Leica

Founded by Ernst Leitz in 1924. The name Leica is derived from the first three letters of his surname (Leitz) and the first two of the word camera: lei-ca.

The first 35mm film Leica prototypes were built by Oskar Barnack at Ernst Leitz Optische Werke, Wetzlar, in 1913. Intended as a compact camera for landscape photography, particularly during mountain hikes, the Leica was the first practical 35 mm camera that used standard cinema 35 mm film. The Leica transports the film horizontally, extending the frame size to 24×36mm with a 2:3 aspect ratio, instead of the 18×24 mm with a 3:4 aspect ratio of cinema cameras which transport the film vertically.

The Leica had several model iterations, and in 1923 Barnack convinced his boss, Ernst Leitz II, to make a pre-production series of 31 cameras for the factory and outside photographers to test. Though the prototypes received a mixed reception, Ernst Leitz decided in 1924 to produce the camera. The LEICA camera premiere at the 1925 Leipzig Spring Fair was an instant success.

Leitz Super Angulon 3.4/21mm, 1964

Made by Schneider

Oscar Fisher

5 Nov 2020

Leitz Wetzlar Super Angulon 3.4/21mm wide-angle lens made by Schneider

Leica II Mod. D “Swedish Army” 1934

Torsten Andersson

4 Nov 2020

Leica II Mod. D 35mm film rangefinder camera “Swedish Army” 1934

Leitz Minolta CL “Snapshot” prototype 1970s

Oscar Fisher

4 Nov 2020

Leica CL “Snapshot” prototype 35mm film rangefinder camera 1970s

Leica M1 olive Bundeseigentum 1961

Torsten Andersson

3 Nov 2020

Leica M1 olive Bundeswehr Bundeseigentum military camera 1961

Leica III Mod. F “Cutaway” 1935

Torsten Andersson

3 Nov 2020

Leica III Mod. F Rangefinder Camera Cutaway 1935

Leica II Mod. D “Cutaway” 1930

Torsten Andersson

3 Nov 2020

Leica II Mod. D “Cutaway” 1930

Leica I Mod. A “Calfskin” 1931

Torsten Andersson

3 Nov 2020

Leica I Mod. A “Calfskin” 35mm film rangefinder camera 1931

Leica M6 “Titan” 1994

Emu leather covering

Oscar Fisher

3 Nov 2020

Leica M6 Titan 35mm film rangefinder camera 1994

Leitz Minolta CL, 1972

Yoshi Takei

14 Oct 2020

Leitz Minolta CL rangefinder film camera 1973

Leica CL vs Minolta CLE

Side by Side

Yoshi Takei

10 Oct 2020

Leica CL vs Minolta CLE 1974 film rangefinder cameras