor

In late 1965, Ernst Leitz, Inc. acquired all rights to this motor⁵⁷⁴ and all of Goldberg's motor components³⁶⁰ and formally announced its release, bearing the Leitz New York logo⁵⁷⁴.

By 1966, they began producing an electric motor for the Leica M2³⁶⁰. In 1966, this new motor was publicly displayed at the Photokina 1966, for the first time in Germany⁴⁸⁴. 

The device was designed to attach to the base plate of the Leica M2 and featured a high-efficiency motor housed alongside eight 1.5-volt batteries, providing enough power for approximately 1,500 exposures⁴⁸⁴. The motor operated at two speeds: one for continuous shooting and the other for single exposures⁴⁸⁴. When set to "H" (High Speed), the camera captured three pictures per second at shutter speeds ranging from 1/50th to 1/1000th of a second. In "L" (Low Speed) mode, the camera took one picture per second at shutter speeds from 1 to 1/1000th of a second⁴⁸⁴. The operation of the motor was controlled by a micro switch built into the Leica shutter; the motor turned off when the first blind of the focal plane shutter opened and restarted as the second blind came to a stop⁴⁸⁴. The exposure counter counted backwards and automatically shut off when it reached zero⁴⁸⁴. It could be set to count down from 36 or any desired smaller number of exposures⁴⁸⁴. Additionally, a special attachment allowed for remote control with a cable length of up to 5,000 feet, and radio control was also an option⁴⁸⁴. For extremely cold conditions, a separate battery housing could be connected through a secondary contact⁴⁸⁴. The device had a height of 3.5 inches, a width of 5.5 inches, and a thickness of 1.25 inches (including the battery housing)⁴⁸⁴. Its total weight, including the eight batteries, was 30.5 ounces⁴⁸⁴. Initially, this early model could not be controlled from the camera, but by 1967, improvements allowed the motor to be controlled through the camera, enabling the use of its full range of speeds without the risk of jamming the shutter³⁶⁰.

James S. Forney article claimed that the motor-drive was compatible with Leica M1, Leica MD, Leica M2 and original Leica MP cameras⁵²⁸. The same article mentioned that the price for such a device (with the AA battery pack) was 372 USD in April of 1966 and that the camera must be sent to Leitz for installation for a fee of 25 USD⁵²⁸. 

Pictured below is the aforementioned electric motor for the Leica M2, attached to the camera:

Originally, these motorized cameras were simply modified Leica M2s without any special engravings on the top plate³⁶⁰. However, in 1966, Leitz Wetzlar produced a small batch of the motorized M2, now designated as the Leica M2-M³⁶⁰. The following year, motorized versions of the Leica MP2 and Leica M4 were introduced, with the Leica M4 initially marked as Leica M4M and later rebranded as Leica M4MOT³⁶⁰. 

Pictured below are cameras engraved with M2-M, M4M and M4MOT: