The Leica II

The Leica II camera, production commenced in 1932 at number 71200 and excepting the years 1941 and 1946 production was continuous until 1948 when production ceased at number 358850.

The Leica II camera was the first to incorporate a built in range finder.
the range finder and the viewfinder are not combined but eyepieces are located close to 37mm apart.
the range finder automatically coupled by focusing the lens until the two images coincide.
Shutter speeds are from 1/20 to 1/500 of a second and located on one control knob on top of the camera.

There is no eyesight correction control and no strap eyelets are provided. Only the black paint finish was available at the beginning but in 1933 the first chrome bodies production started with the serial number 99132.
for the first time "Leica Ernst Leitz Wetzlar DRP" was engraved on top of the cameras top plate.

Code words were : LYCAN for the early black models. LYCANCHROME for the chrome models. In 1934 code changed  for AIROO for the black and AIROOCHROME for the chrome finishes.

For illustration two Leica II cameras,
one in black paint and nickel, 1932 first batch issued, with Xenon 1.5/50 XEMOO and barn door type sunshade XIOOM topped by a VIDOM first model black & nickel.
The other one in chrome, 1938 issued, with Hektor 2.5/50 HEKTO, topped by a VIDOM chrome with box. Both surrounded by contemporary lenses :
Hektor 6.3/28, HOOPY with respective sunshade SOOHN & viewfinder,
Elmar 3.5/50, EKURZ with respective black painted sunshade,
Summar 2/50 nickel black ring SUMMUS & box, with respective sunshade SOOMP & box,
Hektor 1.9/73 HEGRA with respective sunshade,
Thambar 2.2/90 TOODY with dot filter & sunshade,
Elmar 4/90 ELANG,
“Berg Elmar”6.3/105, ELZEN (all black painted),
Hektor 4.5/135, TOODY
A collapsible/adjustable sunshade 50/90/135 FIKUS,
A self timer APDOO & box
An angle viewer/finder WINTU & box.
A catalog from august 1932 titled 'Warum Leica ?' .