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If you are wondering where Leica Rangefinders are made.
Keep reading the article.
Where Are Leica Rangefinders Made?
Leica Camera AG is a German company in the optical industry headquartered in Wetzlar and has offices in Portugal.
Leica
Leica is not only a leader in the fields of cameras and binoculars but also in the fields of prisms and spotters. It has produced some of the most powerful binoculars and spotters in the industry.
Leica has been producing top-of-the-line binocular lenses with an integrated rangefinder for more than two decades.
History
1800’s
The Optical Institute was established in Wetzlar in 1849 by Carl Kellner. Ernst Leitz began building his optical factory in 1869. Initially, they produced microscopes.
Today, Leica is best known for its camera products, but it has expanded into other fields as well.
1920’s
His son Ernst Leitz II became the manager of the company in 1920, and in 1924 he decided to produce a 35mm camera. Despite the economic difficulties at the moment, he chose to go ahead with the project.
The camera was based upon a design by Oskar Barnack, who worked at Ernst Leitz. It was an instant hit and became one of the most successful cameras ever made.
Second World War
Ernst Leitz GmbH escaped damage during the Second World War and production was resumed immediately after the end of the war.
After the regional reorganization in Hesse, it became known as Ernst Leitz Wetzlarer Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (Ernst Leitz Wetzlar Works Company Limited), as it feared that people would confuse it with the town of Wetzlar if its name were changed to Wetzlar.
1880’s
The company was split up into three separate entities in 1886.
- Leica Camera AG
- Leica Microsystems GmbH
- Leica Geosystems AG
Leica Camera AG then relocated from Wetzlar to its current location in Solms.
1990’s
Founded in 1946 by Ernst Leitz GmbH, Leica Camera AG has become a publically traded corporation since 1996.
2000’s
At the beginning of 2005, Leica Camera AG was facing an uncertain financial future.
On November 6, 2006, the Swiss watchmaker Hermès sold its shares in Leica Camera AG to Salzburgische Hausbauanstalt (Salzburger Holding) for €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion).
At the end of 2007, ACM announced that they were taking over Leica Cameras completely and that Leica Camera AG would no longer be listed on the stock market.
2010’s
On February 14th, 2014, Leica moved its headquarters from Solms to Wetzlar. It was then that they opened their new building called “Leitz Park” in Wetzlar.
Where Are Leica Rangefinders Made?
Things That Make Leica Rangefinders Different from Other Digital Cameras
No DOF Preview in the Viewfinder
Because the viewÂfinder is just a small piece of glass pointing in one direction, it doesn’t actually see what the camera sees.
If you’re shooting with a fast lens, the shallow depth of field won’t be visible in the viewfinder but will appear in the photos after you’ve taken them.
Viewfinder Frame Lines
Another effect of the camera being decoupled from its lenses is that the image in your viewfinder is always at a fixed focal distance of 24 millimeters.
When composing an image, you need to focus on the frame lines inside the camera’s viewfinder. If you use a longer focal length, the frame lines will be smaller.
Rangefinder Focusing
On Leica rangefinder cameras, the focus mechanism is different from most other digital cameras. It has its own small rectangular window which takes in light from a slightly different angle than the viewÂfinder.
You must first adjust the focusing rings so that the small rectangle appears in the middle of the viewfinder. Then, when you see the small rectangle line up perfectly with the rest, you know you’ve got a perfect focus on whatever’s in the middle of your frame.
Minimal Menu
Simplification and minimalism permeate the Leica experience. The menus in Leica rangefinders are very simple. On my M8 they are just one single screen of choices, as opposed to dozens of screens found in most other modern cameras (e.g., Canon).
Outstanding Camera Body Design
Leica M8 is probably the most solidly built camera because it is made entirely from solid metals.
Moreover, everything is very tight fit and solid, as well as the feel of every button. Every detail breathes high quality and craftsmanship.
It feels light in your hands even though it’s quite heavy for its small dimensions.
Analog Feel
It has no autofocus, electronic viewing screen, indicators in the viewfinders except for the exposure settings, and an arrow to show whether you’re overexposed or under-exposed.
The Leica M9 has no display by default unless you turn it on. It feels like using an old manual camera, but you get an electronic file instead of a physical print.
As a photographer, your job is to simply adjust the settings (framed, ISO, shutter speeds, aperture, and focus) if the picture doesn’t turn out well, it is your own fault; not the equipment. If you enjoy this feeling, then Leica may be something for you.
No Video
The Leica M8/M9/M10 cameras don’t have any built-in video screens, but the rangefinder models in the M240 series do.
Expensive
A new Leica M10 camera costs around $7,500.
If you’re looking for a high-end camera, even one that’s six years old, you’ll pay at least $1,200.
Those are pricey, but there are some decent cheap alternatives for the Leica M mount, including the ones offered by Voigtländer (among others).
Tiny Lenses
Leica rangefinder lenses tend to be small and light. For instance, my Voigtländer 35mm f/2.0 is smaller than most lenses for other full-format cameras.
Conclusion
It’s hard to deny that Leica products are of superior quality and they’ve tried their best to maintain this image since the very beginning.
Since its inception, photographers and other professionals have recommended Leica cameras for their quality and reliability.
Leica makes cameras and sports optics for all kinds of occasions whether you’re a skilled hunting, bird watching, traveler, or professional photoÂgrapher.
Do you want to buy a Leica rangefinder?
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