We’ve seen all sorts of interesting Lego cameras: from miniature replicas to working DIY cameras. And if you’re a fan of vintage gear – you’re going to love this one! The 1914 Ur-Leica, or the “original Leica,” could soon become a Lego kit. But, it needs your help to get from an idea to reality.
The original Ur-Leica prototype was developed by Oskar Barnack in 1913, and built in 1914. Barnack built “at least three UR Leicas,” the National Museum of American History writes. “The first one from 1913 survives complete with lens in the Leitz museum in Wetzlar.”
“At least two more UR Leicas were produced. The second one has been lost and no photographs exist. The third model made about 1918-20 survives in the Leitz museum, but has no lens. This model has many differences from the first model. For example, the UR model had only a single fixed shutter speed, but model three had several shutter speeds similar to those found on production Leicas.”
Credits: Leica – Leica Microsystems (früher Ernst-Leitz), CC BY-SA 2.0 de via Wikimedia Commons
Now, over 100 years later, we could have the Lego version of the Ur-Leica camera. A Lego fan nicknamed Pandis Pandus shared the concept on Lego Ideas. “Because I am interested in photography and amazed by advanced historical engineering, I set out on a mission to frame this timeless camera in LEGO,” the creator writes.
The Ur-Leica recreation is incredibly faithful to the actual camera. “The golden frame of the viewfinder is almost exactly in the 2:3 aspect ratio, which this camera gave birth to,” Pandis Pandus writes. “Even the weight has been modified, with a 2x6x2 weight brick integrated into the body.”
Now, since this is only an idea (for now), the Lego Ur-Leica will need your help to actually become a kit. It has already passed the first milestone of 100 supporters, so there’s a boost of one year to gather 1,000. You know what to do – log in or sign up to Lego Ideas and support this wonderful project. If you do, it may end up on your shelf in the near future.
In case you’d like some more Lego inspiration, scan your pile of Lego bricks and check out these ideas:
[via Leica Rumors]
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