Difference between revisions of "Leica"

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== company ==
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'''Leica Camera AG''' is a company which produces cameras, lenses and binoculars. Their headquarters are in Wetzlar, Germany.
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history:
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* 1849: the mathematician Carl Kellner founds a company in Wetzlar which produces microscopes
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* 1855: after Kellner's death his widow leads the company
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* 1865: the precision mechanic Ernst Leitz becomes partner
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* 1869: Ernst Leitz becomes chief of the company
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* 1887: the company produces its 10.000th microscope
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* 1920: after Ernst Leitz's death Ernst Leitz II becomes chief
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* 1924: the company has 1000 employees. Leitz decides to produce the viewfinder camera for 35mm which Oskar Barnack had constructed
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* 1925: The new product, the ''Leica'', is launched at the spring fair (Früjahrsmesse) in Leipzig
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* 1938: foundation of the Leica school, the later Leica Akademie
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* 1945: After WWII used old Leicas are among the top products traded on Germany's postwar black market
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* 1956: after Ernst Leitz II's death his sons Ernst Leitz III, Ludwig Leitz and Günther Leitz lead the company
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* 1986: the camera making activities of the Leitz compay are bundled in the '''Leica GmbH'''
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* 1988: the new factory in Solms opens
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* 1996: Leica buys [[Minox]]. The Leica GmbH becomes the stock market company '''Leica Camera AG'''
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* 2005: Leica Camera AG has lost market shares and starts a rescue plan for economical survival
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== Rangefinders ==
 
== Rangefinders ==
  
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* Leica D = Leica II (first type w/ built-in rangefinder)
 
* Leica D = Leica II (first type w/ built-in rangefinder)
 
* Leica E = Leica Standard = Leica I (improved standardized C)
 
* Leica E = Leica Standard = Leica I (improved standardized C)
* [[Leica F]] = [[Leica III]] (like II but with slow speeds on frontal dial)
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* Leica F = [[Leica III]] (like II but with slow speeds on frontal dial)
* [[Leica G]] = [[Leica IIIa]] (adds 1/1000 speed)
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* Leica G = Leica IIIa (adds 1/1000 speed)
 
* Leica IIIb (rfdr. and viewer windows close together)
 
* Leica IIIb (rfdr. and viewer windows close together)
 
* [[Leica IIIc]] (die cast body, slightly longer)
 
* [[Leica IIIc]] (die cast body, slightly longer)
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* Leica IIf (no slow speed dial, but other improvements like IIIf)
 
* Leica IIf (no slow speed dial, but other improvements like IIIf)
 
* Leica If (has two accessory shoes, die cast body similar to IIf but without rangefinder)
 
* Leica If (has two accessory shoes, die cast body similar to IIf but without rangefinder)
* [[Leica IIIg]] (change in body configuration to facilitate manufacture)
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* Leica IIIg (change in body configuration to facilitate manufacture)
 
* [[Leica 250 Reporter]] (has huge film magazines)
 
* [[Leica 250 Reporter]] (has huge film magazines)
 
* Leica half-frame (version of IIIc, and was built in Canada)
 
* Leica half-frame (version of IIIc, and was built in Canada)
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=== M-mount ===
 
=== M-mount ===
 
* [[Leica CL]] / [[Leica CL|Leitz Minolta CL]]
 
* [[Leica CL]] / [[Leica CL|Leitz Minolta CL]]
* [[Leica M2]]
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* Leica M2
 
* [[Leica M3]]
 
* [[Leica M3]]
* [[Leica M4]]
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* Leica M4
 
* Leica M4-2
 
* Leica M4-2
 
* [[Leica M4-P]]
 
* [[Leica M4-P]]
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== Fixed Lens ==
 
== Fixed Lens ==
* [[Leica Minilux]]
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* Leica Minilux
 
* Leica Minilux Zoom
 
* Leica Minilux Zoom
 
* Leica CM
 
* Leica CM
 
* Leica CM Zoom
 
* Leica CM Zoom
* Leica C11 ([[APS]])
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* [[Leica C11]] (APS)
* Leica C1
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* [[Leica C1]]
 
* Leica C2
 
* Leica C2
 
* Leica C3
 
* Leica C3
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* [[Leica Digilux 1]]
 
* [[Leica Digilux 1]]
 
* Leica D-Lux
 
* Leica D-Lux
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* [[Leica C-Lux 1]]
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==

Revision as of 21:58, 4 June 2006

company

Leica Camera AG is a company which produces cameras, lenses and binoculars. Their headquarters are in Wetzlar, Germany.

history:

  • 1849: the mathematician Carl Kellner founds a company in Wetzlar which produces microscopes
  • 1855: after Kellner's death his widow leads the company
  • 1865: the precision mechanic Ernst Leitz becomes partner
  • 1869: Ernst Leitz becomes chief of the company
  • 1887: the company produces its 10.000th microscope
  • 1920: after Ernst Leitz's death Ernst Leitz II becomes chief
  • 1924: the company has 1000 employees. Leitz decides to produce the viewfinder camera for 35mm which Oskar Barnack had constructed
  • 1925: The new product, the Leica, is launched at the spring fair (Früjahrsmesse) in Leipzig
  • 1938: foundation of the Leica school, the later Leica Akademie
  • 1945: After WWII used old Leicas are among the top products traded on Germany's postwar black market
  • 1956: after Ernst Leitz II's death his sons Ernst Leitz III, Ludwig Leitz and Günther Leitz lead the company
  • 1986: the camera making activities of the Leitz compay are bundled in the Leica GmbH
  • 1988: the new factory in Solms opens
  • 1996: Leica buys Minox. The Leica GmbH becomes the stock market company Leica Camera AG
  • 2005: Leica Camera AG has lost market shares and starts a rescue plan for economical survival

Rangefinders

Screwmount

  • Leica 0, preseries ("null serie")
  • Leica A (fixed lens)
  • Leica B (only model w/ leaf shutter)
  • Leica C non-standardized (requires lens shims)
  • Leica C standardized = Leica I
  • Leica D = Leica II (first type w/ built-in rangefinder)
  • Leica E = Leica Standard = Leica I (improved standardized C)
  • Leica F = Leica III (like II but with slow speeds on frontal dial)
  • Leica G = Leica IIIa (adds 1/1000 speed)
  • Leica IIIb (rfdr. and viewer windows close together)
  • Leica IIIc (die cast body, slightly longer)
  • Leica IIc (die cast body like IIIc, otherwise similar to Leica II)
  • Leica IIIf (postwar improvements, and some have self-timer lever)
  • Leica IIf (no slow speed dial, but other improvements like IIIf)
  • Leica If (has two accessory shoes, die cast body similar to IIf but without rangefinder)
  • Leica IIIg (change in body configuration to facilitate manufacture)
  • Leica 250 Reporter (has huge film magazines)
  • Leica half-frame (version of IIIc, and was built in Canada)
  • Single Exposure Leica

Note: Capital letter model designations were used in Europe; Roman numerals were at first used in USA, and became universal after the Model G (IIIa). There is often confusion between the sub-letters in lower case used on the Roman numeral designations, and the capital letters used in the earlier screwmount models; they do NOT equate! Apparently there were no Models Ie, IIe, or IIIe. Also the III is not the same as the IIIa. There are many minor variations that did not rate a change in designation.

M-mount

Fixed Lens

  • Leica Minilux
  • Leica Minilux Zoom
  • Leica CM
  • Leica CM Zoom
  • Leica C11 (APS)
  • Leica C1
  • Leica C2
  • Leica C3
  • Leica ZX2

SLR

Digital

Links