Difference between revisions of "Wica"

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The '''Wica''' was 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.
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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
 
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image2=http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5805/21936474146_13a71885cc.jpg
 
|image2=http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5805/21936474146_13a71885cc.jpg
 
|image_align= center
 
|image_align= center
|image_text= Early model Wica no.117 with Rodenstock Heligon 5cm f/2 lens <br>''Photos by eBayer foto-hobby24.eu''
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|image_text= Early model Wica no.117 with Rodenstock Heligon 5cm f/2 lens <br><small>images by eBayer foto-hobby24.eu</small>
 
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It had a synchronized focal plane shutter from 1/20 to 1/1000, with no slow speeds. In an article in 4/2005 issue of VÖAV, it is said it was advertised with a top speed of 1/1600, but it might be a mistake. It had 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 were variations:
+
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 25: Line 25:
 
** higher shutter release
 
** higher shutter release
  
Some had a removable lens in a special mount (32mm fine thread), hand adjusted to the rangefinder. Some later cameras had a normal [[Leica thread mount]].
+
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
+
* Angénieux type Z2 50/2.9
 
* [[Berthiot]] Flor 50/2.8
 
* [[Berthiot]] Flor 50/2.8
 
* [[Rodenstock]] Heligon 50/2
 
* [[Rodenstock]] Heligon 50/2
Line 37: Line 37:
  
 
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 [[Steinheil]] Culminar 5cm/2.8 VL #506977 in Wica mount
+
* 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 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 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
+
* 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 [[Angénieux]] 50/1.8 type S1 in Wica mount
+
* 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 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 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, [[Leica thread mount]], sold with a fake ''SONNAR'' made in USSR
+
* 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 [[Leica thread mount]], pictured in McKeown equipped with a [[Steinheil]] Quinon 50/2
+
* 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 [[Berthiot]] Flor 50/1.5 in Wica mount
+
* 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, [[Angénieux]] 50/2.9 type Z2 #156141 in Wica mount
+
* s/n 1044, late model, pictured in McKeown with a Berthiot Flor 50/1.5 in Wica mount
* s/n 1XXX, late model with [[Leica thread mount]], pictured in McKeown equipped with a Leica-Sonnar 5.8cm/1.5
+
* 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://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://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

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.


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:


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

  1. Wica serial no. 139 offered for sale at the 40th Leitz Photographica Auction, June 2022: several good photographs of the camera.

Links


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