PHOTOGRAPHY
AUGUST 20, 2023
One Sophisticated Timeline Of Leica Camera
Leica itself is known to produce a limited number of cameras. They are very strong constituent materials with the highest quality.
OVERVIEW
Leica is a camera brand produced by the German company with the same name, Leica. Historically, the company that produced this camera was formerly named Optische Institut von Ernst Leitz of Wetzlar or Leitz Wetzlar Optical Factory and was founded in 1869 specifically to produce microscopes.
The name Leica itself is an acronym for the last name of Leitz and Camera. The Leica company – pronounced “Lai-ka”, not “Lei-ka” – was founded in 1914 by Ernst Leitz.
The building where Leica products were produced from 1907 to the 1950s in the Wetzlar area. Then, after 1986, the factory was moved to the city of Solms. The factory located in Wetzlar is opposite the administrative building.
HISTORY
In 1911, a photographer and optician named Oskar Barnak worked for the company and succeeded in making the first portable Leica camera which was the beginning of the 35mm camera. Then in 1912, Max Berek also joined the company and invented the Leica lens system.
The company’s first camera product was called Ur-Leica, where Ur means original or prototype and Leica stands for Leitz Camera. The small size of the camera changed world history because cameras at that time were usually large and difficult to carry around.
In 1914, Barnack’s dreams and ambitions had stopped due to World War I. However, after World War I was over, Barnack returned to build his dream, namely to resume projects that had previously been halted.
In 1924, Oskar Barnak managed to convince Ernst Leitz II, the son-in-law of the owner of Leica at the time, to produce a 35mm camera he designed.
Besides that, as Research Director, Barnack also informed Ernst Leitz of his findings so that a prototype of his findings could be produced so that it could be marketed. The camera that was being produced at that time was the Model 0 which used the Leitz 50 mm Anastigmat lens.
At the time the move was met with skepticism by scientists and photographers. The result of Leitz’s recklessness resulted in the camera being finally introduced at the Leipzig Fair. Now, the camera is known as the Leica I.
A NEW VERSION
In 1930 Leica launched a new version of the camera with interchangeable lenses. At first, the lenses were made to fit only one camera body, but it wasn’t long before the lens mounts were standardized so that all lenses and bodies could fit.
Meanwhile, in 1932, Leica returned to innovate in its camera production by changing the basis of the camera design which was then produced under the name Leica II. The specification of the Leica II is to make the viewfinder into one that was originally separated at the top of the camera body.
It was also the first time that Leica used a rangefinder, a system that has been maintained until now and is used by the latest M10 camera.
THE BIRTH OF M TYPE
Through the Photokina event in 1954, Leica was known to release its flagship camera, which was named M3. M3 is the first series to be produced from the M type. Until now, the M3 camera is still produced by Leica.
In 1956, through an advertisement, Leica issued a slogan which was considered very bold which stated that the M generation camera could be called a “lifelong investment for perfect photography”.
It can be said that this slogan is very bold, but it has been proven until now that it is true that the M generation is one of the most respected and popular cameras.
AN ELITE TOY
Unlike other camera manufacturers, Leica itself is known to produce a limited number of cameras. One of the reasons why Leica cameras are so popular with a number of photographers is because these cameras have very strong constituent materials, coupled with the highest quality they offer.
Therefore, all cameras are made using very sophisticated components. In 2016, Leica only sold 100 thousand cameras with a market share of only one percent. Even so, a lot of photographers are eyeing a Leica camera.
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