UR-LEICA

Leica Ur - the first, fully functional prototype of a revolutionary new still picture camera for 35mm perforated film - was the brainchild of Oskar Barnack, who joined Leitz in 1911 as the Director of Research.

The camera had a full metal body, a collapsible lens and a focal plane shutter, which, at the time, had no overlapping curtains. A cap, fixed to the lens by a screw, was swung across the lens when winding on the film to prevent light getting in. The Ur-Leica was the first camera to feature coupled film winding and shutter cocking – thus preventing double exposures.

Fun Fact:

Oskar Barnack initially built a small device intended to test small batches of movie film. In 1914, however, it became apparent that what he had actually created was a miniature still camera, known today as the Ur-Leica.

LEICA I

"My decision is final, we will take the risk." - Ernst Leitz II

Barnack modified that first prototype Ur-Leica after the World War and persuaded Ernst Leitz, head of the company, to build a batch of cameras to test the market. Reactions were skeptical but Ernst Leitz took the risk. Leica I was born and introduced to the market at the 1925 spring fair in Leipzig.

Fun Fact:

The Leica I Mod. A Luxus was produced in the 1930s with only 95 units. It was auctioned for a price of 264,000 Euros.

LEICA M3
The Beginning of the New Era (1954 – 1966)

In 1954, the Leica M3 was introduced, paving the road of the legendary M system. The M3 introduced new features which included a combination of viewfinder and rangefinder in one bright window, a bayonet lens mount, and rapid film advance lever. Many considered it as one of the finest cameras that Leica has ever produced. It was also popular among 50mm shooters because of its high-magnification feature (90x viewfinder). The frame-lines available are 50mm, 90mm and 135mm, with automatic parallax correction.

Fun Fact:

The Leica M3 Black Paint was recently sold for 150,000 Euro on 9th October 2021.

This iconic image of the California Kiss was taken with the M3 by Elliot Erwitt.

Elliot Erwitt. The American photographer is often considered a master of style. His photography is best known for the candor and humor that shines through his black-and-white pictures.

LEICA M3
The Beginning of the New Era (1954 – 1966)

In 1954, the Leica M3 was introduced, paving the road of the legendary M system. The M3 introduced new features which included a combination of viewfinder and rangefinder in one bright window, a bayonet lens mount, and rapid film advance lever. Many considered it as one of the finest cameras that Leica has ever produced. It was also popular among 50mm shooters because of its high-magnification feature (90x viewfinder). The frame-lines available are 50mm, 90mm and 135mm, with automatic parallax correction.

Fun Fact:

The Leica M3 Black Paint was recently sold for 150,000 Euro on 9th October 2021.

This iconic image of the California Kiss was taken with the M3 by Elliot Erwitt.

Elliot Erwitt. The American photographer is often considered a master of style. His photography is best known for the candor and humor that shines through his black-and-white pictures.

LEICA M2 (1957 – 1968)

The Leica M2 is considered to be the simplified version of M3. Unlike the M3 which automatically resets to zero when the film take-up spool is removed, the frame counter of the M2 was composed of a disk plate beneath the film advance lever that had to be manually reset to zero after reloading.

The M2 also had a rangefinder with a 0.72 magnification and frame-lines for 35mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses. This made it better suited for photojournalists who favour shorter lenses or for spectacle-wearers who used a 50mm lens and found it difficult to see the frame-lines on the M3.

The photo that ended the Vietnam War - Napalm Girl (1972). Shot with the M2. Nick Ut, photojournalist working for the Associated Press at that time captured the terror of war in Vietnam as napalm bombs were accidentally dropped in civilians quarters. Among those who were hit, a naked girl (9-year-old girl, Phan Thiị Kim Phúc), was running and crying and he saw her skin falling away. The American government saw the horrors of the inflicted area, finally relented, stopping the Vietnam War.

Credit: Nick Ut

Muhammad Ali Showing off his Right Fist (1966) Credit: Thomas Hoepker

The Legends of The World Deserves Witnesses - Muhammad Ali

In 1966, Thomas Hoepker captured one of the most iconic photographs in sports history with the Leica MP. “With this shot, he saw me during a little break between rounds in training, and he came out of the ring towards me, sticking his fist out into my camera – right fist, left fist, right fist, and then the bell rang to take him back."

LEICA M4 (1967 – 1975)

The camera that almost ended the history of M

In 1967 Leitz introduced the Leica M4, one of the highest examples of mechanical perfection ever achieved in cameras, that at the same time could have sadly been the last camera of the glorious M history.

M4 added 1 extra frame-line to the viewfinder, which now covers the 35mm/135mm, 50mm and 90mm frame-lines while still at 0.72 magnification. Winder, self-timer, preview lever and film rewind became the modern design. Additionally, M4 utilizes a new film loading system, which no longer requires a separate take-up spool.

In 1975, Leica Germany stopped the production of the Leica M camera. And in 1976, Walter Kluck, head of Leitz Canada took the rights to reproduce only if they could get 4000 pieces per year. Kluck created the M4-2 and had nearly 9,000 orders. The Leica M was saved.

One Step Closer To The Moon:

Leica was one step closer to the moon.

NASA initially chose the Leica M4 as the camera to be used on their lunar missions due to its weight. Of all the systems for the Apollo missions, one could never be tested because of the low gravity of the moon. To gain as much of a weight advantage as possible, NASA did everything they could to save as weight. Yet, the Leica almost made it to the moon, if not for the weight that grounded the camera to earth.

LEICA M6 (1984 – 2002)

Leica M6 laid the foundation of Leica and still is the most popular and longest production camera for 18 years.

The Leica M6 was launched in 1984. It combines the silhouette of the Leica M3 and Leica M4 with a modern, off-the-shutter light meter and a more modern implementation. The meter from the M6 was microprocessor controlled and allows for TTL flash metering.

The stark juxtaposition of the surreal moment from September 11, 2001, the day the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Centers were attacked and the casual pose of the people in the photo became a controversial picture caught by Thomas Hoepker, 45 years after snapping his iconic photo of Muhammad Ali.

Credit: Thomas Hoepker

LEICA M8 (2006 – 2009)

M8 is Leica first foray into digital in 2006. It uses an APS-H 10.3-megapixel CCD sensor.

Although M8 body is slightly thicker than the previous versions of M camera, it laid down the basic pattern for the cameras that came after it, while remaining true to its film roots. The M8 has the fastest shutter speed of 1/8000, It also has a “discreet” mode, and the camera will not re-cock the shutter until your finger has lifted off the shutter release - this does help in quiet situations!

LEICA M9 (2009 – 2012)

The M9 was Leica's first 'full-frame' digital rangefinder, enabling the use of most Leica 'M' series lenses at the originally intended field-of-view. It retains the classic M series look and build quality while promising a no-compromise approach. There were 2 other variant of M9, namely M9-P and M Monochrom.