The Leotax Leica Copies

    I don't know how many Leotax cameras Showa Optical Works/Leotax Camera Company produced, but I have several of them in my collection. Because they are copies of the Barnack Leicas, the Leotax F, K, and  K3 (photo right) are similar in appearance. But a closer look reveals that they don't necessarily share the same mechanical features.
    For example the F (red dot) and the K3 (yellow) have slow speed shutter dials, which the K (blue) lacks.
   The F has a top shutter speed of 1/1000 as opposed to a top speed of 1/500 on its twins.
   The F and K feature FX levers, but the K3 lacks one.
   The K3 reveals 50mm frame lines in its viewfinder, but the F and K do not.
   The F and the K are labeled Showa Optical Works, Ltd. This indicates that they appeared earlier than the K3, which is labeled Leotax Camera Company, Ltd.
   Other than those differences (and a few minor ones), all three cameras have the same viewfinder/rangefinder windows, PC connections, as well as the same arrangement of controls on their top plates. All of them are bottom loaders. More about that later.

    Not shown above, the Leotax TV (Leotax Camera Company) is probably a later model in this series of Leica copies. Manufactured in 1957, it shares many of the characteristics of its older cousins while adding a self timer (blue dot). The green dot reveals the slow shutter speed dial, (T, 1, 2, 4, 30, 15, 8). As is true with the  the K and K3, the highest shutter speed on this model is 1/500.The red dot marks the focusing knob of the Industar-26 2.8/50mm lens mounted on the unit.
   The viewfinder/rangefinder window is the same as those found on the units pictured above.
     The Leotax Camera Company produced just  3,000-4,000 Leotax TVs in 1957. 

     Except for its film advance knob, the controls on the top plate of the Leotax TV are identical to those on the F, K, and K3.
         From left to right, rewind knob (yellow); viewfinder/rangefinder windows (white); accessory shoe (dark blue); PC connector (gray); shutter speed dial (light blue); shutter release (green); advance/rewind lever (violet); film advance knob (mustard).
      The film advance knob on the model TV differs from that of the models K and F as shown in the photo (left). The models K and F feature a red, white, and black film type/ASA indicator, while the model TV (and the K3) have small windows that house an ASA indicator.

                                                      

      Like the  Leotax F, K, and K3; the Barnack Leicas; and some Russian copies, the Leotax  K3 loads through the bottom. Many photographers have found loading film through the bottom so frustrating that they've thought about jumping from bridges or slitting their throats.
   Others have used tank loads of ink to propose solutions to the problem.
       Still others have spent their children's milk money to buy special film cutting devices.
      But such extreme measures aren't necessary. Shown here courtesy of jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page345.htm is a suggestion for a template  that offers an inexpensive, easy, do-it-yourself solution to the problem. Follow the link for more specific information.

COMING SOON: Agfa Karat 36