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 M5 chrome “The Last One”

1992

Oscar

11 Aug 2021

Leica M5 chrome “The Last One” 35mm film rangefinder camera

Leica M2 “Sarkis Zabunyan”

1961

Kenneth

10 Aug 2021

Leica M2 black paint “Sarkis Zabunyan” 1961 front up close

Leica M2 “Walker Evans”

1961

Tom

8 Aug 2021

Leica M2 black paint “Walker Evans” 1961 set

Leitz Elmar 2.8/5cm M39 A36 prototype

1955

Oscar

18 May 2021

Leitz Elmar 2.8/5cm A36 prototype, 1955

Leica “Tropen” 0-Series

1930s

Yoshi

16 May 2021

Leica Tropen 0-Series, 1930s

Leica I Nr.165 “Ernst Leitz II”

Delivered to Ernst Leitz Junior on Christmas Eve 1924

Torsten

9 May 2021

Leica I camera Nr. 165 “Ernst Leitz II” 1924 front view

Leica I Mod. A “Luxus”

One of the 95 “Luxus” Leica cameras ever produced between 1929 and 1931

Max

25 Apr 2021

Leitz Super–Angulon M 3.4/21mm

1964

Oscar

5 Nov 2020

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

Leica II Mod. D “Swedish Army”

1934

Torsten

4 Nov 2020

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

Leitz Minolta CL “Snapshot” prototype

1970s

Oscar

4 Nov 2020

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