An early Leica Model A from 1928, originally fitted with an old Elmar, later upgraded by Leitz to a Model DII. The serial number is in the 6000 range. The lens was also upgraded for rangefinder coupling. The helicoid number is 1, and the distance scale is in meters.
Leitz apparently prepared dedicated upgrade parts for each model at the time, as standard DII parts could not simply be installed into a Model A. Perhaps this was also because Leica cameras were extremely expensive in those days, but what a remarkably attentive manufacturer they were.
This example has a body and lens that match beautifully in period, giving it a presence that truly reflects nearly 100 years of history. And even in the 21st century, you can still enjoy the rendering of the old Elmar on both film and digital cameras.
This is an item we previously sold. It was cherished by its owner and has now returned to us once again. Welcome back! This is the third time we have had the pleasure of offering it for sale.
Both the body and lens show minor rubbing to the paint and nickel plating on areas that are touched by hand, but there are no notable scratches, dents, or knocks. Overall, it is a very beautiful example. The glossy piano-black finish is so attractive that you can simply gaze at the camera and feel completely captivated.
Both the body and lens were fully overhauled in 2023, and the lens was serviced again in 2025. Thanks to this careful maintenance, the film advance and shutter action remain exceptionally smooth and pleasant. The finder is also clear, and the rangefinder patch has strong contrast.
The front element of the old Elmar shows a few shallow cleaning marks, but they should have no effect on actual images. The aperture and helicoid rings offer superb operating feel. During servicing, the matte black anti-reflection lacquer inside the lens barrel was also neatly repainted, allowing you to enjoy images with a tighter, more defined rendering. Rangefinder coupling and focus accuracy have been checked with our Leica M10-P and M11 demo bodies.
Nearly a century after its manufacture, this camera is still very much ready for active use. The black-painted DII body fits beautifully in the palm, and even dry-firing the shutter is a soothing pleasure.
It comes with a beautiful original period front cap from the Leica Model A era, made of brass with black paint finish.
