Leica Camera facts for kids
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| Aktiengesellschaft | |
| Industry | Rangefinder camera, Photography, Digital Imaging, Still cameras, SLR cameras, DSLR cameras, binoculars / Monoculars, binocular telescope, laser rangefinder ophthalmic lenses |
| Founded | 1869 in Wetzlar, Germany (Ernst Leitz Wetzlar); 1986 in Solms, Germany (Leica) |
| Headquarters | Wetzlar, Germany |
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Key people
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Andreas Kaufmann (Chairman, Supervisory board), Matthias Harsch (CEO) |
| Products | Cameras, photographic lenses, binoculars, ophthalmic lenses and other optical equipment |
| Revenue |  € 400 million |
| Owner | ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH (55%) The Blackstone Group (45%) |
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Number of employees
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1800 |
Leica Camera AG is a German company that makes cameras, lenses, binoculars, and rifle scopes. It was started by Ernst Leitz in 1869 in Wetzlar, Germany. The name Leica comes from the first part of his last name, "Leitz," and the word "camera." So, it's "Lei-ca" (LEItz CAmera).
In 1986, the company changed its name from Leitz to Leica. It also moved its factory from Wetzlar to a nearby town called Solms. Today, Leica Camera AG is mostly owned by an Austrian company called ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH (55%). The rest is owned by The Blackstone Group (45%).
Contents
How Leica Started and Grew
Leica's first factory buildings were built in Wetzlar from 1907 to the 1950s. The factory stayed there until 1986. The company started small, making optical devices. Over time, it grew a lot.
In 1913, a man named Oskar Barnack built the first 35mm film Leica cameras. He wanted a small camera for taking pictures, especially when hiking in the mountains. The Leica was special because it was the first practical 35mm camera that used standard movie film. It also used a larger picture size (24x36mm) than movie cameras.
Early Cameras and Lenses
In 1923, Barnack convinced his boss, Ernst Leitz II, to make 31 test cameras. Even though some people didn't like them, Ernst Leitz decided to make the camera in 1924. It became very popular when it was shown in 1925 as the Leica I.
The first Leica lens was designed by Max Berek at Leitz. It was called the ELMAX. By 1925, they made an even better lens called the ELMAR. Max Berek named some of his lenses after his dogs, Hektor and Rex!
In 1930, Leica made the Leica I Schraubgewinde. This camera had lenses that you could change. It used a special screw thread (39mm) to attach the lenses.
The Leica II came out in 1932. It had a built-in rangefinder. This helped photographers focus their shots better. The Leica III was made in 1933. It could take pictures with very slow or very fast shutter speeds. These models were improved until 1957.
Before 1945, early Leica cameras had "D.R.P." on them. This meant "Deutsches Reichspatent," which was the name for German patents back then.
The company always treated its workers well. Ernst Leitz II, who ran the company from 1920, helped many Jewish people leave Germany when Hitler came to power in 1933. He pretended they were working for Leica overseas, which helped them find new jobs and escape. This amazing effort was later called the "Leica Freedom Train."
After World War II
_and_Leica_M3_(1954).jpg)
After World War II, Leica kept making cameras. In 1954, they introduced the Leica M3. This new camera had a different way to attach lenses, called the Leica M mount. It also had a bigger, brighter viewfinder that combined the rangefinder and viewfinder. Leica still makes improved versions of this model today.
In 1952, Leica opened a factory in Canada. After the war, Leica cameras had "DBP" on them, which meant "Deutsches Bundespatent" (Federal German Patent). Many other camera companies copied Leica's design, like Canon in Japan and FED in the Soviet Union.
From 1964, Leica also started making SLR cameras. These were cameras where you look through the lens to see your picture. They made models like the Leicaflex and the R series. The R-series stopped being made in 2009.
Leica also had a special system called the Leica Visoflex System. This was a mirror box that you could attach to Leica rangefinder cameras. It let you use longer lenses that wouldn't work with the regular rangefinder. Leica has always been known for making great lenses.
From 'Leitz' to 'Leica'
In 1986, the Leitz company officially changed its name to Leica. This was because the Leica camera brand was so famous. They also moved their factory back to Wetzlar in 2014, where it all began.
In 1996, Leica Camera became a separate company. In 1998, the bigger Leica group split into three independent companies: Leica Camera AG (for cameras), Leica Microsystems GmbH (for microscopes), and Leica Geosystems AG (for survey equipment).
In 2013, Leica Camera AG bought Sinar Photography AG, a company that makes special cameras. In 2022, Leica announced a new laser projector called Cine 1.
Famous Photographers Who Used Leica
Leica cameras are very popular for street photography. Famous photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Sebastião Salgado used them a lot.
Collecting Old Leicas
Old Leica cameras, lenses, and accessories are very popular with collectors. Rare cameras can sell for a lot of money. For example, a rare 1923 Leica camera once sold for 2.6 million euros (about $2.8 million) at an auction!
Leica Camera Models
The first Leica cameras were very new for their time. They were small and had lenses that could fold, which made them great for hiking. In 1932, the Leica II added a rangefinder to help with focusing. The Leica III, released in 1933, became very popular and was made until the late 1950s.
Before World War II, Leica cameras were considered the best 35mm cameras. After the war, other companies started making similar cameras. Today, Leica is still known for making high-quality, expensive cameras, often used by professional photographers.
The original company, Ernst Leitz GmbH, is now three separate companies: Leica Camera AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems GmbH.
Working with Other Companies
Leica often works with other companies. In 2018, Leica announced that Sigma and Panasonic would use Leica's L-mount for their cameras.
Leica has also worked with Panasonic (Lumix cameras) since 1995 to make lenses. They were the first to put optical image stabilization in digital cameras.
In 1972, Leica and Minolta worked together. Minolta helped make parts for Leica's SLR cameras and some lenses.
More recently, in 2020, Leica partnered with Insta360 to create the ONE R 1-Inch Edition camera.
From 2016 to 2021, Leica worked with the Chinese company Huawei. They helped design cameras for Huawei's smartphones, like the Huawei P9.
In 2021, Leica started working with Sharp Corporation to make cameras for Sharp smartphones in Japan. They also released a smartphone called Leitz Phone 1.
In 2022, Leica began a new partnership with Xiaomi to develop cameras for Xiaomi's top smartphones, like the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.
In 2014, for Leica's 100th anniversary, they even partnered with a Swiss watch company called Valbray. They made a special watch with a dial inspired by a camera lens.
Leica Lenses
Company Finances
Leica was traded on the Frankfurt stock exchange until October 2012. Now, it is a privately owned company.
See also
In Spanish: Leica para niños
- Wild Heerbrugg
- Heinrich Wild
- Hektor (lens)
- LHSA
- Leica reel
- Valbray
