The history of the Leica lenses and cameras begins in Germany in 1914 and continues on through today. The compact camera style brought photography into a whole new era because of its portability and ease of use. Over the years, the Leica lens, like the Leica camera company, has transformed and become a much more intricate business. Today, there are a large array of lenses and cameras available to the general public throughout the world.
History
The first type of LEICA camera, the Ur-Leica, was invented by Oskar Barnack around 1914 while he was working for Leitz Camera in Germany. The later version Leica A camera, which came with a built-in collapsible lens, was brought into public use in 1925 (the prototype appeared in 1923) and revolutionized the way photographs were taken because of its portability. Its name comes from a combination of the words "Leitz" and "Camera."
Geography
Leitz Camera got its start in Wetzlar, Germany. It changed its name to Leica in 1986 and moved the company to Solms, Germany. A decade later, the company split into several different entities, and Leica Camera became a publicly traded company, separate from the Leica Group. Leica lenses can now be purchased worldwide.
Function
The Leica Lens has been used for portable photography since 1925. Their compact design allowed them to be easily carried to various sites, making photography a much quicker process. Current lenses come in many different styles, and their functions depend on the capabilities of the individual lens.
Original Types
The Leica A was introduced in 1925, followed by the Leica II in 1932, which featured a rangefinder, and then the Leica III in 1933, which saw the introduction of slow shutter speeds down to one second. The Leica III was the last of the Leica cameras produced under the full direction of Oskar Barnack before his death.
Styles
Leica cameras and lenses now come in various styles, such as point and shoot, the M series, R series and S series styles. The M series appeared around 1954 and includes the M3, the MP (the pro style of the M3), the M2 (a less expensive version of the M3) and many other types. The R series includes the SLR style cameras, and the S series encompasses the DSLR style cameras. Leica style lenses come with various types of millimeter ranges and f stops, and are found under names like "Summilux," "Elmarit," "Summicron" and "Noctilux."
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