Leitz Auction
Starting Price €10,000
Total bids: 0
Estimate
€20,000 – 24,000
€20,000 – 24,000
This item is subject to VAT at the statutory rate of the respective country of destination on hammer price and premium (full taxation), provided it remains in the EU
serial number
A.001
Condition
B/A
Manufacture Year
c.1951
Product number
A03964
The Mecaflex, designed by the renowned German camera and lens designer Heinz Kilfitt, was first presented at Photokina in 1951 and entered production around 1953. Manufactured initially by Metz Apparatefabrik in Fürth, the remarkably compact 35mm SLR produced 24 × 24mm square negatives and featured an unusual folding waist-level finder and interchangeable Kilfitt lenses.
The camera offered here is an exceptionally interesting Mecaflex prototype, with the serial number A.001 engraved on the chassis. Its most distinctive feature, absent from the later production cameras, is the special leather covering shaped to form small integral grips on both sides of the body, clearly illustrating an experimental stage in the development of the camera.
Of particular importance are two unique prototype eye-level prism finders included with the camera. One appears to represent an early-stage experimental design, while the second, probably representing a later stage of development, incorporates a built-in light meter. We are not aware of either version having been previously documented.
The outfit is completed by a Kilar 3.5/40mm no. 22-2090, Tele-Kilar 4/105mm no. 237-0236, two rare extension rings, leather case and a very rare Kilfitt table magnifier.
An extraordinary and apparently unique Mecaflex outfit, documenting several stages in the development of Heinz Kilfitt's innovative compact SLR system.
The camera offered here is an exceptionally interesting Mecaflex prototype, with the serial number A.001 engraved on the chassis. Its most distinctive feature, absent from the later production cameras, is the special leather covering shaped to form small integral grips on both sides of the body, clearly illustrating an experimental stage in the development of the camera.
Of particular importance are two unique prototype eye-level prism finders included with the camera. One appears to represent an early-stage experimental design, while the second, probably representing a later stage of development, incorporates a built-in light meter. We are not aware of either version having been previously documented.
The outfit is completed by a Kilar 3.5/40mm no. 22-2090, Tele-Kilar 4/105mm no. 237-0236, two rare extension rings, leather case and a very rare Kilfitt table magnifier.
An extraordinary and apparently unique Mecaflex outfit, documenting several stages in the development of Heinz Kilfitt's innovative compact SLR system.