Leica History

1849

"Optical Institute" established in Weltzar for the development of lenses and microscopes.

1869

Ernst Leitz becomes manager and expands company under his name.

1924

Ernst Leitz II decides to introduce a 35 mm camera designed by Oskar Barnack.

1925

Leica camera introduced.

1952

Midland, Ontario manufacturing plant constructed.

1954

M3 Introduced

1957

M2 Introduced with a new rangefinder design enabling field view of 35mm lens.

1966

M4 Introduced with rapid film advance. It has 4 frames for 35mm, 50mm, 90mm, and 135mm lenses.

1971

M5 Introduced with TTL metering in a larger body.

1977

M4-2. Old body dimenssions, cost reduced by elimination of self timer, redesigned finder, hot shoe and improved flash synchronization. Some gears changed from brass to allow motorwinder. Canadian manufactured. Best buy because bodies are not popular with collectors.

1980

M4-P. Added 28mm and 75mm frames.

1984

M6 Introduced.

1986

Portugal plant constructed.

1990

Merger of Wild Leitz Holding AG with the Cambridge Instrument Company.(including Zeiss-Ikon).

1996

Takes over Minox and becomes a public company.

Last modified: Tue, 26-Jun-01 22:21:42 PDT