Leica Camera

Leica Camera AG () is a German manufacturer of cameras, optical lenses, photographic lenses, binoculars, and rifle scopes. The company is also active in the field of spectacle lenses, mechanical watches, smartphones and accessories, as well as in the manufacture of projectors for home cinemas. Leica developed the first 35mm cameras and later expanded into digital photography. The company's origins date back to 1869, when Ernst Leitz took over the Optical Institute founded by Carl Kellner in 1849. Leica has existed in its current form since 1986, after its photography activities were consolidated into Leica GmbH. The name Leica is derived from the first three letters of the founder's surname (Leitz) and the first two of the word camera: lei-ca (LEItz CAmera). Leica Camera AG is 55% owned by Austrian investment firm ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH and 45% owned by The Blackstone Group which licenses the Leica brand name from the Danaher Corporation-owned Leica Microsystems GmbH. The company promotes photographic culture. This includes around 30 Leica galleries, the Leica Academies and international awards such as the Leica Hall of Fame Award and the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA). In addition to its headquarters in Wetzlar (Germany), Leica operates another production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão (Portugal). Leica maintains a global distribution network with around 120 Leica stores and employs approximately 2,300 people worldwide. Turnover amounted to €596 million in 2024/25. Leica has also expanded its influence through collaborations with Panasonic, providing optical designs for Lumix cameras, and with Huawei, Xiaomi, contributing camera technology to the brands' smartphones. The company maintains a strong presence in the luxury photography market, offering limited-edition models in partnership with brands such as Hermès and Zagato.