Harley Sutherland
Leica Camera AG is a leading German optical company that has been designing and developing 35mm cameras since 1913 and manufacturing them in series production since 1925. The company has its headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. Leica's reputation is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, German craftsmanship, and industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. The company was founded in 1849 by Carl Kellner, a young mechanic who set up a company in Wetzlar, Germany, producing microscopes, glasses, and telescopes. Over the years, Leica has become known for its premium camera build quality, simple camera design, superior image quality, and camera aesthetics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company | Leica Camera AG |
| Headquarters | Wetzlar, Hesse, Germany |
| Production Sites | Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal |
| Company Origin | Wetzlar, Germany |
| Company Founder | Carl Kellner |
| Year Founded | 1849 |
| Current Production Output | 40,000 pairs of binoculars, 15,000 objectives, 4,000 telescopic viewers, and 20,000 cameras |
What You'll Learn
Leica Camera AG's headquarters and production plants
Leica Camera AG is a leading German optical company that has been designing and developing 35mm cameras since 1913 and manufacturing them in series production since 1925. The company's headquarters are in Wetzlar, Hesse, Germany, and it has a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. Leica Camera AG was formerly known as Ernst Leitz GmbH, and now consists of four companies: Leica Camera AG, which produces cameras; Leica Geosystems AG, which produces geodetic equipment; Leica Microsystems GmbH, which produces microscopes; and Leica Biosystems, which produces clinical diagnostic equipment.
The Leica brand is renowned for its quality, innovation, and differentiation, with a long tradition of excellent German craftsmanship and industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. The company's headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany, is significant as it is the city where the Leica camera was first created. In 1849, Carl Kellner, a young mechanic, founded the "Optisches Institut" (Optical Institute) in Wetzlar, where he produced glasses and telescopes. After Kellner's premature death in 1855, his widow and an apprentice, Friedrich Belthle, took over the management of the company. Under their leadership, the Optical Institute began producing microscopes that stood out for their quality and precision, laying the foundation for the company's success.
The Leica Camera AG production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal was established as an "extended workbench" of Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH in the 1970s. The factory in Portugal started by assembling microscopes and binoculars and has since expanded its operations. In 2018, Leica inaugurated a new factory, also in Famalicão, with an investment of around 22.5 million euros. The new facility has an area of 52,000 square meters, of which 13,600 square meters are dedicated to production.
In addition to its headquarters and production plants, Leica Camera AG has a worldwide network of its own national organisations and Leica Retail Stores. The company's commitment to advancing photography is evident through initiatives such as the Leica Galleries and Leica Akademies spread around the world, as well as prestigious awards like the Leica Oskar Barnack Award.
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Leica's history and legacy
Leica Camera AG is a German company that manufactures cameras, optical lenses, photographic lenses, binoculars, and rifle scopes. The company was founded by Ernst Leitz in 1869 in Wetzlar, Germany, and takes its name from the first three letters of the founder's surname and the first two of the word "camera": lei-ca (LEItz CAmera).
Leica has a long history of innovation in optics and precision engineering, with roots stretching back to the founding of the "Optisches Institut" (Optical Institute) in 1849 by Carl Kellner in Wetzlar, Germany. The institute produced glasses, telescopes, and microscopes noted for their quality and precision. After Kellner's premature death in 1855, management of the institute passed to his widow, who soon married an apprentice, Friedrich Belthle. In 1869, Belthle's successor, Ernst Leitz, took over the company, renaming it "Ernst Leitz Optische Werke".
Under Leitz's leadership, the company continued to innovate, expanding into the production of optical devices, including binoculars. In 1913, the first 35 mm film Leica prototypes were built by Oskar Barnack, and in 1924, the Leica I was introduced at the Leipzig Spring Fair to immediate success. Leica continued to refine its camera models, adding features such as interchangeable lenses, rangefinders, and slow shutter speeds.
During World War II, the company's progressive labor policies, including an 8-hour working shift and health insurance for employees, helped protect Jewish workers. After the war, Leitz II intensified his efforts to help persecuted Jews flee Germany, a campaign that became known as the "Leica Freedom Train."
In the post-war years, Leica continued to innovate, introducing the Leica M3 in 1954, which featured a new bayonet-like lens mount, a combined rangefinder and viewfinder, and a new rubberized focal-plane shutter. The company also established a factory in Canada in 1952 and expanded its presence internationally.
In 1986, the Leitz company changed its name to Leica and moved its factory from Wetzlar to the nearby town of Solms. Leica Camera AG became a publicly-owned company in 1996 and, in 1998, the Leica group was divided into two independent units: Leica Microsystems and Leica Geosystems.
Today, Leica Camera AG is an international, premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics, known for its German craftsmanship, industrial design, and innovative technologies. The company has a worldwide network of Leica Galleries, Akademies, and Retail Stores, and continues to advance photography through various awards and sponsorships.
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Leica's camera design and build quality
Leica Camera AG is a German company that manufactures cameras, optical lenses, photographic lenses, binoculars, and rifle scopes. The company was founded by Ernst Leitz in 1869 in Wetzlar, Germany. The name Leica is derived from the first three letters of the founder's surname (Leitz) and the first two of the word camera: lei-ca (LEItz CAmera).
Leica cameras are renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship, superior image quality, and enduring legacy. The company's products embody a unique combination of precision engineering, elegant design, and unparalleled performance. Their rangefinder system, a hallmark of Leica heritage, offers an intuitive and direct experience, while their high-quality lenses produce stunning images that stand the test of time.
Leica's camera design is characterised by its simplicity, with fewer extra features that might otherwise clutter the user experience. The cameras are also known for their analogue-digital experience, offering users the basics without overwhelming them with excessive functions. This simplicity is a key aspect of Leica's design philosophy, setting the brand apart from its competitors.
In terms of build quality, Leica cameras are known for their robustness and density. They often feel heavier and more solid than other camera brands, exuding a sense of premium quality. This is achieved through the use of materials like metal and glass in their construction, giving Leica cameras a distinct feel.
Leica's attention to design and build quality is also evident in the aesthetics of their cameras. The sleek and sophisticated design of models like the Leica C complements their exceptional image quality. The Leica CL, for example, offers a compact form factor while still producing stunning images, making it ideal for travel photography.
Leica's legacy in camera design and build quality is further enhanced by their commitment to innovation. The company has been at the forefront of incorporating new technologies, such as computer-aided design in optical engineering, and was among the pioneers of 35mm SLR cameras with the introduction of the PLOOT in 1935.
In summary, Leica cameras are esteemed for their design and build quality, offering users a premium experience through their intuitive features, exceptional image quality, and robust construction.
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Leica's lenses
Leica Camera AG is a premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics headquartered in Wetzlar, Hesse, Germany, with a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The Leica brand is renowned for its quality, German craftsmanship, and industrial design, combined with innovative technologies.
Leica's M-Lenses are developed for digital and film photography, aiming to meet the highest quality standards. They are available in focal lengths from 16mm to 135mm and with apertures as bright as f/0.95. Leica M-Lenses are known for their exceptional sharpness, crisp contrasts, and natural colour rendition. One of the unique features of the M-Lenses is their compatibility with all Leica M-Cameras since 1954.
The first step in creating a Leica lens is selecting the right type of glass. The degree of purity, as well as reflection, refraction, and transmission properties, influence the image quality. Leica uses only the best optical glass in its lenses, and for its current lens portfolio, the company needs approximately 100 different types of glass to produce around 360 different lens elements. Many of these lens elements are developed and patented in Leica's own glass laboratory, founded in 1948.
Leica engineers constantly strive to push the limits of what is technically possible, resulting in lenses with minimal vignetting, natural colours, and precise colour separation. Leica M-Lenses are designed to render images as close to what the human eye sees, with a natural three-dimensional appearance and smooth transitions between the focus points.
Some specific Leica lenses include:
- APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2 ASPH
- Summilux-M 35/f1.4 ASPH
- Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 ASPH
- Summicron-M 28 f/2 ASPH
- Tri-Elmar-M 16-18-21 f/4 ASPH
- Summilux-M 21 f/1.4 ASPH
- Super-Elmar-M 18 f/3.8 ASPH
- Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH
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Leica's other products
Leica Camera AG is a German manufacturer of cameras and sports optics, with a reputation for quality, innovation and German craftsmanship. In addition to cameras, Leica also produces:
- Binoculars
- Microscopes
- Rangefinder camera systems
- Laser scanners
- Theodolites
- Laser stations
- Machine control systems
- Mobile mapping systems
- Total stations
- Laser levelling tools
- Line lasers
- Point lasers
- 3D measurement solutions
- Software
Leica also offers a range of services, including repair and maintenance, as well as operating Leica Galleries and Leica Akademies around the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Leica cameras are made in Germany and Portugal. The company's headquarters are in Wetzlar, Germany, and it has a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal.
The Leica brand was founded in 1849 by Carl Kellner, a young mechanic from Wetzlar, Germany, who started a company called "Optisches Institut" (Optical Institute). The company initially produced glasses and telescopes, and later started manufacturing microscopes of exceptional quality and precision. In 1913, Leica began designing and developing 35 mm cameras, and in 1925, they launched their first camera, the Leica, at the spring fair in Leipzig.
Leica cameras are known for their premium build quality, simple design, analogue-digital rangefinder experience, superior image quality, and straightforward menus. The brand is also associated with a rich history and is often considered a luxury item or status symbol.
