Editing Leica Camera (section)

== Cameras ==
{{main|List of Leica Camera models}}

The earliest Leica prototypes were developed by the company [[Ernst Leitz GmbH]] during the first years of the 20th century, but marketing did not commence until the mid-1920s. The Leicas were innovative, by orienting the image frame sideways for the 35&nbsp;mm film as opposed to the cine-camera tradition of across the film strip. The cameras were compact with collapsible lenses, for hiking and biking. The rangefinder feature was added to the Leica II in 1932, and that year both rangefinder and viewfinder cameras became available with interchangeable lenses. In 1933 the Leica III offered slow-speed shutter controls and a fast 1/1000 s shutter speed, and various iterations of the III (a,b,c,d,f,&g) series became the flagship models and best sellers into the late 1950s. Further iterations of models I and II were offered but did not sell well.

Prior to [[WWII]], Leica and competing [[Contax]] cameras from [[Zeiss Ikon]] were considered to be the finest 35&nbsp;mm cameras, but post-WWII the companies had competition from Soviet and Japanese copies. During the 1950s Japanese quality and innovation, along with low pricing, devastated the European camera industry. Leica became an expensive type of camera bought largely by professional or serious photographers. However, the advent of reflex camera technology made rangefinders somewhat obsolete, leaving Leica the main product of a diminishing market segment. Leica has remained a notable tradename into the 21st Century.

The original producer of the cameras, [[Ernst Leitz GmbH]], is now three independent companies: Leica Camera AG, [[Leica Geosystems]] AG, and [[Leica Microsystems]] GmbH, which manufacture cameras, geo survey equipment, and [[microscope]]s, respectively. Leica Microsystems GmbH owns the Leica brand and licenses its use to the other two companies. {{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}