Leitz CORREFOT Collection

Leitz has been the first in the world to develop an auto-focus prototype with the Correphot in 1976, adapted to the Leicaflex SL2 and presented to the Photokina. A secondary mirror deviated a part of rays to a mobile pattern (mechanic system !) for an electronic evaluation of the MAP. Correfot means "maximal 'correlation' between two elementary light rays passing by the extreme edges of the ward of the lens and stemming of a same point of the subject. This unique and historically very important collection of 5 cameras demonstrate these developments between 1976 and 1982: (1) SL2 CK1 with attached control unit for auto-focus, (2) SL2 CK1 with attached control unit for auto-focus, (3) Leica (SL2) prototype, (4) R4 MOT prototype with special CORREFOT prism - quite similar to the Nikon F3 AF (Nikon has repurchased to Leitz rights of utilization of the system Correfot), (5) R4 MOT CK3 - the most complete camera with auto-focus prototype lens Summilux 1.4/50mm (unnumbered) and CM2 control unit - all these camera were also used for demonstration during Photokina 1976 - 1980, the collection includes a note by Walter Bletz (Leica electronic development department) to Klaus Dieter Schaefer (Head of construction department) regarding the development, also original color slides showing the cameras on display at Photokina