Photographica Pages

An online guide to collectable cameras and related stuff

Leica II (Leica D)

Leica II, black finish, with 50/3.5 Elmar. A tag added on the front of the camera by the camera store can be seen on the front.

Introduced at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1932, the Leica D (also known as the Leica II) was the first Leica to incorporate a rangefinder coupled to the lens. It was also the first camera to have the word "Leica" engraved on it. In 1932 it was only available in black paint with nickel trim. The following year it was available in chrome finish as well. The camera was an immediate success, with almost 22,000 produced the first year alone. To put this into perspective, a little more than 70,000 Leicas had been produced in the six years since Leitz introduced the Leica.

Although the camera was produced until 1948, it was quickly eclipsed as the flagship of the Leica line by the Leica F (also known as the Leica III) in 1933, it's second year of production. It still filled a niche, with 36,936 produced in black finish, and 15,573 in chrome.

Production figures by year and camera finish:

Year	Black	Chrome
1932	21970	-0-
1933	8070	1321
1934	2256	705
1935	1840	2250
1936	1750	2300
1937	600	2350
1938	300	2900
1939	150	2750
1940	-0-	650
1941	-0-	-0-
1942	-0-	128
1943/45	-0-	19
1946	-0-	-0-
1947/48	-0-	200
Total	36936	15573

The Leica II chrome body

The Leica II with 50/3.5 Nickel Elmar, and an early style box

The bottom of the box, showing it was sold with lens, markings in feet and without cassette.