Leica 35 mm 1(A) Camera
date: label: date made
content: ca 1928
name: label: maker
content: Ernst Leitz
label: maker
content: Leica
notes: label: Description
content: The Leica 1(A) was the first commercially available Leica 35mm camera. The Leica, designed by Oscar Barnack, was announced in 1924 and sold to the public in 1925. The Leica was an immediate success and was responsible for popularizing 35mm film photography.
label: Description
content: An early example from the first series of production Leica cameras made in 1926/1927 is shown here--Leica 1(A), serial number 5024 with Leica 50mm F3.5 Elmar Lens and cap. Unlike subsequent Leica models, the lens on this camera cannot be changed. The camera is fitted with a focal-plane shutter with speeds from 1/20 to 1/500 second. The Leica model 1(A) was to be the basis for all subsequent Leica film cameras for the next 30 years.
label: Description
content: From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
label: Description
content: This example comes from the third production run of Leica 1(A) cameras made in 1926 and 1927. This model has a rounded camera shoe and a mushroom shaped shutter release, features similar to many first production run cameras. This camera is in superb condition and shows little signs of wear.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: Germany: Hesse, Wetzlar
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Photographic History
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content: Photography
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content: Artifact Walls exhibit
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of James M. Kater
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: PG.77.93
label: accession number
content: 1978.0227
label: catalog number
content: 77.93
label: serial number
content: 5024
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Camera, 35mm
label: Object Name
content: camera, 35mm
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 6.5 cm x 13.5 cm x 5.8 cm; 2 9/16 in x 5 5/16 in x 2 5/16 in