100 years of Leica

[UliWer]

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Well done, I think you win the prize!

 

This from Wiki "Voigtländer is an optical company founded by Johann Christoph Voigtländer in Vienna in 1756 and is thus the oldest name in cameras".

 

Let's remember that Leica are not the original Leica/Leitz company either, they are a completely different company who are using the brand name, much the same as Cosina/Voigtlander.

 

Well, Voigtländer made optical instruments already in 18th century but photographic systems only between 1905 and (perhaps) 1982 - the last years only in Singapore.

Today it's nothing else than a brand name and has no real links to it's origins.

 

The Leica Camera AG doesn't even own its proper name but has to "borrow" it from Leica Microsystems - which never had anything to do with the "ca" - for camera - in the name.

 

On the other hand the Camera AG still is the proper successor of the whole original Leitz photographic production. People who still worked for Ernst Leitz GmbH did the same for Leica Camera AG and all productions facilities went the same way. So even if ownership has completely changed and apparently no member of the Leitz family is involved in the Camera AG the "genes" are still doing their evolutionary duties.

 

Though I'd not exspect any product specially designed to commemorate the first Barnack camera. Some Leica representative was asked about this in an interview (don't remember who it was), and the answer was that they were not planning anything as the production capacities didn't allow for this. So we might see some engravings or extra leathering for catalogue products with special prices as usual, but my hope about a 3.5/5 cm Apo-Aspherical will not fulfill:(

[iedei]

A positive post about 100 years in the making and that it could bring something very exciting for everyone and all you can bring yourself to post is one sentence based on a negative followed up by a comment saying Leica isn't really Leica.

 

Life of the party aren't ya?

 

seriously....very annoying to see this repetitive, mundane negativity...

 

it's the same company....merely evolved. get over it.

[earleygallery]

Though I'd not exspect any product specially designed to commemorate the first Barnack camera. Some Leica representative was asked about this in an interview (don't remember who it was), and the answer was that they were not planning anything as the production capacities didn't allow for this. So we might see some engravings or extra leathering for catalogue products with special prices as usual, but my hope about a 3.5/5 cm Apo-Aspherical will not fulfill:(

 

I guess they've already done the Barnack repro 0 series. Now a new limited edition 5cm 3.5 would get my interest.

[adan]

Let's be realistic - whether we talk of E. Leitz or Leica, the company didn't produce, as a commercial product, a camera until 1925.

 

Barnack had a working prototype 99 years ago, but it took 12 years to bring to market.

 

Nevertheless, Leica has gotten marketing mileage out of both anniversaries in the past, not to mention the "M" date (1954) - so I'm sure they will do so again....

[TomB_tx]

There are too many "brands" that have been sold and have no resemblance to the products of the original company. I give Leica credit for continuing and advancing the design of lenses and cameras that are quite true to the original Ernst Leitz visions, and still compatible with the old products, even repairing products sold by the original company decades ago. After seeing where the rest of the photographic industry went, I was delighted to be able to use my 1960s Leica lenses on a FF digital body.

I might not agree with all the marketing directions, but the company is viable, and still comes out with some products I'd like to buy.