If you know anything about photography, then you’ve heard of Leica. If you don’t know anything about photography, then you’ve heard of Leica. The is little need to explain what the Leica is because it’s the camera. The camera of Cartier-Bresson, the superior image quality, the camera that costs as much as a car. But what you may not know is how the Leica become so popular:
Reasons that the Lecia has become an icon:
- It was the first practical camera to use 35mm film
- Solid German workmanship has seen that these cameras last for decades
- Small, light, and portable, it’s easy to carry around and use inconspicuously
- With a good balance of quality and portability, it was the perfect camera for photojournalists whose images were spread throughout the world by means of newspapers and magazines
- Historically iconic images by Cartier-Bresson and Leni Riefenstahl were captured using the Lecia
In 2004, the company verged on bankruptcy until investor Andreas Kaufmann stepped in and helped Leica regain its footing by embracing digital technology. Thanks to him, Leica will be celebrated its 100th anniversary in high spirits. Kaufmann also owns the original prototype Leica which sold at auction for 2.16 million Euros.
“I don’t think we had to revive the Lecia legend because it quite simply never died. We merely amplified it by underscoring the link that Leica has with artistic photography. A link that was and continues to remain close.”
First Leica prototype
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Amazing to know the greatest photographer in WW2 were using German made camera Leica and Doisneau also used a Rolleiflex!!
Leica was a fantastic camera till they came late and not the leading with the electronics cameras.
Nice article on Leica. I didn’t know that they almost went bankrupt!