Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

By Steviemac

Like many enthusiastic photographers, I have long yearned for a Leica. The M series have always seemed to me to be the epitome of 35mm rangefinder cameras, however the associated costs are far less attractive. I once borrowed a Barnack Leica iii, and, while I could appreciate it’s quality, I found it an utter pain to use. The unexpected chance to own a Contax iia at a reasonable price, led to my ownership of a very nice example. The reality didn’t match the dream however, as once again I simply didn’t like it in actual use, and sold it without any regret.

My experiences with the Russian variants have been mixed in terms of outcome, but none have been a camera which I looked forward to loading with film and heading out on a photographic adventure. Useability coupled with pleasure is absolutely crucial in any camera I own, and if it doesn’t have that vital spark, I don’t want it, regardless of it’s name or reputation.

A couple of years ago, while idly perusing the well known auction site, I came across a Leidolf Lordomat rangefinder. I was immediately drawn by it’s handsome looks. The fact that it was a 1950’s German rangefinder with interchangeable lenses further piqued my interest. This alone wasn’t enough to persuade me, as after all I’d learnt that lesson with the Contax. Researching the Leidolf online produced little in the way of information or reviews, but what existed, was on the whole positive. I’d also bought from the seller previously. I knew him to be a keen photographer, and had found him to be a honest broker. The price was very reasonable, so I went ahead and bought it.

When it arrived, I was immediately taken by it’s neat design, decent build quality, and ease of use. While mostly conventional, it has one particular quirk in that the film winder works by a double stroke lever towards the photographer. This involves using my index finger instead of my thumb as is the case with most other cameras. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to adopt to this action. The lenses, of which I have a standard 50mm and a 35mm focal lengths, utilise a mount with a locating keyway and a screw thread locking collar. The viewfinder is decent rather than excellent, and loading film is simple as the whole back removes. In all matters relevant to my rangefinder wants, this camera has proven to be the best fit so far.

Shooting predominantly in black and white, I love strong contrast. I have always adored the stark, sun-washed images and corresponding shadows, which typify photographs taken in exotic places where strong sunlight is a regular and reliable fixture. My all time favourite photographer of such images is Fan Ho, whose body of work is amongst the most delightful I’ve seen. His images are such that I can spend several minutes looking at a single frame, marvelling at his artistry.

Living in the north of England, grey skies and rain are the default setting, and not really ideal for capturing the images I admire. The Manchester Ship Canal is a poor substitute for the port of Hong Kong, however Manchester and Stockport do have great Victorian architecture. I wanted those stark, contrasty images, and what I needed was some sunshine.

June 2023, in much of Britain, delivered an unusually good early summer. The mornings were full of bright sunshine, and there were long days when the sun was bold. Gentle evenings lingered in a stillness where the light faded into a mellow dusk. It was the mornings which most excited me, and the prospect of a clear bright sky with harsh light and deep shadow. The knowledge that the places I wished to photograph would be mostly empty was another factor, as I’m not a street photographer in the conventional sense. I like figures in an image as an element, as opposed to their being the primary subject.

Once the Leidolf Lordomat was loaded with Ilford FP4 film, I set out on two early mornings to photograph in Manchester and Stockport. These two locations have an abundance of fine old buildings and industrial structures, mostly from the Victorian age, when the industrial revolution was at it’s zenith. The Lordomat is a completely manual camera, and it has no light meter. I sometimes use the sunny sixteen method, but mostly prefer to rely on a Sekonic Twinmate L 208, which is tiny, lightweight and looks and reads like a traditional Weston type meter with an analogue display. All my images were developed at    www.southsun.co   and the post process carried out at home using the Snapspeed app on my mobile phone. This consisted mostly of boosting the contrast and the occasional straightening and crop.

Using the Leidolf Lordomat is a pleasure because it’s simple. It’s not too small for someone like myself who has large hands, it has a decent heft, but it’s not too heavy. Focusing is quick and accurate, but setting the shutter and aperture have to be done first with the camera away from the eye. The leaf shutter is quiet, and the wind on is quick despite it being a two stroke cocking mechanism.

Is the Leidolf Lordomat the latest candidate for the ‘poor man’s Leica’ title? The answer is no. Leica and Contax are a breed apart for a reason. They have a long and proven record of producing some of the greatest cameras ever made. There are many variations, and they have access to a bewildering variety of lenses. Their associations with the greats of photography only enhance their mystique. They also have the benefit of an established dealer and repair network, as well as a devoted and knowledgeable following amongst photographers.

The Lordomat, by contrast, is a one off model, (although there is a version with a built in light meter, and another with a fixed 50mm lens) and with access to three lenses in total. I don’t know, or know of, anyone else who owns one. It has no heritage other than it’s maker mostly produced nicely made, but simple viewfinder cameras, and seems to have vanished into history unremarked.

The Lordomat therefore is not a new pretender to the crown, and it never was. Rather it is simply a well made and nicely specified camera which is capable of good results. Prices have increased somewhat over the couple of years since I obtained my example, however they still represent excellent value for what they offer.

Do I still want an M series Leica? Of course I do, but finances mean that they remain a dream. Even if I did manage to buy one, the cost of a couple of decent lenses are sufficient to shake me out of my daydreaming. The Canon rangefinders of the same era do look tempting though.

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About The Author

By Steviemac
I live in the northwest of England. I have loved photography since my teens, and have amassed a significant collection of cameras. Most were bought during the golden era when digital took to the throne, and film was yesterday's news, meaning I could buy them for little money. I photograph purely for pleasure, and I have an incurable GAS condition, for which I have resisted any and all suggestions of a cure.
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Comments

Ibraar Hussain on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

That was a very good read!
My thoughts have echoed yours - I ended up with a Contax G2 when they were very affordable.
I had been eyeing up one of the original Minolta RF’s which have the M3 look.
How’s the finder on the Leidorf? And focussing ?
Beautiful contrasty B&W work. Love it
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

Thank you Ibraar, we have to be strong when those tempting rangefiders wink at us. The viewfinder/rangefinder are adequate but not brilliant. If your eyesight is reasonable, you should have no trouble using one. That is, of course, dependent on the condition of what is an old camera. I took a gamble in this instance and it paid off. I was reasonable sure on this occassion as I knew the seller to be honest.

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Ibraar Hussain replied:

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

thanks!!

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Charles Detheridge on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

not only was this article about a 35 mm camera that I had never heard of, it was well written and entertaining. The photographs were of my home city, and I was interested to see changes in places I knew, and to remember earlier years. I shall have to see About doing something similar where I live now – in a totally different part of the country, with both market towns and major county towns. Imitation will be the sincere form of flattery!
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

Im glad that you enjoyed the article Charles. Manchester and Stockport are changing at an incredible rate, and I've enjoyed documenting the changes. I'm currently documenting old pubs which seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate. I photograph all over the UK, and often in the market towns of Cheshire as opposed to the cities. I'm inspired, in my own limited way, by Fan Ho's work. If you're not aware of his work, you can find it online. His work was sublime and I'm sure you'll like it.

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Curtis Heikkinen on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

These images are lovely and beautifully exposed. Very nice work!
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

Thank you Curtis.

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Gary Smith on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

Greetings Stevie, my 12th Edition of the McKeown's Camera Guide lists 36 different cameras produced by Leidolf in Wetzlar. The company was founded in the 1920's as a precision engineering company and they began camera production in 1949. They continued production until 1962. There were five different Lordomat versions beginning in 1953 and running until 1960. There were also Lordomatic and Lordox models. In total the company produced more than 30 different models. I have to suspect that their location in Wetzlar means that there was some cross-fertilization from that other company.

At 70 years old, I also always dreamt of owning a Leica. I started with the iiic and got along just fine with it. I'm currently waiting for my first roll of Tri-X from the recently acquired M3. My initial lens for the M3 is the TTArtisan 50/1.4. We'll see how that worked out once my scans are back.
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

Hello Gary, and thank you for the update regarding the Leidolf brand. It certainly wasn't aware that they'd crammed so much into a relatively short space of time, and probably owe them an apology. If, and it's a big if, I bought a Leica M series, I'd undoubtedly follow the same path of using 3rd party lenses such as you describe. Am I right in thinking that you recently submitted some articles regarding photographing classic cars? If so, I really enjoyed those articles.

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Gary Smith replied:

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

I'm not a car guy so any articles you may have seen about classic cars weren't by me.

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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

Oh dear, I really should have checked beforehand.

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Daniel Emerson on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

Hi Steviemac,
Enjoyable read where you articulated and helped me bring to the surface what I knew intuitively, that there were cameras that are a joy to use. The machine becomes an extension of the self, providing an intuitive interface enabling the capability of photographer, that to craft an image using the available parameters. Having a device to enhance rather than hinder that process, for me, motivates the desire to engage, to drop into the zone where nothing else exists beyond the scene, the controls and perceived image to be captured.
Your read prompted an evaluation of my inventory of 35 mm devices to discover a purely manual SLR, a purely automatic SLR, and a DSLR. The commonality, all came from the same brand: Pentax.
This has prompted a new experience, to quietly engage in a process of equipment shedding to remove the clutter from my creative life.
Thank you.
Regards
Dan Emerdon
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 19/04/2024

Hello Dan, and thank you for your comments. Pentax; you wont go far wrong with their products. I'm most familiar with their 1960's-1980's SLR cameras, and all that I have owned or tried have been wonderful. I'm glad to hear that this short essay has encouraged a decluttering as opposed to encouraging GAS. Maybe I should take note of the old biblical quotation of 'Physician, heal theyself', but somehow I doubt that I shall.

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Daniel Emerson on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 20/04/2024

Haha, yes, Steviemac, I am already beginning to question my rash statement made in the heat of the moment :) Just appreciating the development of engineering of cameras as they have developed over time has been a motive for me to procure.I have been captured by both the Kodak range, both the highly engineered German lineage of the Retina family compared to point and shoot devices including the Box Brownie line designed to make film consumers out of everyone. It has been stated that George Eastman is the Henry Ford of Photography. A brilliant person, and that is before we get started on the vast continual development of film stocks that made the social phenomenon of the cinema possible. I often reflect on that photo from Wikipedia of where it all began: George Eastman giving Thomas Edison his first roll of movie film stock - the ubiquitous 35 mm film

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/35_mm_movie_film#:~:text=In%20motion%20pictures%20that%20record,34.976%20%C2%B1%200.025%20mm)%20wide.

And I see that continuing pioneering in both the sleek design and your response to the Leidorf.

Enjoyed your photos. Lots of perspective and use of space.

Thanks again for your post.

Regards
Daniel
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 20/04/2024

Thank you Daniel, and I'm glad you liked the results. I have owned a used a Kodak Retina II, which was beautifully made and gave excellent results. It was, however, a fiddly so and so to use, as indeed where many cameras of the period. In a brief period when I was trying to rationalise my collection, I had to decide between the Retina and a Voigtlander Viti iia. I chose the Voigtlander simply because it is a 35mm version of my medium format Perkeo 1, and not because it was in any way inferior. The Vito ii is every bit as fiddly as the Retina in use.

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Paul Quellin on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 20/04/2024

Hi Stevie. That was a thoroughly good read and struck so many chords for me. I was born in Stockport and it was great to see the picture of the wonderful Victorian indoor market. I can still remember the smells in some of this buildings, especially what used to be called the 'Hen Market' (rather a long time ago). I too keep troubling over what I am missing never having had a Leica in my collection. I would have to sell something really significant to find out, so for now I stick with what I have. Your Lordomat is a lovely looking machine and I too think the look and feel of the machine are important factors. There is so much variation in the feel of shutter buttons and advance levers for a start... it's all rather wonderful I think. Thank you for some great pictures of Manchester and Stockport.
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 20/04/2024

Hello Paul, and thank you for your comment. In truth I'm relaxed about not having a Leica, and won't fret if I never do. I'm not a native Stopfordian, however I have lived here since 2000. I agree it's a pleasure to see images of somewhere you know or have an attachment to. I don't recall any hens, but the market is still thriving, including a vintage fayre one Sunday a month. It can still provide a good cuppa and bacon roll.

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Jim Palmer on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 21/04/2024

What a coincidence! I work (volunteer) at a camera museum (Camera Heritage Museum in Staunton, VA) and just Friday I was looking through the Leidolfs that we have in our collection, 5 altogether with 3 Lordomats and the three lenses. I was thinking what a nice handling camera although a little quirky. I haven't run any film through them but inspired by your article I just might have to. Thanks for a nice article about these beautiful cameras.
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 21/04/2024

Hello Jim. I've just taken a look at the website of the Camera Heritage Museum, VA, and I felt like a child in a sweet shop! What a wonderful looking place, and such a variety of exhibits. At 01:20 on the short video, I saw that they had one of my all time dream cameras in the form of a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex TLR. Do indeed give your Leidolfs a day in the sun. I'm sure you'll find them enjoyable and capable of good images. Where I in your position, and had the opportunity of actually using all those cameras, I'd be in the 7th heaven.

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ShugP on Leidolf Lordomat – Capturing Light and Shade

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

How was the performance of f3.5/35 lens? Some reviewers have claimed it is too soft. Looks a really nice camera and your images of Manchester are really atmospheric.
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Steviemac replied:

Comment posted: 17/06/2024

I read that too as I recall. It's probably not as good as the 50mm, but it's not a poor performer. It can vignette when wide open, but then again most vintage wide angle lenses do. I certainly wasn't disappointed with it, and wouldn't discourage anyone else from owning one.

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