Leica IIf Red Dial 1952-53
Tomei Collection
The Leica IIf was introduced in 1951 and was similar to the IIIf that came out a year earlier. The IIf did not have slow speeds (instead the port had a vulcanite covered metal disc) and the accessory shoe was fixed with only two screws. The maximum shutter speed was originally 1/500 sec. but later in 1954 this was increased to 1/1000 sec. As described by Rogliatti, in the third batch of serial numbers from 611001 to 615000, a new so-called "light weight" shutter design was incorporated having the international progression of speeds. A total of 12,348 red dial IIf cameras were produced with the 1/500 sec maximum shutter speed from 1952 through 1954 as shown here in this example.
This model had a simplified version of the accessory shoe with spring clip secured by two screws as the IIc. The camera is engraved with the DRP and not the DBP nor GmbH, changes that had been required by German law beginning some time in 1951. This may indicate that the upper housing had been engraved before 1952, the presumed build date of the camera based on the serial number assignment.
The 5 cm f/3.5 Elmar lens shown mounted on the Leica IIf was produced in 1951 and still had the focusing scale engraved on the flange.
