Leica is a listed company.

Leica (translation: Leica/Lycra) is a camera brand of the same name produced by a German company, which consists of Lai Ci and the first syllable of camera. Originally known as Ernst Leitz Company, the company is now divided into three companies: Leica Camera Co., Ltd., Leica Geographic System Co., Ltd. and Leica Microsystems Co., Ltd., which produce cameras, geological survey equipment and microscopes respectively. "Leica" brand is owned by Leica Microsystems Co., Ltd. and authorized by two other companies. Leica camera first appeared in 19 13, which is the earliest 35mm camera in the world.

Basic introduction

The characteristics of Leica camera's durability and excellent performance were fully reflected during the Second World War. Leica in Germany became the first choice for military cameras and was an important shooting tool for war correspondents at that time. With the constant wars around the world and the harsh environment, the lightweight and sturdy Leica 135 camera has become their right-hand man. German original handmade Leica camera, the price has turned several times. Leica is one of the most famous camera brands in the world. Since the birth of the first camera, there may be many Leica logo that can be called famous brands in the history of camera development, which can even be seen everywhere in our lives. However, in the history of camera development, for users, choosing a certain brand of camera is not choosing that camera, but choosing a lifestyle. Such brands are rare. The famous German Leica is such a brand.

Leica series cameras are almost a myth, with the same face for half a century, extremely simple functions and uncompromising production. In the position where everyone wants to subvert, but no one succeeds. Its advantages and disadvantages are endless, so as long as we talk about Leica, the scene will be lively. Well said, full of emotion, not so good, but also specious.

It is said that in Britain, some gentlemen don't take pictures. They often wear Leica as a status symbol. Japan is a big camera producer, but it has the largest number of Leica fans in the world. Leica has too many myths, and sometimes it loses some sense of reality. It can be said that Leica has already surpassed the status of tools and risen to a cultural phenomenon.

No camera in the world is perfect. Leica's shortcomings do not mean that other cameras have no problems, but the choice of manufacturers or the views of users are different. The unsatisfactory parts of Leica can be overcome, and the height it can reach is beyond the reach of other cameras. Please take Leica off the altar, it is still the best camera.

Development history

Leica Store-China made in Germany.

19 13, the prototype of the first Leica camera (Ur- Leica) was built in Ernst, Vezla. Lai Ci optical factory (E. Leitz Optische Werke) is a factory made in oskar barnack. As a portable camera for landscape photography, this Leica camera is the first 35mm camera in the world to use 35mm standard film. It expands the 18×24 mm frame of film to 24×36 mm, and changes the aspect ratio from 4: 3 to 3: 2.

Leica has undergone several improvements. 1923, Banach persuaded his boss Ernst Lai Ci II to make a prototype series of 3 1. Leica I (Leica I) was successfully launched at the German Expo in Leipzig on 1925. The Elma 50 mm f/3.5 lens used was designed by Dr. Max Baerecke, and its four-piece and four-group design was influenced by Zeiss Tiansai lens. The focal plane shutter speed can be adjusted from 1/20 seconds to 1/500 seconds, and there is also a Z stage (long shutter, Z is Zeit, which means time in German).

In 1930, Leica i. Schlaubergwynd released a 39mm screw interchangeable lens system. In addition to the 50mm standard lens, there are initially 35mm wide-angle lens and 135mm telephoto lens to choose from.

1932 released Leica II, which has a rangefinder that can be coupled with the lens focusing system. This model is equipped with a separate viewfinder and rangefinder.

The appearance of Leica III reduced the lower limit of shutter speed to 1 sec, while IIIa increased the upper limit to11000 sec. Leica IIIa is the last model made by Banach before his death. Until 1957, Lai Ci has been improving the design of this model, and its final version IIIg includes a large viewfinder with several border lines.

1954, Lai Ci released M3 (Leica M3, a model with bayonet lens. In this model, the previously separated rangefinder and viewfinder are combined into one, and there is a brighter double image in the middle of the large and bright viewfinder for focusing, and a parallax compensation system is introduced. In addition, this model also uses a reliable rubber traction focal plane shutter. This series is constantly improving. The final version is M7 and MP. When loading different lenses, different images (such as 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, 135 mm) will be displayed according to the different focal lengths of the lenses.

Many companies have designed and manufactured their own camera models according to Leica's rangefinder, including Japan's Leotax, early Canon, Federal Reserve, Zorki of the former Soviet Union, Kardon of the United States, Foca of France, Reid of Britain and some models of Shanghai brand 58-II.

Since 1964, Leica has produced a series of SLR cameras. The original model was Leicaflex, followed by Leicaflex SL, Leicaflex SL2 and R series R3 to R7 in cooperation with Minolta. Leica R8 (Leica R8) is completely designed and produced by Leica itself. The current model is Leica R9, which can use the back of the digital module. In 2009, Leica announced that the single-lens reflex cameras and lenses of R series traditional films were completely discontinued.

Leica Visoflex system combines Leica's single-lens reflex and paraxial body series, and uses a mirror box to load the lenses used in the paraxial system (there are versions corresponding to screws and bayonets), and can also load special lenses corresponding to the system [3]. The system focuses on the frosted glass screen instead of the rangefinder on the camera, and a system connecting the mirror and shutter completes the exposure of the film. Unlike the camera's rangefinder, this mirror box can focus the telephoto lens more easily.

Leica has many optical innovations in history, such as aspherical lens, multilayer coated lens and rare earth lens. Leica lenses are considered to provide excellent performance at the maximum aperture, making them suitable for shooting in natural light.

Leica's cameras, lenses, accessories and sales materials are all collectibles. There are dozens of Leica books and collection guides here, including the famous three-volume Leica and an illustrated history written by James L. Lager. Early or rare cameras and accessories have very high prices in the market.

1986, due to the popularity of Leica brand, Lai Ci Company changed its name to Leica. During the same period, Leica's factory moved from Vezlar to nearby Solms. From 65438 to 0996, Leica Camera Company was separated from Leica Group and became a listed company. 1998, Leica Group was split into two independent companies: Leica Microsystems Co., Ltd. and Leica Geographic Systems Co., Ltd.

20111October 2 1 Blackstone group, a private equity fund, will spend about 65,438+300 million euros (about 139 1 100 million Hong Kong dollars) to acquire 44% of Leica Camera AG in Germany.