Leica Astro Rifle outfit *
216
Unsold
Estimate €160,000 – 200,000
Condition : B/A
Manufacture Year : c.1944
The only known example of the Astro Berlin camera stock developed for the German Luftwaffe. This unique outfit was designed for handheld and tripod operation, the construction is lightweight and includes two wood handles, a left-hand shutter release and a padded rest for the face for maximal stability. The lens (Astro Fernbildlinse 5/300mm no.38912) and the viewfinder are painted in olive green, the cradle and tripod mount in grey. The rifle is paired with an unusual Luftwaffen Leica IIIc no.390415, finished in green paint, in a similar shade to the lens, it is also one of the latest Luftwaffen-Eigentum cameras listed in the Leica Archives. This exact Astro rifle is showcased in Lager I 'Cameras' on page 87. It is one of the most sophisticated military camera outfits we've ever seen!