There are certain brands that seem to develop a cult following in their respective fields. Whether it’s the result of the quality that they embody, their historical pedigree, the allure which surrounds them or simply hype, it’s sometimes difficult to understand exactly why. Names that come to mind are Ferrari with cars, Rolex with watches and, arguably, Leica within the world of cameras.

The history of the company dates back to 1849, when it first began producing microscopes. Under the leadership of one Ernst Leitz, the manufacturer carried out research and development that ultimately shaped how we take photographs today, introducing the lightweight 35mm film camera to the world. During its history, the company has always appeared to have preferred a slow, steady evolution, similar to Rolex, rather than rapid change. In fact, much of Leica’s offering today is not a million miles away from where it was seventy odd years ago. Just like you can hold a Rolex GMT 6542 from 1955 and see the lineage in today’s model, you can do the same with a Leica M3.

 

Not much has changed to the M3 since its launch nearly 70 years ago.

 

As with any brand that has developed something of a cult following, especially in the passion-led world of cameras, enthusiasts’ feelings about Leica can be quite mixed. Some swear by their cameras above all else, whilst others think that their status is exaggerated, heavily based on slick design and a healthy dose of hype. In any case, the brand power the company possesses is certainly interesting, in and as of itself. Given the obvious overlap between the world of watches and cameras, we thought we would dig a little deeper. Mechanics, design, utility and, to a large extent, emotion, all come into play.

This is not an endorsement of Leica, nor do we have any commercial relationship with the brand, of any kind. Rather, this is a simple exploration of a company that seems to possess a reputation and following, similar to Rolex in our world of watches. Even the mixed feelings and heated discussion which surround their cameras, add to the intrigue. Bearing this in mind, we thought we’d turn our lens on Leica, and see how it all came to be.

 

From mi