Leica has undergone several improvements. 1923, Banach persuaded his boss Ernst Lai Ci II to make a prototype series of 3 1. Leica I (Leica I) was successfully launched at the German Expo in Leipzig on 1925. The Elma 50 mm f/3.5 lens used was designed by Dr. Max Baerecke, and its four-piece and four-group design was influenced by Zeiss Tiansai lens. The focal plane shutter speed can be adjusted from 1/20 seconds to 1/500 seconds, and there is also a Z stage (long shutter, Z is Zeit, which means time in German).
1930, Leica I screw version 39mm thread interchangeable lens system was released. In addition to the 50mm standard lens, there are 35mm wide-angle lens and 135mm telephoto lens to choose from. 1932 released Leica II with a rangefinder that can be coupled with the lens focusing system. This model is equipped with a separate viewfinder and rangefinder.
The appearance of Leica III reduced the lower limit of shutter speed to 1 sec, while IIIa increased the upper limit to11000 sec. Leica IIIa is the last model made by Banach before his death. Until 1957, Lai Ci has been improving the design of this model, and its final version IIIg includes a large viewfinder with several border lines.
1954, Lai Ci released M3 (Leica M3, a model with bayonet lens. In this model, the previously separated rangefinder and viewfinder are combined into one, and there is a brighter double image in the middle of the large and bright viewfinder for focusing, and a parallax compensation system is introduced. In addition, this model also uses a reliable rubber traction focal plane shutter. This series is also constantly improving. The final version is M7 and MP. When loading different lenses, different images will be displayed according to different focal lengths (such as 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, 135 mm). Many companies have designed and manufactured their own camera models based on Leica's rangefinder, including Japan's Leotax and early Canon. Some models of FED, Zorki, Kardon, Foca, Reid and Shanghai 58-II in the former Soviet Union.
Since 1964, Leica has produced a series of SLR cameras. The original model was Leicaflex, followed by Leicaflex SL, Leicaflex SL2 and R series R3 to R7 in cooperation with Minolta. Leica R8 (Leica R8) is completely designed and produced by Leica itself. The front model is Leica R9 (Leica R9), which can be used with the rear digital module. In 2009, Leica announced that R series film SLR cameras and lenses were completely discontinued.
The Leica Visoflex system, which combines Leica's SLR lens with the paraxial fuselage series, uses a lens box to load the lenses used in the paraxial system (with versions corresponding to screws and bayonet), and can also load the special lenses corresponding to the system. The system focuses on the frosted glass screen instead of the rangefinder on the camera, and a system connecting the mirror and shutter completes the exposure of the film. Unlike the camera's rangefinder, this mirror box can make the telephoto lens easier to focus.
Leica has many optical innovations in history, such as aspherical lens, multilayer coated lens and rare earth lens. Leica lenses are considered to provide excellent performance at the maximum aperture, making them suitable for shooting in natural light.
Leica's cameras, lenses, accessories and sales materials are all collectibles. There are dozens of Leica books and collection guides here, including the famous three-volume Leica and an illustrated history written by James L. Lager. Early or rare cameras and accessories have very high prices in the market.
1986, due to the popularity of Leica brand, Lai Ci Company changed its name to Leica. During the same period, Leica's factory moved from Vezlar to nearby Solms. From 65438 to 0996, Leica Camera Company was separated from Leica Group and became a listed company. 1998, Leica Group was split into two independent companies: Leica Microsystems Co., Ltd. and Leica Geographic Systems Co., Ltd.
20111October 2 1 Blackstone group, a private equity fund, will spend about 65,438+300 million euros (about 139 1 100 million Hong Kong dollars) to acquire 44% of Leica Camera AG in Germany.