Leica: Collectors Guide Hardcover – January 1, 1992

This is the bible of Leica cameras and lens. This book contains the essence of Leica cameras and lens. It has the most comprehensive amount of information I have ever seen for any camera and it is all in one book that will fit into your coat pocket like the first Leica 1a camera of 1925. It is very well organized into the following sections; Introduction to cameras-Screw mount, M models, R models. Special cameras such as military models, commerative models etc. Introduction to lens, Screw mount and M lens, then the R lens and finally the S lens. Each of these lens topics are crowned with MTF diagrams for each including a overview discussion by the optics expert Erwin Puts. The book ends with some of the exotic lens such as stereo lens. Even if you are not into Leica stuff the book is full of interesting facts and information about Leica and its renouned products. At the end of the book is a list of all the serial numbers and dates of maufacture of all cameras since the first ones of 1923, the O series cameras. When looking to purchase any of the second hand cameras or lens of this manufacturer this is the book to have. A great close at hand source of information. Also in the front of the book there is an excellent section on how to purchase a second hand camera. Yes it is focused on Leica products but applicable to all cameras. It includes looking, smelling and feeling the item before purchase and is an example of the throughness of ths great book.

I checked it every time before buying a new or used Leica lens. Just wonder how the author could gather such comprehensive information of the Leica cameras and lenses. Would be better if MTF charts of all lens are included.

Its all there if you can read the very, very, very small type. I had to purchase a magnifying glass to be able to read it.

A very good reference for all Leica product except products product after M9-P. It miss detail information about Visoflex system except lens. Anyway, I read it everday.

The Image is a scam. I wanted the leica pocketbook, just as it says on the title. What I got was the leica collection edition.

This (Pocket Book) is not being sold here. They are selling the 1st edition of the Leica collectors Guide!

The book is written in very concise.It is very useful and easy for look up the Leica products. Printing quality is superb.

hi

Petit livre dense et facilement transportable avec une mine d'informations clairement présentées. Particulièrement utiles sont les listes de numéros des appareils en regard de leur type (par exemple no 100 Model I 1923). Les explications plus techniques avec graphiques sont aussi essentielles pour évaluer la performance des objectifs.

für die die ein Buch als Übersicht der Geräte suchen ganz ok, gut gemacht: ich hatte etwas zu Leica erwartet bez Historie etc

If this is your first book on Leica equipment, then it is a good starting point. I say starting point, as it is primarily concerned with camera bodies and lenses; if you wish for information on the full range of equipment comprising the complete Leica system, you will need to look elsewhere. There is no mention of the range of darkroom equipment or close up copying devices such as the Visoflex etc, nor the vast range of accessories. This is not to negate the value of the book, but to merely point out to first time buyers that it is not a complete compendium of Leica gear.The book itself opens with, and covers, all cameras and model variations right up to just before Leica announced the monochrome only M9-P, and ends with all the digital compacts up to the X-1, again the X-2 being announced subsequent to publication. So, at the time of writing, it is the most complete record of every camera body and lens produced.Items are listed along a time line, with the screw bodied cameras first, then the M models followed by the R, and finally, the digital models.Lenses are categorised into field of view, starting with the wide angles and moving towards the telephoto models, so it is fairly easy to locate a specific lens one may be interested in.The book is printed on quality gloss paper which allows for high quality images and whilst it is true each lens gets its MTF curve, this would not be very helpful if one didn't know how to read and interpret the graphs. Fortunately an explanation is provided, but one needs to turn to the section commencing on page 110, Introduction to Lenses, to find it.The lens section is extremely useful as one can get an idea of which lenses perform the best, and unless one is a collector, a few to avoid (my opinion) and therefore not worthy of your hard earned money. It gives the lie as to why some Leitz lenses are fetching a lot of money for what are, in some cases, merely ordinary, not exceptional optics. This alone could justify the cost of the book.Given the quality of the book, I believe the price represents very good value.

Sehr gut, komplett und praktisch wenn beim Besuch von PhotobörsenHabe die früheren Ausgaben sehr gemocht, Diese ist viel ausführlicher.

Very comprehenive review of Leica cameras and lenses from their beginning to the present day. Particularly useful if you don't have the larger Leica Collectors Guide. You need good eyesight though because the print is very small. Buy the 8th edition now available new; March 2012. [ the first edition was in 1980]