Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/12/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I thought Leica did not participate in the US Space Program. However, we were recently at the Space and Air Museum in DC where I saw a Leica camera ( too high for me to look down on it) with a "funny" external VF or meter as it had an on/off switch, presumably for use with the face covering helmets the Astronauts wear. The model had no RF; no VF; dual VF sockets on top, only a single PC Synch terminal with a hole for the second; and a general look of a Ic. Nameplate was in script, with DBP written below the logo. Lens was a black no name lens ( about 135 in length, if I were to guess) mounted to the body with a screw mount. Had anyone known that Leica was involved in the US Space Program? I knew Zeiss (Contarex) and Hasselblad were involved... Subsequently I did a bit of research and found this... http://gmpphoto.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-leica-nasa-connection.html Which details some Leica activity.. And the camera I saw was a 1g.used by John Glenn in 1962. The thing on top WAS a VF. Why did the VF have an on/off switch???? Maybe it was a VF/Meter combo? Read the article. If you are a Space "Nut". It is very interesting.. Frank Filippone Red735i at verizon.net