Nicca 5L / Tower 45
Are brand names important to you or are you willing to look beyond the label to see what's underneath? If you're someone who likes to have the brand name items of everything in your life, then perhaps the Nicca 5L isn't the camera for you. While it may look and function similar to a Leica Barnack camera, the brand Nicca is not likely to start anyone's heart racing and it won't turn heads at your next camera club get together. If, however, you're someone who can appreciate fine workmanship, a slightly different style, and perhaps a bit of individuality, then by all means keep reading.
The Nicca Camera Company was founded in Japan in 1940 and introduced its first camera in 1942. All of the Nicca cameras were designed to make use of the M39 screwmount lenses popularized by Leitz. And given the design of the first Nicca, it's easy to call the camera a copy or clone, but Niccas have their own feel, features, and reputation.
By the time Nicca released the 5L in the 1950s, it had adopted features not found on Leica's screwmount cameras such as a wind lever instead of a knurled knob, a back door that opened for making film loading much easier, and separate ports for bulb and electronic flash units.
The Nicca 5L is sometimes branded under the name Sears Tower, which may have contributed to its more pedestrian reputation. For people who want to boast about where they bought their camera, Sears is not likely to be high on their lists of camera stores. Given their ability to use Leitz, Canon, and Nikon branded M39 screwmount lenses and their additional features, Nicca cameras were able to produce fantastic images without the brand name hoopla.
The Nicca 5L cameras are a little harder to find these days, but they are worth the effort. Bring along a big name M39 lens and try out the features that the 5L users got that the Leica users missed.
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