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...more about Leica

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SilvergrainClassics Print Journal issue 17 Winter 2022

SilvergrainClassics – issue 17

Winter 2022

Leica M3 “Luxus” 1955 top

Leica M3 “Luxus”

1955, Wetzlar

SilvergrainClassics – issue 15 – Summer-2022

SilvergrainClassics – issue 15

Summer 2022

Leica M2 black paint “John Bulmer”

1960, Wetzlar

Jordan

29 Oct 2022

Leica M2 black paint John Bulmer 1960

Leica M3 Shutter Display Model

1952, Wetzlar

Max

29 Oct 2022

SilvergrainClassics – issue 16

Fall 2022

Max

4 Oct 2022

SilvergrainClassics Print Journal issue 16 Fall 2022

Leitz Elmarit-C 2.8/40mm 1972

1972

Torsten

11 Jun 2022

Summicron 2/5cm SOSTA

1958

Torsten

11 Jun 2022

Summicron 2/5cm SOSTA rangefinder leica lens 1958 front view

Summicron 2/5cm SOOIC M39

1952, Thorium glass element

Torsten

11 Jun 2022

Summicron 2/5cm SOOIC M39 Leica rangefinder lens front

SilvergrainClassics – issue 15

Summer 2022

Jordan

10 Jun 2022

SilvergrainClassics – issue 15 – Summer-2022

Leica MP “Historica 1975–2020”

45 sets for the 45th anniversary of the Leica Historica association

Kenneth

9 Jun 2022

Leica MP “Historica 1975–2020” front

Leica 0-series №105 “Oskar Barnack”

The most expensive camera in the world – sold for € 14.400.000 at the 40th anniversary Leitz Auction on 11 June 2022

Max

6 May 2022

Leitz Elmar M 4/9cm ILNOO collapsible prototype

1954

Johanna

29 Oct 2021