No list of Ilford cameras would be complete without mention of the Witness, a precision 35mm interchangeable lens rangefinder camera, equal to the contemporary Leica. It was announced in 1947 and first shown at an exhibition around 1950, but did not actually reach the market until 1953. Initial examples were manufactured by designer Rothschild's company but they were unable to handle bulk production. By 1953 it was being manufactured by Peto Scott Electrical Instruments. With a f1.9 50mm Dallmeyer Super-Six lens the price in April 1953 was £121.16s.8d (£121.83p). Today, with only some 350 ever manufactured, a good Witness sells for £2,000 and more.

On 20th May 2006, on a live ebay Westlicht Photographica Auction, a Witness with Super-Six Dallmeyer lens sold for 5,500Euro, plus taxes & other surcharges, meaning over £4,000.

The following pictures have been taken from two occurences of a Witness on the ebay auction site. I am hoping that anyone who claims ownership of these images will not object to them appearing here, as such pictures are as close as most are likely to get to seeing a Witness in any detail.

The Witness lens attaches via a 39mm thread which is compatible in all respects (focal register and rangefinder coupling) with the Leica screw fitting, but has a novel 'interrupted thread' which combines the attributes of a bayonet and a screw fitting.

The 'button' that can be seen at the 8 o'clock position in the lens picture alongside, is the lens release. When fitted to the camera body the 'button is at 9 o'clock, viewing the camera from the front.

Initially (maybe around 1950) the Witnesss was manufactured by designer D.A.Rothschild's company and was offered with a f2.9 Daron lens, also made by that company. However, production delays set in when the camera went into mass manufacture and by the time the camera was truly available (1953), manufacture was being handled by Peto Scott Electrical Instruments. The standard lens was then the f1.9 Dallmeyer Super-Six (as illustrated here).