Witness - The Pinnacle of Leica Copy Cameras
Manufactured around 1952, this rare camera is believed to have fewer than 350 units produced. It was built by Peto Scott in the UK and sold by Ilford.
Initially, the Witness was intended to be paired with the Daron 50mm f2.9 lens, but that was deemed too ordinary. As a result, the Dallmeyer Super-Six 2-inch f1.9 was quickly chosen instead. The Super-Six is a legendary lens, both in the past and today, known for its superb performance. It is a 4-group, 6-element double Gauss design, praised for its delicate lines at wide apertures and its elegant rendering.
Despite having a proprietary bayonet mount, the Witness is compatible with Leica screw mounts (L-mount), allowing the use of various L-mount lenses. Additionally, by removing a single small screw from the Super-Six 2-inch lens mount, it can be mounted on various Leica bodies, demonstrating incredible versatility.
The Super-Six lens features a beautiful faint blue coating and is rangefinder-coupled from 3 feet (about 1 meter) to infinity. Furthermore, with the press of a button on the focusing lever, the rangefinder stop can be bypassed, allowing for uncoupled focusing down to 1.8 feet (about 55cm).
This particular unit comes with not only the original cap and case but also the manual, period documents created on a typewriter, and even papers confirming the completion of payment and ownership transfer. It’s impressive to see how well British collectors preserve such items, and it’s a reminder that, both then and now, acquiring something of this quality takes real effort!
Additionally, this unit includes a stylish, custom-made aluminum hood. The hood is quite functional, incorporating a built-in protective filter, which is a significant convenience for Witness users who often struggle to find matching hoods and filters. The design and craftsmanship are so excellent that it feels like the hood was part of the original set, enhancing the Witness’s already sophisticated styling.
There is a very minor ding near the shutter dial on the top cover, but this Witness is exceptionally clean compared to most units, which tend to show significant wear.
In 2021, both the body and lens underwent an overhaul. Until recently, the camera was in practical use by a customer, and the body is functioning smoothly with a clear view through the finder. The smooth operation of the Super-Six lens is wonderfully satisfying and addictive. The rangefinder coupling with a Leica camera works perfectly.
While there is some slight wear on the lens coating, there are almost no cleaning marks, and the glass is in very good condition. Given how well the documentation has been preserved, both the body and lens are in a rare state of preservation. We have handled quite a number of Witness cameras at our store, and this one ranks among the best.
