Monday, November 17, 2025

SHOOTING MODELS ON THE LEICA M 240



In searching for news on Leica, I came across a headline that read: “Be Warned: Shooting with the Leica M240 is Addicting”.  That piqued my interest, although I tend to think that shooting with any Leica is addicting.

The headline was referring to an article by Chicago photographer Isi Akahome.  He gracefully agreed to have his article published here as well, although he did ask for a different headline.


"Shooting Models on the M240"

By Isi Akahone

A word of advice: if you don’t intend on buying a Leica, don’t play with one. The feeling of shooting with one can be quite compelling, and before you know it you’ll do what I did.

In my defense, I was never interested in shooting with a Leica. I always saw them as overpriced and impractical, although one can’t deny the beauty and excellent mechanical construction of these cameras. Then I made the mistake of walking into a Leica store in New York out of curiosity, and playing around with the cameras and lenses they had on display.

I was immediately impressed with the M240; the camera’s solid build and the compactness of the 50mm Summilux ASPH felt like the perfect marriage of camera body and lens.

I was impressed by how simple and straightforward the operation of the camera was. I picked up rangefinder focussing right away, and personally think it’s easier than focus peaking on the Sony e-mount system. I also really like the look of the images on the LCD. Then they hit me with the prices: $4,400 for a used body, and $3,300 for a used 50mm f/1.4 lens. Needless to say I was shocked, but the camera left a strong impression on me all the same.

Fast forward a few months later, and after a ton of research and YouTube videos I sold my Sony A7II and my E-mount lenses, and bought an excellent condition used M240 on eBay for $3,300, and a used Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 planar for $650 from MPB.

I decided it would be my camera for more casual, fun shoots and personal photos. It would be my travel camera, and there would be no compromise in image quality.

The kit I had was quite nice, and I was loving the process of shooting with the camera—it’s very different from any other system, but I liked how it made me slow down while I shot and recomposed. I shoot models, so I thought it would be nice to share pictures using the M240 to shoot models as opposed to the usual street and photojournalistic photos.

First, here are a few with the Zeiss Plannar:












I really liked the combination of the Zeiss lens and the M240, but I couldn’t help but wonder how much better it could get with the haloed Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH. Lucky for me, I have the most amazing girlfriend in the world who bought me a used Summilux for my 27th birthday in March.

Oh this lens makes the M240 sing!

Leica makes some of the best glass in the world, and now I get it. The Leica glass is as good as it gets in my opinion. The 50mm Summilux is worth Every Penny. Here are a few images with the combo:













The Leica M system is a quite interesting system. There’s something magical about the experience, and now I understand why people who love these cameras are so loyal, and will pay the high prices that the company demands. I was even comfortable using the camera to shoot a project for a high profile client, and they were very pleased with the results.

It’s a lot of fun, and I’m officially in love with this camera and lens. If you ever walk into a Leica store… be warned: the same thing could happen to you.


About the author: Isi Akahome is a Fashion and Portrait photographer based in Chicago. You can view more of his work on his website, and follow him on Instagram at @isispiks.


     For other articles on this blog please click on Blog Archive in the column to the right

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Sunday, November 16, 2025

LEICA SCREW MOUNT NIKON AND OTHER NIKON LEICA COPIES




By Heinz Richter

It is common knowledge that the modern 35mm system camera was developed in Germany by Leitz (Leica), soon followed by Zeiss with the Contax.  The influence of these two camera systems was far reaching and influenced many other camera manufacturers to develop similar cameras.

One such company was Nikon in Japan.  During the 1930s, the basis was laid for an independent photographic industry to meet civil and, more importantly, military needs that would become of primary importance following Pearl Harbor and Japan’s entrance into the second world war.

After the war, many of the Japanese camera manufacturers were eager to reenter the domestic and foreign markets.  Among all of the Japanese brands, the one that would soon become a household name in the US and Europe was Nikon.

But like so many other manufacturers, they began by closely copying successful German manufacturers, primarily Leitz and Zeiss.  Initially, Nikon manufactured only lenses, many of which were copies of lenses made by Leitz as well as Zeiss.

  
Nikkor QC 50mm f/3.5                                                     Leitz 50mm Elmar f/3.5


W-Nikkor.C 1:3.5 f=3.5cm in Leica M39 thread screw mount  
W-Nikkor C 35mm f/3.5                                                      Leitz Summaron 35mm f/3.5


               Optical design for W-Nikkor.C 1:3.5 f=3.5cm (35mm f/3.5) wideangle lens                                            
                                      W-Nikkor C 35mm f.3.5                                                         Leitz Elmar 35mm f/3.5


The first Nikon camera with interchangeable lenses appeared on the domestic market in March of 1948.  Unlike many other manufacturers who simply copied Leica cameras, Nikon, on the other hand, chose to copy the Zeiss Contax.  But there was more to the camera than what met the eye.  The camera body was clearly a copy of the Zeiss Contax, including the rangefinder and the lens mount.  But the shutter was definitely not a Zeiss design.  Upon closer inspection it was obvious that it was taken entirely from the Leica.  That decision apparently had been made because it was of a much less complicated design (thanks Oskar Barnack) and thus much more reliable than the vertically traveling, roller desk type shutter of the Contax.  The Leica shutter was copied in virtually all details resulting in the Nikon being one of the very few cameras that utilized a collar type cable release.

 
Leica III

 
Nikon 1
Please note the position of the shutter speed dial, the shutter release, the film winding knob
and the film rewind lever.

Several years later, when it became apparent that rangefinder cameras would be replaced by single lens reflex (SLR) cameras, Nikon simply converted the Nikon rangefinder camera to an SLR by eliminating the rangefinder from the camera and adding a mirror housing.  Thus the original Nikon F was born.  It too featured the Leica shutter, virtually unchanged.  The Nikon F soon became one of the most successful, professional SLRs on the market and Leica technology was a definite part of that.

   
Leica III                                                                             Nikon F SLR

Using the Leica shutter offered another, little known feature, mostly unknown to even Leica users.  The Leica shutter used by Nikon was that of the Leica screw mount cameras and it made those Leicas, the Nikon rangefinder and Nikon F SLRs the only cameras to ever incorporate that feature.

It was the ability to allow double exposure with perfect registration, but not just simple double exposures on the last frame but with any frame that had been exposed on the roll of film.

Users of these cameras might have noticed that the shutter release button turns when rewinding the film.  To make a double exposure on the last exposed frame all that is necessary is to activate the rewind release and winding the film back for one full revolution of the shutter release button and then go beyond that for not quite another half revolution.  After that the camera has to be switched back to the film advance mode and the film transport knob or advance lever moved to cock the shutter.  This will also advance the film which will automatically stop with perfect registration on the last exposed frame.  At this point the second exposure can be taken on that frame.  Repeating the above steps will allow unlimited exposures on the same frame.

To take additional exposures on any previous frame one needs to do the same procedure as above.  Except rather than winding the film back just one revolution of the shutter release knob, one needs to make it do as many revolutions as the number of frames the one is back that is to receive the additional exposure.  Don’t forget to go about one half revolution beyond, activate the advance until it stops and take the exposure.

To go back to taking a new picture, block any light from entering the lens and take as many ‘blind’ exposures as the number of frames you wound back.

This might require some practice.  To do that with any accuracy, take an old, unexposed or undeveloped roll of film and load it into the camera.  With the camera set on ‘B’ and with the lens removed, take several frames and mark the outline with a pen and number the frames consecutively.  This will allow you to practice the above procedure with any number of frames.

A fact only known to few is the fact that Nikon also considered to use the Leica screw mount on their early cameras instead of the Contax mount.  However, this did not proceed beyond the prototype stages and all of the Nikon rangefinder camera that reached the market did feature the Contax mount.

 
Leica Screw Mount Prototype #1
Very closely based on the Contax, but definitely shows the use
of the Leica shutter

 
Leica Screw Mount Prototype #2
Very closely based on the Contax, including the self timer lever,
featuring the Leica shutter

 
Leica Screw Mount Prototype #3
Close to the later Nikon rangefinder lay-out, Leica shutter

 
Leica Screw Mount Prototype #4
Very close to the marketed Nikon rangefinder with Leica shutter

A  5th prototype with Leica screw mount was recently sold by Wetzlar Camera Auctions (WCA)
Just like the other prototypes, this too clearly made use of the Leica shutter

Besides copying lenses and cameras, Nikon’s line of accessories also consisted of quite a variety of copies of Leica accessories.

Rangefinder cameras by their very nature are limited in their ability to do close up photography as well as photography with lenses longer than 135mm.  To overcome that problem, Leica developed a single lens reflex viewing attachment.  When added to the camera, it allowed viewing through the lens, allowing to focus accurately when doing close ups as well as when using long lenses.  The first in the line of the reflex viewing attachments was the PLOOT.  Later versions became known as the Visoflex.  Nikon too offered such an attachment and the similarity to the Leica version is undeniable.

 
Nikon reflex focusing unit

 
Leitz PLOOT

After the first Leica appeared on the market in 1925, models with interchangeable lenses were soon to follow.  Since the viewfinder of those cameras only showed the field of view of the 50 mm lens, accessory viewfinders for the other focal length lenses became a necessity.  This resulted in the Vidom, a universal viewfinder that could be adjusted to show the field of view of focal lengths from 35 mm to 135 mm.  Nikon, faced with the same problem, simply copied the design of the Vidom rather than developing a viewfinder of their own design.

           
 Nikon Optical Finders - LINK   
                                                Nikkor Multi Focal Finder                               Leitz Vidom

Stereo photography was quite popular for a while and Leitz made a variety of accessories that allowed to take stereo photographs and again, Nikon simply copied these designs for their own use.

The Nikon Stereo-Nikkor 35mm f/3.5 outfit consisted of a stereo lens and stereo prism for the Nikon rangefinder cameras.  Introduced in 1956, it bears more than a close resemblance to the Leitz Stereoly, first introduced in 1931 and later replaced by an improved model in 1954.


 Nikon (Nippon Kogaku Japan) rangefinder Stereo-Nikkor 1:3.5 f=3.5cm wideangle lens in full outfit
Nikon Stereo Nikkor 35mm f/3.5

File:B11.JPG
Patent drawing of Leitz Stereoly attachment

Image of Leica 11
Leitz Stereoly on early Leica II

 
Leitz Stemar 35mm f/3.5

In either case, this stereo equipment produced two half frame stereo images in place of the standard 35mm frame.  Stereo viewers and projector accessories allowed for stereo viewing of the images taken.

Thus we have another example of the influence Leica has had on Nikon over the years. This isn't to say that NIkon could not have been successful without Leica, but copying Leica cameras, lenses and accessories definitely eliminated a lot of development time for them. Considering how many other manufacturers copied Leica, Leica cameras, lenses and accessories remain the most copied photographic equipment in history.



     For other articles on this blog please click on Blog Archive in the column to the right

To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.

All ads present items of interest to Leica owners.

_______________________________________________________________________

EDDYCAM - the first and only ergonomic elk-skin camera strap     
 www.eddycam.com        

      



Buy vintage Leica cameras from 
America's premier Leica specialist 
www.tamarkin.com

 http://www.tamarkin.com/leicagallery/upcoming-show


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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

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