Photographica Pages

An online guide to collectable cameras and related stuff

Leica B (Compur)

One feature that the Leica lacked, with it's focal plane shutter, was slow speeds. A new model of Leica was introduced in 1926 which lacked the focal plane shutter of the Leica A. Marketed as the Leica B, collectors have taken to calling it the Compur leica. It was fitted with a Compur leaf shutter mounted between the lens elements. Speeds were 1/300 second to 1 second, but winding the film and cocking the shutter were done separately, and there was no double exposure prevention. This camera was about 1/3 less expensive than the Leica A.

The camera was produced in two variations, neither in great numbers

The first version used a dial set Compur shutter, so named because the shutter speeds are set on a round dial above the lens. Discontinued in 1929, only 638 were produced.

The later version had a shutter that speeds were set on a ring around the outside edge of the shutter face. Known as the Rimset Compur, it was introduced in 1928. Production overlapped the Dial Set in 1928-29. It was produced in regular batches until 1932. In 1934 two were built, and in 1938 and 1939 one was built each year. In 1941, the last year of production, 16 were produced. Total production of the Rimset was 1072.

Production by year and shutter

Year	Dial Set	Rim Set
1926	61	-0-
1927	224	-0-
1928	337	144
1929	16	209
1930	-0-	561
1931	-0-	123
1932	-0-	15
1933	-0-	-0-
1934	-0-	2
1935	-0-	-0-
1936	-0-	-0-
1937	-0-	-0-
1938	-0-	1
1940	-0-	-0-
1941	-0-	16
Total	638	1072

More photos of the dial set version.

And more photos of the rim set version.