Leica
Leica (Leica Camera AG) is a camera manufacturer headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany, known for cameras, lenses, and sport optics. The company grew out of an optical workshop that Ernst Leitz took over in 1869 as the Ernst Leitz Werke. Oskar Barnack began developing the prototype known as the Ur-Leica in 1914; the production version, the Leica I, launched at the 1925 Leipzig Spring Fair. The name “Leica” combines the first three letters of Leitz with the first two of camera. The company’s headquarters have been at the Leitz Park campus in Wetzlar since 2014.
Camera lines and phone imaging partnerships
- Camera lines: The M system is Leica’s longest-established camera line, running from the 1954 M3 to today. The Q series, introduced in 2015, comprises full-frame fixed-lens compact cameras; the SL system, also from 2015, offers professional full-frame mirrorless bodies on the L-Mount, shared with Panasonic, Sigma, DJI, and others. The portfolio also includes sport optics (binoculars, rangefinders), projectors, and watches.
- Phone imaging partnerships: Leica’s licensed collaborations with phone makers include Panasonic since 2001 (Leica-branded lenses on some Lumix models and the D-Lux compacts), Huawei from 2015 — starting with the P9’s dual-camera system — through the P50 series in 2021, and, since 2022, Xiaomi, starting with the Xiaomi 12S series.
Current models and accessories should be read from the Leica website.
Discussion in the show
In Weekly #004’s chapter “Agent 基建与硬件需求” (Agent infrastructure and hardware demand), while discussing flagship phone prices, Guizang says: “小米去年那个 17 Ultra 那个徕卡，那上面扣了四个巨大摄像头那个，那个只卖八千还是起步七千多，然后今年发的 18 Pro Max 那个还不是 Ultra” — last year’s Xiaomi 17 Ultra with Leica branding and four big cameras, versus this year’s 18 Pro Max — using the co-branded models to compare flagship pricing. This is a host’s account of the phone market at recording time; the specific models and prices belong to the hosts’ discussion. The chapter is in the Chinese transcript.
Frequently asked questions
What country is Leica from?
Leica is a German brand. Leica Camera AG is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany, where its products are designed and made, and the company is best known for its 35mm camera tradition.
Where does the name Leica come from?
Leica combines the first three letters of Ernst Leitz’s surname (Lei) with the first two letters of camera (ca), used since the first production Leica camera, the Leica I, launched in 1925.
Where is Leica’s official website?
The official website is leica-camera.com, with entry points to cameras, lenses, sport optics, and the official store.
What is the “Leica” on Xiaomi and Huawei phones?
That is Leica’s imaging partnership with phone makers. Huawei carried the Leica imaging brand from the 2015 P9 through the 2021 P50 series; Xiaomi has used Leica optics and tuning since announcing the partnership in 2022, starting with the Xiaomi 12S series. These are licensed co-branded phones, a different thing from Leica’s own camera lines.