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 35mm f/3.5 Leitz Summaron 35mm f/3.5
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 top 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
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.
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 Stereo Nikkor 35mm f/3.5
Patent drawing of Leitz Stereoly attachment
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.
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The Nikon rangefinder cameras were no Leica copies.
ReplyDeleteI never said they were. What I did say is that Nikon decided to copy the Leica shutter from the Leica SM cameras for use in the Nikon rangefinder cameras. The camera bodies, the lens mount and the rangefinder were copies of the Zeiss Contax camera. The connection to Leica is further shown by the fact that Nikon also considered to copy the Leica screw mount as shown by 4 prototype cameras.
DeleteDidn't Nikon copy some Zeiss lenses as well?
ReplyDeleteYes they did.
DeleteNice to see some credit to the yellow enemy. You are right about everything, I also think that Nikon had the technical expertise to develop everything from scratch. They chose Leica over Contax because they had that technical know-how to mKE informed choices. The Leica shutter does have limitiations, but it's simple and wit all simple things, reliable and endurant. The Contax camera is a demonstration of engineering power, but sadly, apart from the combined VF/RF, it fails to offer more to the user, except unsurpassed complicated engineering and reduced reliability. Nikon was very inteligent in their choices, picking the best from the Contax and Leica. I think they regretted the Contax mount in the end, the focusing system is an excentricity and the last prototype of the SPX had a Nikon F mount.
ReplyDeleteWould not the rangefinder have had to have a different lever ratio due to the focusing helicoid thread pitch on Leica LTM lenses from both Nikon and Zeiss bayonet mount RF lenses. This is of course, the reason Russian lenses do not focus properly on Leica bodies, as the Russian lenses use Zeiss focusing helicoid pitch. Something similar may be why Nikon lenses do not focus properly on Contax bodies unless that is a difference in flange focal distance.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late reply. I am sure you are right. I have to assume that the prototype Nikon cameras with the Leica thread mount were used primarily to see if the Leica mount might have some advantages. Had Nikon decided to use that mount instead, I am sure the rangefinder would have been set for use of Nikon's own lenses instead of any of the Leica lenses.
DeleteNice writeup. Please note that although production of the first Nikon started in March 1948, the first marketable Nikons were not ready until August, and none were sold domestically. Almost all the first Nikons were sold overseas, primarily in Hong Kong, United States and a variety of other countries. Most of the Leica-mount Nikon prototypes appear to date from 1950 when Nippon Kogaku,concerned about slow camera sales, considered changing to the Leica thread mount.
ReplyDelete