Some people, even today, cannot pronounce its name correctly. It’s the fault of the German, which confuses the vowels, but the Leica brand (to be said with the A of the diphthong in German) remains an icon among photography brands, a legend which in the imagination of all enthusiasts embodies the idea of
perfect, elegant, collectible object. With costs that are not for everyone, we know, but it is part of the myth that has always accompanied it. The company has two anniversaries to celebrate.
The 70 years of the M system
One concerns the 70 years of the M system, initial of the word Messsucher (with three s, still the Teutonic language), which indicates the combination between the rangefinder and the viewfinder of this unique piece which in seven decades has never lost its ability to seduce us. The first device was the M3, it was 1954 and it changed photography and its history forever. It was born from the need of its inventor, the engineer Oskar Barnak, a passionate photographer who however suffered from asthma, which could not bear the use of the heavy devices of the time. It soon became a legendary object, inspiring armies of photographers and helping to create a very different approach to the image than before: from that moment on it was important to capture the decisive moment, just as Henri Cartier-Bresson said, it was important to experiment and follow one’s instincts when faced with the facts of the world.
Its history is intertwined with that of photography
It conquered the market thanks to three innovations: the introduction of the bayonet mount which allows you to change lenses more easily and quickly, a door on the back to insert the film more easily together with a lever which facilitates sliding, as well as to further refinement of the inserted rangefinder. “I have owned every M series model released – confesses our Gianni Berengo Gardin – It is the camera I work with most often. For me, Leica is not just any camera, but THE camera.” Leica M supported the advent of photojournalism and was the medium for creating images that became icons of the 20th century: from Alberto Korda’s iconic portrait of Che Guevara to Nick Út’s shocking image “Napalm girl”, from Joel’s street photography images Meyerowitz at the "decisive moments" by Elliott Erwitt (Paris, 1928-2023): Matt Stuart (Harrow, 1974), Ralph Gibson (Los Angeles, 1939), Emil Gataullin (Yoshkar-Ola, 1972), Adali Schell (Los Angeles, 2001), Alixandra Fazzina ( London, 1974), Sarah M. Lee (1977), Stephen Dupont (1967, Sydney), Jasper Doest (Vlaardingen, 1979), Matt Draper (New Zealand), Gianni Berengo Gardin (Santa Margherita Ligure, 1930) are just a few names among the most famous photographers who have used the M System. Professionals, artists but also great enthusiasts, among these, from theater to music, from art to design, people like Lenny Kravitz who designed two special editions or the frontman Bono of U2.
A limited analogue edition
This important birthday is the opportunity for the Wezlar company to do what it does very well: celebrate it by marketing a limited production, the Leica M Editio 70, of just 250 examples. A precious edition, plated in platinum, which combines timeless elegance, artisanal design care and the usual extraordinary technology. Consisting of a Leica MA camera, a Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 f/2 ASPH. lens, recognized as one of the best in its category, a Leicavit M quick winder and a film container with film, the Leica M Edition 70 is a perfect investment in the future of analog photography. You understood correctly, it is an analogue film camera for true connoisseurs. Leica M Edition 70 will be available at Leica Stores from the beginning of 2025 at a price of 22,500 euros.
The collectible celebratory book
For this special anniversary, a volume of over 250 pages has also been produced, containing essays, testimonials, legendary photos and rarely released archive material, as well as a compendium commemorating all the M series machines produced to date. A tribute to the complexity and layers in the development of the Leica M System over 70 years, from every point of view. The Leica M volume is available from Leica Store, LFI Online Store and authorized resellers from November 2024.
The 100 years of the brand
Another year, another anniversary: 2025 also marks 100 years since the first release on the market, an exact century that will be celebrated by the global photographic community with cultural events and new products. Leica I was presented at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1925, it was the first mass-produced Leica 35mm camera. With its compact and handy format, it witnessed an era and was a true revolution. The program includes international events organized by Leica branches in major cities such as Dubai, Milan, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo. Additionally, the global network of Leica Galleries will host world-class exhibitions featuring works by exceptional photographers. The highlight of the anniversary year will be reached in June, with the celebrations at the company headquarters in Wetzlar. International guests can expect a packed program of cultural events during the anniversary week. In homage to the region and the German city of Wetzlar, the birthplace of Leica, other local cultural projects are planned in the city.
The anniversary will see the launch of a series of “Special Edition” products celebrating the revolutionary invention of an icon of the century. At the Ernst Leitz Museum, a film about the development of 35mm photography by director Reiner Holzemer will be presented and an exhibition by the famous photographer Sebastião Salgado will be on display.