THE M CAMERA OF 1952
In 1952, two years before the announcement of the Leica M3, Leitz handcrafted approximately 65 M cameras80. These cameras are similar to the original version of the Leica M380.
The frame counter is external and operates manually rather than automatically80. The release button is knurled and can be locked in a "time" position by twisting the release finger while the shutter button is pressed in the "B" setting80.
The back door of the camera features a button at the lower left that marks the film for recording purposes80. The rewind knob rotates in the opposite direction compared to all later M models80. When the baseplate is removed, a small intermediary gear is visible inside the camera, which enables this reverse winding mechanism80. Additionally, the baseplate pin is circular rather than notched, as seen in the production versions of M cameras80.
The camera has smooth curves along its body, complemented by sharp angles at the top and base80.
After production, the cameras were distributed to select friends and employees of Leitz for testing80. Once the testing period concluded, the cameras were recalled, disassembled, inspected for wear, and the components were reportedly destroyed80.