Difference between revisions of "Wica"
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| − | + | The '''Wica''' is a [[Leica]] copy made by '''Wi'''ener '''Ca'''mera Werkstätte and apparently designed by R. Gerstendörfer of Vienna. It was presented in 1948 and is ultra rare. | |
| + | {{Flickr_image | ||
| + | |image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
| + | |image= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5791/21950513822_c10a736223.jpg | ||
| + | |image2_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
| + | |image2=http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5805/21936474146_13a71885cc.jpg | ||
| + | |image_align= center | ||
| + | |image_text= Early model Wica no.117 with Rodenstock Heligon 5cm f/2 lens <br><small>images by eBayer foto-hobby24.eu</small> | ||
| + | |image_by= | ||
| + | |image_rights= wp | ||
| + | }} | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | The camera has a synchronized focal-plane shutter from 1/20 to 1/1000 second, with no slow speeds. In an article in the April 2005 issue of VÖAV, it is said it was advertised with a top speed of 1/1600, but this might be a mistake. The camera has a coupled rangefinder, separate from the viewfinder, a detachable back and an accessory shoe screwed to the top plate, but being essentially a hand crafted camera, there are variations: | ||
* early models: | * early models: | ||
** short top plate (like the Leica screw models), with ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'' engravings | ** short top plate (like the Leica screw models), with ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'' engravings | ||
| − | ** 2-plug sync mounted at the top of the front plate | + | ** 2-plug flash sync mounted at the top of the front plate |
** advance/rewind knob protruding from the front plate; | ** advance/rewind knob protruding from the front plate; | ||
* later models: | * later models: | ||
| Line 14: | Line 25: | ||
** higher shutter release | ** higher shutter release | ||
| − | Some | + | Some examples have a removable lens in a special mount (32mm fine thread), hand adjusted to the rangefinder. Some later cameras have a normal [[Leica thread mount]]. |
Lenses reported in Wica mount: | Lenses reported in Wica mount: | ||
* [[Angénieux]] type S1 50/1.8 | * [[Angénieux]] type S1 50/1.8 | ||
| − | * | + | * Angénieux type Z2 50/2.9 |
* [[Berthiot]] Flor 50/2.8 | * [[Berthiot]] Flor 50/2.8 | ||
* [[Rodenstock]] Heligon 50/2 | * [[Rodenstock]] Heligon 50/2 | ||
* [[Schneider]] Xenon 50/2.8 | * [[Schneider]] Xenon 50/2.8 | ||
* [[Steinheil]] Culminar 50/2.8 | * [[Steinheil]] Culminar 50/2.8 | ||
| + | |||
Recent auctions and other known pictures: | Recent auctions and other known pictures: | ||
| − | * s/n 15, Westlicht Auction 21/5/2005, short top plate marked ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'', 2-plug sync, A/R knob, with | + | * s/n 15, Westlicht Auction 21/5/2005, short top plate marked ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'', 2-plug sync, A/R knob, with Steinheil Culminar 5cm/2.8 VL #506977 in Wica mount |
| − | * s/n unknown, ebay auction, short top plate marked ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'', 2-plug sync, A/R knob, with | + | * s/n unknown, ebay auction, short top plate marked ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'', 2-plug sync, A/R knob, with Schneider Xenon 5cm/2 #1800997 in Wica mount |
| − | * s/n 130, Westlicht Auction 15/11/2002, short top plate marked ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'', 2-plug sync, A/R knob, strap lugs with | + | * s/n 130, Westlicht Auction 15/11/2002, short top plate marked ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'', 2-plug sync, A/R knob, strap lugs with Berthiot Flor 5cm/2.8 #1800997 in Wica mount |
| − | * s/n 139, Christies 8/6/1995, short top plate marked ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'', 2-plug sync, A/R knob, strap lugs with | + | * s/n 139, Christies 8/6/1995, short top plate marked ''R. Gerstendörfer Wien'' and ''Wica'', 2-plug sync, A/R knob, strap lugs with Rodenstock Heligon 5cm/2 #2039679 in Wica mount; the same camera was offered for sale again at the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction in June 2022.<ref>[https://wlpa.auction2000.online/auk/w.object?inC=WLPA&inA=20210714_0934&inO=293 Wica serial no. 139] offered for sale at the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction, June 2022: several good photographs of the camera.</ref> |
| − | * s/n unknown, pictured in McKeown, early model with both a 2-plug sync and a normal sync post, with an | + | * s/n unknown, pictured in McKeown, early model with both a 2-plug sync and a normal sync post, with an Angénieux 50/1.8 type S1 in Wica mount |
| − | * s/n unknown, pictured in Jason Schneider's ''Camera Collecting'' book, volume III, late model with an | + | * s/n unknown, pictured in Jason Schneider's ''Camera Collecting'' book, volume III, late model with an Angénieux 50/1.8 type S1 in Wica mount |
| − | * s/n 1017, Christies 8/6/1995, long top plate marked ''Wica'' and ''MADE IN AUSTRIA'', normal sync, A/R lever, | + | * s/n 1017, Christies 8/6/1995, long top plate marked ''Wica'' and ''MADE IN AUSTRIA'', normal sync, A/R lever, Angénieux 50/2.9 type Z2 #160700 in Wica mount |
| − | * s/n 1040, Westlicht Auction 29/5/2004, long top plate marked ''Wica'' and ''MADE IN AUSTRIA'', normal sync, A/R lever, | + | * s/n 1018, 34th Leitz Photographica Auction, June 2019. Long top plate marked ''Wica'' and ''MADE IN AUSTRIA'', Angenieux 50/2.9 type Z2 #124578 |
| − | * s/n 1042, late model with | + | * s/n 1040, Westlicht Auction 29/5/2004, long top plate marked ''Wica'' and ''MADE IN AUSTRIA'', normal sync, A/R lever, Leica thread mount, sold with a fake ''SONNAR'' made in USSR |
| − | * s/n 1044, late model, pictured in McKeown with a | + | * s/n 1042, late model with Leica thread mount, pictured in McKeown equipped with a Steinheil Quinon 50/2 |
| − | * s/n 1051, Westlicht Auction 23/5/2003, long top plate marked ''Wica'' and ''MADE IN AUSTRIA'', normal sync, A/R lever, | + | * s/n 1044, late model, pictured in McKeown with a Berthiot Flor 50/1.5 in Wica mount |
| − | * s/n 1XXX, late model with | + | * s/n 1051, Westlicht Auction 23/5/2003, long top plate marked ''Wica'' and ''MADE IN AUSTRIA'', normal sync, A/R lever, Angénieux 50/2.9 type Z2 #156141 in Wica mount |
| + | * s/n 1XXX, late model with Leica thread mount, pictured in McKeown equipped with a Leica-Sonnar 5.8cm/1.5 | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
| − | * [http://www.oldcameras.at/englisch/index_e.htm Oldcameras.at has a picture of a Wica] | + | * [https://web.archive.org/web/20180815031856/http://www.oldcameras.at/englisch/index_e.htm Oldcameras.at has a picture of a Wica] (archived) |
| − | * [http:// | + | * [http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/LeicaCopy/copieleicaIII.html Wica cameras amongst others on the Leica III, leica IIIF Copies page] at [http://corsopolaris.net/supercameras/ Innovative Cameras 135] |
* [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1715343 Gerstendörfer Spezial Makro-Teleobjektiv 135mm f/6.3]: lot 300 of the [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/8902 March 25, 2006 Photographica and Film auction] by Auction Team Breker | * [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1715343 Gerstendörfer Spezial Makro-Teleobjektiv 135mm f/6.3]: lot 300 of the [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/8902 March 25, 2006 Photographica and Film auction] by Auction Team Breker | ||
Latest revision as of 10:25, 2 June 2022
The Wica is a Leica copy made by Wiener Camera Werkstätte and apparently designed by R. Gerstendörfer of Vienna. It was presented in 1948 and is ultra rare.
 
|
| Early model Wica no.117 with Rodenstock Heligon 5cm f/2 lens images by eBayer foto-hobby24.eu (Image rights) |
The camera has a synchronized focal-plane shutter from 1/20 to 1/1000 second, with no slow speeds. In an article in the April 2005 issue of VÖAV, it is said it was advertised with a top speed of 1/1600, but this might be a mistake. The camera has a coupled rangefinder, separate from the viewfinder, a detachable back and an accessory shoe screwed to the top plate, but being essentially a hand crafted camera, there are variations:
- early models:
- short top plate (like the Leica screw models), with R. Gerstendörfer Wien and Wica engravings
- 2-plug flash sync mounted at the top of the front plate
- advance/rewind knob protruding from the front plate;
- later models:
- longer top plate, with Wica, MADE IN AUSTRIA and serial number black-filled engravings
- recessed rewind knob, extracted by a side mounted lever
- normal sync post at the bottom of the front plate
- advance/rewind lever at the top of the front plate
- different winding knob
- higher shutter release
Some examples have a removable lens in a special mount (32mm fine thread), hand adjusted to the rangefinder. Some later cameras have a normal Leica thread mount.
Lenses reported in Wica mount:
- Angénieux type S1 50/1.8
- Angénieux type Z2 50/2.9
- Berthiot Flor 50/2.8
- Rodenstock Heligon 50/2
- Schneider Xenon 50/2.8
- Steinheil Culminar 50/2.8
Recent auctions and other known pictures:
- s/n 15, Westlicht Auction 21/5/2005, short top plate marked R. Gerstendörfer Wien and Wica, 2-plug sync, A/R knob, with Steinheil Culminar 5cm/2.8 VL #506977 in Wica mount
- s/n unknown, ebay auction, short top plate marked R. Gerstendörfer Wien and Wica, 2-plug sync, A/R knob, with Schneider Xenon 5cm/2 #1800997 in Wica mount
- s/n 130, Westlicht Auction 15/11/2002, short top plate marked R. Gerstendörfer Wien and Wica, 2-plug sync, A/R knob, strap lugs with Berthiot Flor 5cm/2.8 #1800997 in Wica mount
- s/n 139, Christies 8/6/1995, short top plate marked R. Gerstendörfer Wien and Wica, 2-plug sync, A/R knob, strap lugs with Rodenstock Heligon 5cm/2 #2039679 in Wica mount; the same camera was offered for sale again at the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction in June 2022.[1]
- s/n unknown, pictured in McKeown, early model with both a 2-plug sync and a normal sync post, with an Angénieux 50/1.8 type S1 in Wica mount
- s/n unknown, pictured in Jason Schneider's Camera Collecting book, volume III, late model with an Angénieux 50/1.8 type S1 in Wica mount
- s/n 1017, Christies 8/6/1995, long top plate marked Wica and MADE IN AUSTRIA, normal sync, A/R lever, Angénieux 50/2.9 type Z2 #160700 in Wica mount
- s/n 1018, 34th Leitz Photographica Auction, June 2019. Long top plate marked Wica and MADE IN AUSTRIA, Angenieux 50/2.9 type Z2 #124578
- s/n 1040, Westlicht Auction 29/5/2004, long top plate marked Wica and MADE IN AUSTRIA, normal sync, A/R lever, Leica thread mount, sold with a fake SONNAR made in USSR
- s/n 1042, late model with Leica thread mount, pictured in McKeown equipped with a Steinheil Quinon 50/2
- s/n 1044, late model, pictured in McKeown with a Berthiot Flor 50/1.5 in Wica mount
- s/n 1051, Westlicht Auction 23/5/2003, long top plate marked Wica and MADE IN AUSTRIA, normal sync, A/R lever, Angénieux 50/2.9 type Z2 #156141 in Wica mount
- s/n 1XXX, late model with Leica thread mount, pictured in McKeown equipped with a Leica-Sonnar 5.8cm/1.5
Notes
- ↑ Wica serial no. 139 offered for sale at the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction, June 2022: several good photographs of the camera.
Links
- Oldcameras.at has a picture of a Wica (archived)
- Wica cameras amongst others on the Leica III, leica IIIF Copies page at Innovative Cameras 135
- Gerstendörfer Spezial Makro-Teleobjektiv 135mm f/6.3: lot 300 of the March 25, 2006 Photographica and Film auction by Auction Team Breker
