Leica Camera

An advert in Time magazine for Leica's new Summar lens, March 5, 1934

Very rare Leica soft-focus Thambar lens from the 1930s with original leather case. In front, left to right: Rear cap, special dot filter, lens shade, front cap.

The first 35 mm film Leica prototypes were built by Oskar Barnack at Ernst Leitz Optische Werke, Wetzlar, in 1913. Some say the original Leica was intended as a compact camera for landscape photography, particularly during mountain hikes, but other sources indicate the camera was intended for test exposures with 35mm motion picture film.[5] The Leica was the first practical 35 mm camera that used standard cinema 35 mm film. The Leica transports the film horizontally, extending the frame size to 24×36mm with a 2:3 aspect ratio, instead of the 18×24 mm of cinema cameras, which transport the film vertically.

The Leica had several model iterations, and in 1923, Barnack convinced his boss, Ernst Leitz II, to make a preproduction series of 31 cameras for the factory and outside photographers to test. Though the prototypes received mixed reception, Ernst Leitz decided in 1924 to produce the camera. It was an immediate success when introduced at the 1925 Leipzig Spring Fair as the Leica I (for Leitz camera). The focal plane shutter has a range from 1/20 to 1/500 second, in addition to a Z for Zeit (time) position.

Barnack conceived the Leica as a small camera that produced a small negative. To make large photos by enlargement, (the "small negative, large picture" concept) requires that the camera have high quality lenses that could create well-defined negatives. Barnack tried a Zeiss Tessar on his early prototype camera, but because the Tessar was designed for the 18×24 mm cine format, it inadequately covered the Leica's 24×36mm negative. Barnack resorted to a Leitz Mikro-Summar 1:4.5/42 mm lens for the prototype, but to achieve resolution necessary for satisfactory enlargement, the 24x36 mm format needed a lens designed specially for it. The first Leica lens was a 50 mm f/3.5 design based on the Cooke triplet of 1893, adapted by Max Berek at Leitz. The lens has five elements in three groups—the third group being three cemented elements—and was initially named the Leitz Anastigmat. Unlike other triplets, the Leitz Anastigmat has the diaphragm between the first and second elements. When the Leica was first vended, this lens was renamed the ELMAX, for E Leitz and MAX Berek. By 1925, the Leitz laboratories had produced glasses with improved optical properties, and Professor Berek designed an improved version of the ELMAX named the ELMAR that had four elements in three groups. The third group was simplified to two cemented elements, which was easier and cheaper to make.[6] Professor Berek had two dogs, Hektor and Rex. The first of these, Hektor, gave his name to a series of Leica lenses, and the name of the second appeared in the SummaREX.[7]

In 1930, the Leica I Schraubgewinde was first produced. It had an exchangeable lens system based on a 39mm diameter screw thread, often referred to as " Leica Thread Mount" or LTM. In addition to the 50 mm normal lens, a 35 mm wide angle and a 135 mm telephoto lens were initially available. During the mid-1930s, a legendary soft-focus lens, the Thambar 90 mm f/2.2 was designed, and made in small numbers between 1935 and 1949, no more than 3000 units. It is now a rare collector's item.[8] In 2017, a new version was produced, costing $6,495. A lens from the original series can fetch between $3,000 and $8,000, depending on condition.[9]

The Leica II was first produced in 1932, with a built in rangefinder coupled to the lens focusing mechanism. This model has a separate viewfinder (showing a reduced image) and rangefinder. In 1932, the flange to filmplane was standardised to 28.8mm, first implemented on Leica model C, and the Leica Standard the next year.[10]

The Leica III added slow shutter speeds down to 1 second, and the model IIIa added the 1/1000 second shutter speed. The IIIa is the last model made before Barnack's death, and therefore the last model for which he was wholly responsible. Leitz continued to refine the original design through to 1957. The final version, the IIIg, includes a large viewfinder with several framelines. These models all have a functional combination of circular dials and square windows.

Early Leica cameras bear the initials D.R.P., which stands for Deutsches Reichspatent, the name for German patents before May 1945. This is probably a reference to German patent No. 384071 "Rollfilmkamera" granted to Ernst Leitz, Optische Werke in Wetzlar, on November 3, 1923.

• 
  Ur-Leica ("original Leica"), from 1914
• 
  Leica I, 1927
• 
  Leica I, from 1927, with collapsible Leitz Elmar 1:3,5 F=5 cm lens
• 
  Reproduction of the Leica Prototype, 1913, 1:3,5

The company had always had progressive labor policies which encouraged the retention of skilled workers, many of whom were Jewish. Ernst Leitz II, who began managing the company in 1920, responded to the election of Hitler in 1933 by helping Jews to leave Germany, by "assigning" hundreds (even if they were not actually employees) to overseas sales offices where they were helped to find jobs. The effort intensified after Kristallnacht in 1938, until the borders were closed in September 1939. The extent of what came to be known as the "Leica Freedom Train" only became public after his death, well after the war.

After the war, Leitz continued to produce the late versions of the Leica II and the Leica III through the 1950s. However, in 1954, Leitz introduced the Leica M3, with the new Leica M mount, a bayonet-like lens mount. The new camera also combined the rangefinder and viewfinder into one large, bright viewfinder with a brighter double image in the center. This system also introduced a system of parallax compensation and a new rubberized, reliable, focal-plane shutter. Leica continues to refine this model (the latest versions being the MP and MA, both of which have framelines for 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, and 135 mm lenses, which show automatically upon mounting).

In 1952, Günther Leitz decided to establish Ernst Leitz Canada at Midland, Ontario.

Post-war models bear the initials DBP, standing for Deutsches Bundespatent (Federal German Patent), instead of the DRP (Deutsches Reich patent) found on pre-war models. A number of camera companies built models based on the Leica rangefinder design. These include the Leotax, Nicca and early Canon models in Japan, the Kardon in USA, the Reid in England and the FED and Zorki in the USSR.

In the 70s, Walter Mandler introduced computer aided design in optical engineering.

• 
  Leica IIIf (1950), one of the last screw-mount Leicas, with 50mm/f1.5 Summarit
• 
  Leica M3 chrome Singlestroke (1958) with Leica-Meter M, Booster and collapsible Elmar f=5 cm 1:2,8 M39 lens with adapter
• 
  Leica's MP of 2003 and M3 of 1954
• 
  Modern Leica M series

Factory upgrade Until at least the mid-1950s, Leitz offered factory upgrades of earlier Leica cameras to the current model's specifications. The upgraded cameras retained their original serial number.[11][12]

Single-lens reflex cameras From 1964, Leica produced a series of single-lens reflex cameras, beginning with the Leicaflex, followed by the Leicaflex SL, the Leicaflex SL2, and then the R series from R3 to R7, made in collaboration with the Minolta Corporation. The Leica R8 was entirely designed and manufactured by Leica. The final model was the Leica R9, which could be fitted with the Digital Module back. Leica was slow to produce an auto-exposure model, and never made a Leica R model that included auto-focusing. Leica's U.S. official website announced (March 25, 2009) that the R-series has been discontinued. The reason given was that "new camera developments have significantly affected the sales of Leica R cameras and lenses resulting in a dramatic decrease in the number sold. Sadly, therefore, there is no longer an economic basis on which to keep the Leica R-System in the Leica production programme."[13]

Conceptually intermediate between the Rangefinder Leicas and the SLR Leicas was the Leica Visoflex System, a mirror reflex box that attached to the lens mount of Leica rangefinders (separate versions were made for the screwmount and M series bodies) and accepted lenses made especially for the Visoflex System. Rather than using the camera's rangefinder, focusing was accomplished via a groundglass screen. A coupling released both mirror and shutter to make the exposure. Camera rangefinders are inherently limited in their ability to accurately focus long focal-length lenses and the mirror reflex box permitted much longer length lenses. Throughout its history, Leitz has been responsible for numerous optical innovations, such as aspherical production lenses, multicoated lenses, and rare earth lenses.

The earliest Leica reflex housing was the PLOOT (Leitz's five letter code for its products), announced in 1935, along with the 200 mm f/4.5 Telyt Lens. This date is significant because that it places Leica among the 35 mm SLR pioneers. Moreover, until the 1964 introduction of the Leicaflex, the PLOOT and Visoflex were Leica's only SLR offerings. A redesigned PLOOT was introduced by Leica in 1951 as the Visoflex I. This was followed by a much more compact Visoflex II in 1960 (which was the only Visoflex version available in both LTM (screwmount) and M-bayonet) and the Visoflex III with instant-return mirror in 1964. Leica lenses for the Visoflex system included focal lengths of 65, 180 (rare), 200, 280, 400, 560, and 800mm. In addition, the optical groups of many rangefinder lenses could be removed, and attached to the Visoflex via a system of adapters. The Visoflex system was discontinued in 1984.

Leica offered a wide range of accessories. For instance, LTM (screwmount) lenses were easily usable on M cameras via an adapter. Similarly Visoflex lenses could be used on the Leicaflex and R cameras with an adapter. Furthermore, certain LTM and M rangefinder lenses featured removable optical groups that could mount via adapters on the Visoflex system, thus making them usable as rangefinder or SLR lenses for Visoflex-equipped Screwmount and M rangefinder cameras, as well as being usable on Leicaflex and R cameras. Leica also offered focusing systems, such as the Focorapid and Televit, that could replace certain lenses’ helicoid mounts for sports and natural-life telephotography.

• 
  The Leica R4 (1980) and Leica SL2 MOT (1974)
• 
  The Leica Visoflex II (1960)
• 
  Leica's answer to the SLR: a Leica Visoflex II on Leica IIIf

Leica store at Hong Kong International Airport

In 1986, the Leitz company changed its name to Leica (LEItz CAmera), due to the fame of the Leica trade-name. At this time, Leica relocated its factory from Wetzlar (Germany) to the nearby town of Solms (Germany). In 1996, Leica Camera separated from the Leica Group and became a publicly owned company. In 1998, the Leica group was divided into two independent units: Leica Microsystems and Leica Geosystems.

On 1 October 2012, Leica Camera AG was delisted from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange after Lisa Germany Holding GmbH acquired the remaining minority shares stock resulting in the company being owned privately.[14]

On 26 November 2013, Leica Camera AG announced the purchase of Sinar Photography AG, Zurich, the Swiss manufacturer of view cameras.[15]

In May 2014, Leica Camera AG finished building a new factory at Leitz Park 1 in the new industrial part of Wetzlar and relocated back to the city where it started.[16]

In April 2019, a television commercial for Leica titled "The Hunt" was released online. The commercial depicts photojournalists in war-torn and politically unstable environments; one of whom takes a photograph of the Tank Man during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Following censorship of the Leica brand on Sina Weibo, Leica revoked the commercial and sought to distance themselves from it, claiming the company did not sanction its production.[17]

In September 2022, Leica announced Cine 1, a laser projector, slated for release in 2023. The new model is Leica's return to digital projectors, which the company produced under the Pradovit brand.[18]

• Leica I – was first introduced to the market at the 1925 spring fair in Leipzig, based on the Ur-Leica prototype developed by Barnack in 1913 and Prototyp 1 developed in 1923. Followed by Leica Luxur and Leica Compur (a total of 60,586 of the Leica I, Luxur, and Compur models were made). Interchangeable lenses for these were introduced in 1930.

Leica 35 mm series with interchangeable lens screw mount style Leica bodies:

• Leica Standard – 1932. The first Leica camera was designed with a film-to-lens flange distance of 28.8 millimeters.
• Leica II – 1932. The first Leica camera with a rangefinder.
• Leica III – 1933. Leica incorporated slow shutter speeds on this model.

The "M" within the nomenclature of this series of cameras comes from the first initial of "Meßsucher" (or "Messsucher"), which is the German word for "Rangefinder".

• M3 – 1954–66 (Total 200,000 units manufactured) Introduced at the German photokina exhibition in 1954, the M3 was the first of the M series Leicas, a line that is still manufactured today, and featured the first Leica body with a bayonet-style mount for interchangeable lenses. In an advertisement from 1956, it was regarded as a "lifetime investment in perfect photography". The M3 has a .92 magnification finder, the highest of any M camera made. The price of this high magnification was that a 35 mm lens required "goggles" that fit in front of the view/rangefinder windows to facilitate a wider view. The M3 advanced film via a lever rather than a knob, the first M3s required two strokes to advance the film, after 1958 M3's were single-stroke. Early M3s lacked a frame preview selector lever to switch between frame lines.
• MP – 1956–57 (Total of 402 sets were manufactured). The original MP was based on the M3 and could be fitted with a Leicavit trigger winding device. MP originally stood for "M Professional"; it was intended as a photojournalist's camera.
• M2 – 1958–67 (88,000 sets were manufactured). A scaled-down and lower-cost version of the M3, the M2 had a simplified rangefinder of 0.72 magnification, allowing easier use of 35 mm lenses. The 0.72 magnification became the standard viewfinder magnification for future M cameras. The M2 lacked the self-resetting film frame counter of its predecessor.
• M1 – 1959–64 (9,392 sets were manufactured). A stripped-down version of the M2 for scientific/technical use, the M1 was a viewfinder camera with no built-in rangefinder. Replaced in 1965 by the MD (with no viewfinder at all), and the MDa (based on the M4) (1967), and finally the MD-2 (based on the M4-2) (1980).
• M4 – 1967–75 (50,000 sets were manufactured); 1974–75 (6,500 sets were manufactured). With added rangefinder frame lines for 35 mm and 135 mm lenses. Introduced the canted rewind crank (the previous Ms had rewind knobs). The M5 was the last M camera to have a self-timer.
• M5 – 1971–75 (31,400 sets were manufactured). With added integral TTL light meter. First Leica with a light meter, a mechanical swinging-arm CDS cell positioned behind the lens. The added functionality required a redesigned, larger body compared with the traditional M3 dimensions. Certain wide angle lenses (early 21 mm f4.0 and f3.4) could not be used in the camera without modification because of the possibility of damage to the rear element of the lens or the meter arm. For similar reasons, collapsible lenses could not be collapsed on the M5. These restrictions also held true for the Leica CL (below). With the M4, the last M camera has a self-timer.
• CL – 1973–76 (the compact Leica). Leitz Minolta CL introduced two lenses special to that model: the 40 mm Summicron-C f2 and 90 mm Elmar-C f4. Internal metering is similar to the M5 – CDS cell on a swinging stalk. The CL is also notable for being the only M-bayonet camera to have a vertically travelling shutter. Minolta later manufactured and sold an improved electronic version, the Minolta CLE with Auto Exposure, Off-The-Film TTL meterin,g and TTL Flash metering, together with three M-Rokkor lenses, the 40 mm/f2, 28 mm/f2.,8 and 90 mm/f4.
• M4-2 – 1977–80 (17,000 sets were manufactured). First M manufactured since 1975, with stronger gears to support a motor drive. It was the first M with a hot shoe for electronic flash. No self-timer. Made in Canada.
• M4-P – 1980–86. Added rangefinder framelines for the 28 mm and 75 mm lenses.

Leica M6 Black Chrome

• M6 – 1984–98. A camera that first combined the M3 form factor with a modern, off-the-shutter light meter with no moving parts and LED arrows in the viewfinder. Informally referred to as the M6 "Classic" to distinguish it from the "M6 TTL" models, and to indicate its "Classic" M3 dimensions.
• M6J – 1994. A collector's edition of 1,640 cameras to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Leica M System. Notable for its introduction of the 0.85 magnification finder, the first high-magnification finder since 1966, and the basis for the 0.85 cameras to follow starting in 1998.
• M6 0.85 – 1998. The M6 could be optionally ordered with a .85 magnification viewfinder for easier focusing with long lenses and more accurate focusing with fast lenses, such as the 50 mm/f1.0 Noctilux and 75 mm/f1.4 Summilux. The 28 mm framelines are dropped in this model. 3,130 of these cameras were made (all black chrome), so they are among the rarer non-commemorative M6's.

Leica M9 with a Summicron-M 28/2 ASPH Lens

• M6 TTL – 1998–2002. With .72 and .85 viewfinder versions. In 2000 the .58 viewfinder camera for eyeglass wearers are added to the line. Supported TTL flash. The added electronics added 2mm of height to the top plate, and the shutter dial was reversed from previous models (traditionally, turning clockwise increased shutter speed).
• M7 2002–2018. Has TTL exposure, aperture priority and manual exposure, an electronic shutter, and two mechanical speeds of 1/60 and 1/125. Comes in .58, .72, and .85 viewfinder formats, each with different brightline frame lines. Same taller top plate and counter-clockwise shutter dial as the M6 TTL. Leica even produced an M7 made of solid titanium and offered it in a kit with 1 or several titanium-colored lenses.
• MP – 2003 – current model (as of 2020). 35 mm film. A homage to the original MP, the new MP (this time standing for "Mechanical Perfection") cosmetically resembles the original (even down to changing the rewind crank back to a knob) but is functionally closer to the M6 Classic. A notable improvement over the M6 was the modification of the rangefinder to eliminate flare. The Leicavit M is an accessory introduced with the new MP, allowing trigger wind with the right hand at speeds up to 2–2.5 frame/s. The MP is available in chrome and black paint and with viewfinders of .58, .72 and .85 magnification.
• M-A (typ 127) – 2014 – current model (as of 2021). A 35 mm film camera with no light meter or other electronic components. It is available in silver chrome or black chrome, and has a .72 magnification viewfinder as standard.
• à la carte program – 2004 – June 7, 2019. Program to facilitate custom-built combinations of metal finish, leather type, viewfinder magnification, and custom engraving of some current Leica models (e.g., the M-A (typ 127) is not eligible).

• M8 – 2006–09. The M8 was the first digital M introduced, featuring a 10.3 megapixel sensor. The sensor is a 1.3 crop of standard 35 mm film, which gives the M8 an enlarged perspective in comparison to its predecessors.
• M8.2 – 2008–09. A slightly updated edition of the Leica M8, featuring a quieter shutter, sapphire glass LCD screen cover, new leather coatings, etc. Because both the M8 and M8.2 sensors lack an infrared filter, an IR-cut filter in front of the lens is required to render some synthetic material colors correctly.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leica M9 and Taken with Leica M9.

• M9 – 2009 – The first full frame digital camera in the series, introduced on September 9, 2009.[22]
• M9-P – 2011 – The full frame digital camera with a classic look, introduced in June/July 2011.[23]
• M Monochrom – 2012 – Announced in May 2012, scheduled for retail sale in July 2012. A version of the M9 that shoots exclusively in monochrome. The sensor lacks both a color filtering array and an anti-aliasing filter.[24][25]
• M-E (Typ 220) – 2012 – Announced in September 2012, entry-level model in the Leica M full-frame digital camera range.
• Leica M (Typ 240) – 2012 – Announced in September 2012.[26][27]
• Leica M-P (Typ 240) – 2014 – Announced in August 2014, 2 GB buffer and sapphire LCD cover.
• Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) – 2015 – Announced in April 2015, 2 GB buffer and sapphire LCD cover.
• Leica M (Typ 262) – 2015 – Announced in November 2015, no video and live view, aluminum top plate.
• Leica M-D (Typ 262) – 2016 – Announced in April 2016, no back screen.
• Leica M10 – 2017 – Announced in January 2017, the slimmest digital M-camera to date, identical dimensions as the M series film cameras, ISO control knob on the top plate.
• Leica M10-P – 2018 – Announced in August 2018, 24MP compact camera. The M10P has quieter shutter than the M10.
• Leica M10-D – 2018 – Announced in October 2018, no back screen.
• Leica M-E (Typ 240) – 2019 – Announced in June 2019, entry-level model based on the M (Typ 240).
• Leica M10 Monochrom - 2020 – Announced in January 2020, Monochrom version of the M10 with 40 megapixels sensor.
• Leica M10-R - 2020 – Announced in July 2020, High resolution version of the M10 with 40 megapixels sensor.[28]
• Leica M11 - 2022 – Announced in January 2022, full-frame BSI CMOS sensor (60 megapixels, 36 megapixels or 18 megapixels).

The Leica L-mount was first introduced by the Leica T (Typ 701), an APS-C mirrorless camera, in April 2014. In October 2015, the second camera, Leica SL (typ 601), was introduced. The SL is a full frame mirrorless camera. The two camera mounts are mechanically and electronically 100% compatible. The only difference is a small gap around the SL mount for the SL lens sealing to cover dust and spray on the Leica SL.

• Leica SL (Typ 601) is a full frame 35 mm format mirrorless system camera announced by Leica on October 20, 2015. The Leica SL is promoted as a camera system for professional applications. Beside the Leica S-System, the Leica SL-System is the second professional camera in the company's product portfolio.

Leica SL (Typ 601)

• Leica T (Typ 701) – In 2014, Leica announced Leica T (Typ 701), the first camera with a body made completely of aluminum. Initially there were two available lenses for the camera, the Leica Summicron-T 23 mm f/2 ASPH and the Leica Vario-Elmar-T 18–56 mm f/3.5–5.6 ASPH. More lenses have been announced for 2015.[29]
• Leica TL – The Leica TL is the successor of the Leica T (Typ 701).

• Leica TL2 – The Leica TL2 is the successor of the Leica TL.
• Leica CL – The camera was introduced November 21, 2017.

Sigma and Panasonic joined forces with Leica to form the L-mount Alliance on 25 September 2018, and license the L-mount system for their own lines of lenses and cameras.[30]

Three forthcoming cameras were announced on the same day as the alliance:

• Panasonic S1 and S1R full-frame cameras for release in early 2019[31]
• As-yet unnamed Sigma full-frame camera using the company's Foveon sensor, also for release in 2019[32]

Leica S2

• Leica S1 – The Leica S1 Pro is a scanner camera with a very high resolution (26 megapixels) for stationary use introduced in 1996. On a 36×36 mm sensor 5140×5140 pixels get scanned and optically transferred to a connected computer. The object lens adapter system was exchangeable, thus object lenses of the systems Leica R, Leica M, Hasselblad, Mamiya 4, 5×6, and all mechanic object lenses from Canon (FD), Nikon, etc. can be used with the S1. The software for the S1 is a special SilverFast version, originally developed by LaserSoft Imaging for high-end scanners. Approximately 160 cameras were built and mostly sold to museums, archives and research institutes. Later on Leica introduced the S1 Highspeed with very quick scanning and the S1 Alpha with half the resolution to the market.
• Leica S2 – In 2008, Leica announced[33] plans to offer an S-System – DSLR with a Kodak-made custom CCD image sensor measuring 30×45 mm and containing 37 million pixels.[34] This sensor has a 26% longer diagonal and 56% larger area than a "full-frame″ 24×36 mm DSLR sensor and outputs an approximately 5000x7500 pixel image. The Leica S2 is thus essentially a medium format camera in a "35 mm SLR"-sized body. The new "Maestro" image processor used in the S2 was developed by Fujitsu based on the Milbeaut[35] and the autofocus system (Leica's first to see production) was developed in house. The S2 series body, lenses and accessories were available in 2009.[36] A series of new Leica lenses is manufactured specifically for the S2 and Leica claims they offer unsurpassed resolution and contrast at all apertures and focusing distances, even exceeding the sensor's capabilities. Lenses offered for the S2 include Summarit-S in normal (70 mm), wideangle (35 mm), and macro (120 mm) varieties, and Tele-Elmar (180 mm) portrait-length telephotos; these are available in versions that feature integrated multi-leaf blade shutters ("Central Shutter", or CS), in addition to the focal-plane shutter in the camera body, to enable higher flash sync speeds.[37]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leica S2 and Taken with Leica S2.

• Leica S (Typ 006) – Leica announced the Leica S (Typ 006) in September 2012. It replaces the Leica S2, having a new sensor board with improved noise characteristics.[38]
• Leica S (Typ 007) – Leica announced the Leica S (Typ 007) in September 2014. It replaces the Typ 006's CCD with a new CMOS image sensor. It offers improved noise characteristics, stills at 3.5 frames/second, and 4K video.[39]
• Leica S3 – Leica announced the Leica S3 in October 2018.[40] The camera specs were finally released in early 2020, to be available for sale in the spring.[41]

Leica Q2

Leica Q (Type 116) compact full frame camera with a Summilux 28 mm f/1.7 ASPH lens was officially announced on June 10, 2015.[42] Its successor, the Leica Q2 with a 47.3 Megapixel full frame sensor, was launched in March 2019. And in November 2020, the company released a monochrome version of the camera, the Q2 Monochrom, using a sensor similar to that in the M10 Monochrom, but with 47.3 megapixels.[43]

Leica Sofort was announced in September 2016 at Photokina. It is Leica's first instant film camera and is compatible with both Leica's own film packs as well as Fuji Instax Mini film. It features a 60mm lens, modes for normal and macro photography and a host of pre-sets for applications like selfies and fast moving sports photography.

The original Digilux model

• Digilux
• Digilux Zoom
• Digilux 4.3
• Digilux 1
• Digilux 2[44]
• Digilux 3
• R8/R9 DMR Digital Module R (DSLR)[45]

• C-Lux series (year of introduction)
  • C-LUX 1 (2006)
  • C-LUX 2 (2007)
  • C-LUX 3 (2008)
  • C-LUX (2018)
• D-Lux series (year of introduction)

Leica D-LUX 6 (2012)

• • D-LUX (2003)
  • D-LUX 2 (2005)
  • D-LUX 3 (2006)
  • D-LUX 4 (2008)
  • D-LUX 5 (2010)
  • D-LUX 6 (2012)
  • D-LUX (Typ 109) (2014)
  • D-LUX 7 (2018)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leica digital compact cameras and Photos taken with Leica.

• V-Lux bridge camera series (year of introduction)
  • V-LUX 1 (2006)
  • V-LUX 20 (2010)
  • V-LUX 2 (2010)
  • V-LUX 30 (2011)
  • V-LUX 3 (2011)
  • V-LUX 40 (2012)[46]
  • V-LUX 4 (2012)
  • V-LUX (Typ 114) (2014)
  • V-LUX 5 (2019)
• X series

Introduced with the Leica X1 on September 9, 2009. APS-C size sensor in a compact body. No viewfinder (hotshoe finder optional), fixed prime lens.

In May 2012, the company introduced its successor, the Leica X2.[47]

In 2013, the Leica X Vario (Typ 107) was announced: a compact body with a 16.2 MP APS-C size sensor, a fixed variable-aperture zoom (F3.5 – F6.4, 28–70 mm equivalent) and no viewfinder (plug-in electronic viewfinder optional).[48]

In 2014, Leica announced two updates on the series: the Leica X-E (Typ 102) featuring a 24 mm f/2.8 lens and the Leica X (Typ 113) which has a 23mm f/1.7 lens.

• C series

On September 8, 2013, Leica announced the Leica C (Typ 112), a compact camera with an electronic viewfinder based on the Panasonic DMC-LF1.[49]

• AF-C1 (1989)
• C2 Zoom (1991)
• Z2X (1997–2001)[51]
• Leica CM 40 mm (2003–2006)[51]
• Leica CM Zoom (2003–2006)[51]

• Leica Mini (1991–1993)[51]
• Leica Mini II (1993–1996)[51]
• Leica Mini Zoom (1993–1997): Zoom lenses Vario Elmar 35-70 with luminous intensity 1:4-7,6. The design of the camera was created by Manfred Meinzer with Klaus-Dieter Schaefer. The Mini Zoom was manufactured by Kyocera for Leica Camera.[52]
• Leica Mini III (1996–1997)[51]

• Leica Minilux 40 mm (1995–2003)[51]
• Leica Minilux Zoom (1998–2003)[51]

The design is by Klaus-Dieter Schaefer[53] and Manfred Meinzer, who made the design of the analogous Leica R8 and digital Leica S2, too.[54]

• C1 (2000–2005)[51]
• C2 2002 made in China
• C3 (2002–2005)[51]

• Leicaflex – 1964/5 – sometimes called the Standard – built-in external light meter, clear focusing screen with centre microprism spot. There was a great deal of pressure to introduce a Leica SLR because of the phenomenal success of the Nikon F (1959).

Leicaflex SL family

• Leicaflex SL and SL MOT – 1968 – TTL selective-area metering, slightly taller body than its predecessor, long-lived, and lovely to use. MOT model took a large and heavy motor drive. Only about 1,000 SL MOTs were made.
• Leicaflex SL2/SL2 MOT – 1974 – refinement of the SL with moa re sensitive light meter and improved body shape. Some thought this thwas e toughest 35 mm SLR ever built. The Leica Solms museum has an SL2 MOT on display, with Moa tor and 35 mm Summicron, that survived a 25,000-foot (7,600 m) fall from a Phantom II fighter jet. It was battered but in one piece, and deemed repairable by Leica. Only about 1,000 SL2 MOTs were made. The SL2 was the last of the Leicaflexes. It reportedly cost Leitz more to manufacture than it recouped in sales, and motivated the company to collaborate with Minolta for their next series of electronic cameras. The SL2 was also the last mechanical Leica SLR for 14 years.

Leica R3

Leica R8

• Leica R3 – the first electronic Leitz SLR – 1976 to 1980, based upon the Minolta XE/Minolta XE-1/XE-7. The first few were built in Germany and then production was transferred to the Leitz Portugal factory.
• Leica R4 – 1980–87 is a new compact model based upon the Minolta XD-7/Minolta XD-11. The R4 set the design for all cameras up to and including the R7. The R4 offered Program mode, Aperture and Shutter Priority, and Manual, with Selective and Center-weighted metering. The original R4MOT differed in designation only; all R4s and up accepted motors and winders. The R4S, R4SP, and R4S Mod2 were simplified models at slightly lower prices. The "S" moniker stands for "Simplified", while the "SP" stands for "Simplified Professional".
• Leica R5 and R-E – 1987 – R5 feature revised electronics and had TTL flash capability. The Leica R-E was a simplified economy model of the Leica R5 produced between 1990 and 1994. It is basically a Leica R5 without the Program and Shutter Priority mode. Only about 6,000 Leica R-E was produced.
• Leica R6 – 1988–92 mechanical shutter, relied on battery power only for the built-in light meter.
• Leica R7 – 1992 – yet more advanced electronics.
• Leica R8 – 1996–2002 – complete redesign, this time in-house with production relocated back to Germany. All traces of Minolta are gone.
• Leica R9 – 2002–09 – an improved R8 with 100g less weight and a new anthracite body finish. This model and its range of lenses were discontinued in 2009.
  • R8/R9 DMR Digital Module-R[55] – 10 megapixel digital back for the R8/R9, making them the first 35 mm SLR cameras able to capture to film or digitally. This unit was discontinued in 2008.[56]
• Leica R10 – While Leica announced in July 2009 that an R10 is forthcoming, so far one has not been released, and is unlikely given previous announcements from Leica.[31]

Leica also makes a line of cine lenses used for cinematic projects.[57] In February 2015, their design team was awarded an Academy Scientific and Engineering Award for the optical and mechanical design of the Leica Summilux-C lenses.[58]

During the 2018 Photokina in Cologne, Leica announced that Sigma and Panasonic had become licencees of the L-mount platform. The three companies would form a strategic and technical alliance, yet remain independent.[59]

Leica-branded lenses, such as some Nocticron, Elmarit and Summilux lenses, have been used on many Panasonic (Matsushita) digital cameras (Lumix) and video recorders since 1995. Panasonic/Leica models were the first to incorporate optical image stabilization in their digital cameras.[60] Several Panasonic/Leica lenses have been produced for the Micro Four Thirds mount, including the 12 mm f/1.4 Summilux, 15 mm f/1.7 Summilux and 25 mm f/1.4 Summilux prime lenses, and zooms including a 12–60 mm f/2.8–4 and 100–400 mm f/4–6.3.

Valbray EL1 limited edition in black for 100th anniversary of Leica camera panorama

In 2014, to commemorate Leica camera's 100th anniversary, they partnered with Swiss watch manufacture Valbray to develop a limited edition chronograph wristwatch with Valbray's signature Leica aperture inspired dial.[61]

Huawei P9 was the first smartphone to be co-engineered with a Leica camera

Since 2016, Leica has established partnership with the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, and Leica cameras will be co-engineered into Huawei smartphones, including the P series and Mate series. The first smartphone to be co-engineered with a Leica camera was the Huawei P9.[62] The partnership ended with the Huawei P50 series in 2021.[63]

Leica and Minolta signed a technical cooperation agreement in June 1972.[64]

• Minolta XE chassis became the basis for the Leica R3 SLR – cooperative development with Copal on the 'Copal-Leitz Square' electronic shutter module, with advanced gear train and self-timer.
• Minolta XD chassis and microelectronics became the basis for the Leica R4 SLR.
  • Several lenses for the above cameras including the MC/MD 24mm F2.8 (Leica Elmarit-R, glass by Minolta but case Made In Germany); the (1983) MD Zoom 35–70 F3.5 (Vario-Elmar-R); (1978) Minolta MD 75–200 F4.5.
• Leica 'Leitz-Minolta' CL and CLE (Compact Leica Electronic)
  • Minolta co-designed and produced the following lenses for the above cameras:
    • M-Rokkor 40mm F2 (Summicron-C – Made in Germany);
    • M-Rokkor 90mm F4 'Made by Leitz in Germany' (Elmar-C – Made in Germany and later in Japan by Minolta). This lens was solely designed by Minolta, being remarkable for one of a few Japanese lenses to be made in Germany. The lens elements were produced by Minolta in Japan.
    • M-Rokkor 28mm F2.8. This lens is not the same as any of the Leica M 28mm F2.8's, being a 7 element, 5 group design[65] while contemporary Leicas were 8e/6g (Elmarit II '72–'79 and Elmarit-M III '79–'93). The M-Rokkor was sold for about less than half the price – however Modern Photography tests indicated that performance was as good as the Leica equivalent. This is supported by user experiences and modern tests.[66][67]

In 2020, Leica entered a strategic partnership with Insta360 to help produce the ONE R 1-Inch Edition.[68] Since then, ONE R has been recognised as one of TIME magazine's best inventions of 2020.[69]

In 2021, Leica has established technology partnership with Sharp Corporation, and Leica cameras will be co-engineered into Sharp smartphones for the Japanese market only. The first smartphone to be co-engineered with a Leica camera was the AQUOS R6 with 1-inch-sensor camera.[70] Then Leica with the SoftBank introduced the smartphone Leitz Phone 1 which have same specifications as AQUOS R6 but different design.[71]

In 2022, Leica entered a strategic partnership with Xiaomi to jointly develop Leica cameras to be used in Xiaomi flagship smartphones, succeeding the partnership between Huawei and Leica. The first smartphones under this new partnership were the Xiaomi 12S Ultra and Xiaomi MIX Fold 2, launched in July and August 2022, respectively.[72]