Leica CL 50 Jahre - series designation question

Pál_K

Pál_K

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It's been stated that 3500 special "50 Jahre" models of the CL were made. On the back of the camera there is a designation of the form xxx X, where xxx is a number between 001 and 500, and X is one of the letters of "LEICA".

For example, 122 E is the 122nd camera made with E; the 622nd commemorative camera overall.

Apparently Leica did this with other 50-year commemorative cameras as well.

However, using the letters from "LEICA" produces only 2500 cameras, not 3500.

How are those other cameras designated?
 
There are five letters in "LEICA" and 999 discrete numbers in three character positions.

So 999 x 5 = 4,995.

But you said it only goes to 500 for each letter? Is that for sure? I don't see why they made that choice.

Maybe they only meant to make 2500 and changed their mind?
 
The number is 3500 for sure
My conjecture: 3500:5=700
So they numbered for each letter up to 700
Of other Leicas (like the M5) they made 1750, so 1750:5=350
And they numbered each letter up to 350
 
Rob-F said:
...
But you said it only goes to 500 for each letter? Is that for sure? I don't see why they made that choice.
...
Click to expand...

The number 500 came from Cameraquest:

https://cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm

However, I suspect that PaulDalex is correct and 700 is indeed the count for each letter.

I like this technique that Leica has done; it seems to give the camera a bit more personality or identity. Or perhaps I'm just being romantic about this.

PaulDalex said:
So according to my conjecture Pal has the 822nd 50 Jahre CL
Click to expand...

Oh, I wish I had one, or any CL! No, I was simply reading about the CL because I thought it was a nice compact rangefinder.
 
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