Wica

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

Known examples at 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.
• s/n 152, 32nd Leitz Photographica Auction. Rodenstock Heligon 5cm f/2 no.2050479.
• 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 1026, 32nd Leitz Photographica Auction. Angenieux Type Z2 50mm f/2.9, no.156751 in normal mount, and Tessar 18cm f/4.5, no.126549, the long lens with female M37 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 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

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
• Wica enlarger with 75mm f/4.5 Berthiot Flor lens, sold at the 32nd Leitz Photographica Auction, in March 2018.