Popular Post LUF Admin Posted March 1 Popular Post Share #1 Posted March 1 Advertisement (gone after registration) 100 Years of Leica I For 100 years, the Leica brand has been profoundly influencing the technological and cultural development of photography and crafting an enduring entrepreneurial legacy. Wetzlar, 1 March 2025 – The first mass-produced Leica camera is celebrating a big anniversary today. Exactly 100 years ago, on 1 March 1925, the Leica I was presented to the public for the first time at the Leipzig Spring Fair. Its compact and nimble design changed the world of photography forever. In celebrating this epochal anniversary of an iconic camera, Leica Camera AG is also commemorating the visionary entrepreneur Ernst Leitz II, who established 35 mm photography through his brave decision to mass-produce the Leica camera. The centenary anniversary is not only a retrospective of fascinating company history but also a glimpse into the future of photography. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! “I hereby decide: we will take the risk.” With these fateful words, Ernst Leitz II decided to mass-produce Oskar Barnack’s ingenious invention, the Ur-Leica. Despite technical challenges in difficult economic times, a completely new camera system was added to the Leitz factory’s production range. The launch of the Leica I at the Leipzig Fair (1 to 11 March) also proved to be a visionary and decisive business move. The fair had already developed into a very popular international platform for technical innovations. The Leitz booth, number 194/195 on the upper level of the fair hall, acted as a springboard for a revolution in photography in 1925. Paired with the Anastigmat 50 f/3.5 lens, the Leica I was a runaway success, establishing the 24×36mm compact camera format as the global standard. Renowned photographers like Alexander Rodchenko, Gisèle Freund and André Kertész quickly recognised the possibilities opened up by the compact, inconspicuous and efficient Leica camera. For the first time, a camera made it possible to capture real life – immortalising the decisive moment. This sparked a paradigm shift in photography: the birth of modern photojournalism and fine-art photography. In the first year alone, the Leitz factory sold around 1,000 cameras, laying the foundation for the Leica brand’s iconic status in the world of photography. By continuing to develop the Leica I and adding innovative interchangeable lenses in the years that followed, Leica consolidated the success of its camera system. The first Leica camera with a bayonet mount and three interchangeable lenses was launched in 1930. The Leica II, introduced in 1932, featured the first rangefinder, enabling fast, precise focussing. Seven interchangeable lenses with standardised bayonet mounts were available at that time. The network of avid Leica photographers also grew steadily. Today, they remain a cornerstone of Leica’s company culture, thanks to their unwavering commitment to promoting culture. Dr Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG: “Over the last 100 years, Leica has been profoundly influencing the technological and cultural development of photography through its innovative strength, craftsmanship and engineering. Our focus remains on Das Wesentliche (the essentials): a passion for taking unique, authentic pictures, documenting and preserving world events. For this reason, it only makes sense to celebrate this company anniversary, namely 100 years of camera production, together with many renowned photographers worldwide and to put the spotlight on their work.” With innovative products and investments in forward-looking technologies, Leica Camera AG keeps on writing the entrepreneurial success story that began with the Leica I. The company continues to forge innovative paths today to strengthen the brand and reach new target groups by expanding its business horizons. A particular area for development is the mobile segment, which opens the door to the “World of Leica” experience. Most recently, February saw the launch of the Leica LUX grip, an innovative camera grip that, together with the Leica LUX app, enables a unique photography experience when using an iPhone. 28 15 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! “I hereby decide: we will take the risk.” With these fateful words, Ernst Leitz II decided to mass-produce Oskar Barnack’s ingenious invention, the Ur-Leica. Despite technical challenges in difficult economic times, a completely new camera system was added to the Leitz factory’s production range. The launch of the Leica I at the Leipzig Fair (1 to 11 March) also proved to be a visionary and decisive business move. The fair had already developed into a very popular international platform for technical innovations. The Leitz booth, number 194/195 on the upper level of the fair hall, acted as a springboard for a revolution in photography in 1925. Paired with the Anastigmat 50 f/3.5 lens, the Leica I was a runaway success, establishing the 24×36mm compact camera format as the global standard. Renowned photographers like Alexander Rodchenko, Gisèle Freund and André Kertész quickly recognised the possibilities opened up by the compact, inconspicuous and efficient Leica camera. For the first time, a camera made it possible to capture real life – immortalising the decisive moment. This sparked a paradigm shift in photography: the birth of modern photojournalism and fine-art photography. In the first year alone, the Leitz factory sold around 1,000 cameras, laying the foundation for the Leica brand’s iconic status in the world of photography. By continuing to develop the Leica I and adding innovative interchangeable lenses in the years that followed, Leica consolidated the success of its camera system. The first Leica camera with a bayonet mount and three interchangeable lenses was launched in 1930. The Leica II, introduced in 1932, featured the first rangefinder, enabling fast, precise focussing. Seven interchangeable lenses with standardised bayonet mounts were available at that time. The network of avid Leica photographers also grew steadily. Today, they remain a cornerstone of Leica’s company culture, thanks to their unwavering commitment to promoting culture. Dr Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG: “Over the last 100 years, Leica has been profoundly influencing the technological and cultural development of photography through its innovative strength, craftsmanship and engineering. Our focus remains on Das Wesentliche (the essentials): a passion for taking unique, authentic pictures, documenting and preserving world events. For this reason, it only makes sense to celebrate this company anniversary, namely 100 years of camera production, together with many renowned photographers worldwide and to put the spotlight on their work.” With innovative products and investments in forward-looking technologies, Leica Camera AG keeps on writing the entrepreneurial success story that began with the Leica I. The company continues to forge innovative paths today to strengthen the brand and reach new target groups by expanding its business horizons. A particular area for development is the mobile segment, which opens the door to the “World of Leica” experience. Most recently, February saw the launch of the Leica LUX grip, an innovative camera grip that, together with the Leica LUX app, enables a unique photography experience when using an iPhone. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419591-happy-birthday-100-years-of-leica-i/?do=findComment&comment=5765750'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 1 Posted March 1 Hi LUF Admin, Take a look here Happy Birthday: 100 Years of Leica I. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
la1402 Posted March 1 Share #2 Posted March 1 Congratulations Leica. All the best for another 100, though I am bit concerned that for your 100th Birthday, you mention Leica Lux App and Grip as your innovative milestone 🤔 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierovitch Posted March 2 Share #3 Posted March 2 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Happy Birthday LEICA Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Happy Birthday LEICA ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419591-happy-birthday-100-years-of-leica-i/?do=findComment&comment=5766080'>More sharing options...
Rick in CO Posted March 2 Share #4 Posted March 2 Ernst Leitz's birthdate was also 1 March - here is an article from the 1 March 1941 Photographie für Alle noting his 70th Geburtstag, written by none other than Dr. Paul Wolff! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419591-happy-birthday-100-years-of-leica-i/?do=findComment&comment=5766336'>More sharing options...
nykv Posted March 2 Share #5 Posted March 2 (edited) Many thanks, Rick! Worthy of Oskar Barnack's brlliance. Whenever you find the time, could you please look at your source one more time? I'm not sure the sentence in the first column, ending with: "... dieser kleinen" finds its continuation with the beginning of the second column's: "Arbeit verglich ...". Could it be, there's something missing in the middle? Best regards, Simon Edited March 2 by nykv Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted March 3 Share #6 Posted March 3 Thank you Leitz, Leica, for 100 years of superb craftsmanship. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetPhoto Posted March 3 Share #7 Posted March 3 Advertisement (gone after registration) its odd they did not do a re release of the first leica Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick in CO Posted March 3 Share #8 Posted March 3 23 hours ago, nykv said: Many thanks, Rick! Worthy of Oskar Barnack's brlliance. Whenever you find the time, could you please look at your source one more time? I'm not sure the sentence in the first column, ending with: "... dieser kleinen" finds its continuation with the beginning of the second column's: "Arbeit verglich ...". Could it be, there's something missing in the middle? Best regards, Simon Yes, it is the continuation of the next page. I should have separated it a bit more when pasting it to the first page, but I was wanting to keep the document small enough to post! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
espelt Posted March 7 Share #9 Posted March 7 Am 2.3.2025 um 20:02 schrieb nykv: Whenever you find the time, could you please look at your source one more time? I'm not sure the sentence in the first column, ending with: "... dieser kleinen" finds its continuation with the beginning of the second column's: "Arbeit verglich ...". Could it be, there's something missing in the middle? Best regards, Simon What might be missing is an illustration. Because the bottom five lines belong together. You can see this from the slightly larger spacing and slightly different typography. Then everything makes sense.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
espelt Posted March 7 Share #10 Posted March 7 The laudation above was by Dr. Paul Wolff. Today he would probably be an influencer. That didn't exist in 1925. But he was the first to be given the new camera by Leitz. And from that point on he worked with it more and more professionally. 10 years later he published his experiences in the book "My Experiences with the Leica". The earliest photo from 1925 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/419591-happy-birthday-100-years-of-leica-i/?do=findComment&comment=5768543'>More sharing options...
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