Leica M System The fascination of the moment Rely on your own view of things. Nowadays, we take photographs all the time, everywhere and of everything. Photography seems to be child's play. But the essence of true photography has not really changed at all since the 35mm camera was invented: using light to capture an image of the world ­ a totally personal, individual look at life and time. In 1925, the family company Leitz presented the first successful 35mm camera to the world. Since then, the name Leica (Leitz Camera) has stood for uncompromising optical and mechanical quality and an exceptional photographic concept. Since 1954, the Leica M system has continued this tradition with its rangefinder cameras and lenses. It allows photographers to create their own images. The camera is intended to be a perfect tool for them to find and capture images, nothing more and nothing less. To some people, this might seem like an antiquated attitude. But anyone who consciously sees and photographs the world will appreciate the creative freedom that the Leica M allows them. In an age that is marked by a stunning flood of lessor quality images, it is a valuable experience to discover your own creative power as a Leica photographer. By concentrating on what is essential and ensuring intuitive operation, this is much easier than you might think. 3 14 17 21 25 28 32 36 37 39 40 The Leica M system LEICA MP Lise Sarfati uses a LEICA MP Jeff Mermelstein uses a LEICA M7 LEICA M7 Leica a la carte Accessories Technical data ­ LEICA MP Technical data ­ LEICA M7 Leica M Entry set Leica M lenses 2/3 The essential of what a good photographer needs. The Leica M system is a masterpiece of the art of reduction. Since the very first model, every development in the mechanical and optical systems has been consistently focused on concentrating on the truly crucial functions. This philosophy is what makes the Leica M the ideal tool for photographers who do not want their work to be governed by every conceivable automatic function and feature, but want to exercise their own creativity. Everything that has been developed and enhanced during the evolution of the Leica M system meets a photographer's genuine needs. At Leica, innovations are not an end in themselves ­ they are always the result of numerous questions, requests and meetings between photographers and Leica engineers. This principle of concentrating on what is essential has made the Leica M into a unique, modern cult object, which is still developing today. Timeless A Leica combines the legendary virtues of German engineering expertise with the results of consistent development that respects the creativity of the photographer. This enables us to create cameras and lenses that inspire you to take photographs ­ without making any concessions to current trends and fads. Conscious Leica cameras were the basis for the global success of 35 mm photography and documented the most significant events of the 20th Century. Geared towards the crucial photographic parameters, with a compact form and a clean and clear design, they give the photographer focused technology for focused pictures. 4/5 Feel the peace of the camera. How would you explain snow to a person who had never seen winter? He would not be able to really feel and understand it until actual snowflakes fell into his hand. Likewise, you cannot really appreciate how it feels to take photographs with a Leica until you pick one up and use it. The photographer can see the subject in the viewfinder, even during the exposure. And he can keep an eye on what is happening in the immediate vicinity outside of the viewfinder frame. A further advantage of the rangefinder is its reliable focusing, regardless of the photographer's vision. With no mirror to audibly flip up before exposure, the Leica M is extremely quiet and almost free of vibration. Everyone who uses a Leica for the first time is amazed by the gentle way it takes photographs. Pictures can easily be taken handheld at significantly slower shutter speeds than with other cameras. Reliability The Leica M rangefinder system is an optical masterpiece. Unlike reflex systems, focusing is independent of the focal length, making it many times more accurate for short focal lengths. Even in extremely poor lighting conditions, it can be focused quickly, precisely and totally accurately. In addition, the focusing point is easier to find and the viewfinder image always has the same brightness as the surroundings, because the light does not have to be diverted through the lens. Quiet The fine sound of the almost silent cloth focal plane shutter that the Leica emits when the shutter is released will not even be enough to disturb a pianist playing softly and will not betray the presence of a photographer witnessing events in sensitive situations. 6/7 The ideal companion: discreet, natural and engaging. Good portrait photographs are rare because, even in our visual age, photography makes many people self-conscious. The Leica M does not cover the photographer's face when taking the picture, allowing him to maintain eye contact with the subject of the portrait and making it easier to achieve a natural and relaxed result. The Leica M's discreet exterior is appreciated by professional photographers working in crisis-ridden regions, because they are hardly ever perceived as photojournalists. The intelligent design of the camera, the extremely short shutter release delay and the almost total lack of noise allow photographs to be taken at very close range, almost unnoticed, right at the heart of events. Compact With a width of just 138 mm, the Leica M has a distinctly unobtrusive appearance. On the move, it is quickly to hand and compact even with all its accessories. Even with additional lenses, it fits into almost any bag, making it a constant companion. Independence Choosing a Leica M instead of the convenience of an autofocus model, for example, is a deliberate decision to take your own route to the final picture. 8/9 Very few things last a lifetime. The Leica M often lasts longer. From the very beginning, the Leica concept has included supporting pioneering activities, like the circumnavigation of the globe by the Graf Zeppelin airship, bringing back unique images. The durability, reliability and robustness of the camera have always taken priority in the development of the Leica. The best materials coupled with reliable precision mechanics and painstaking production guarantee brilliant pictures, even on glaciers, on top of Kilimanjaro or in the Sahara. The Leica M has demonstrated its reliability in everyday use for decades. The incomparable quality of the Leica M is the result of science and experience, realized in our high-tech laboratory and manufacturing facilities. Down to the minutest detail, our cameras and lenses meet the highest demands of passionate photographers. Of course, this means that the Leica M comes at a price. But for everyone who uses it to look at life, it is worth so much more. Perfection Production of the Leica was based on the extreme precision that had been demanded at the Ernst Leitz optical works for scientific microscopes since 1849. The inventor of the Leica, Oskar Barnack, had the reputation in the factory of being able to perceive tolerances of 1/1000 mm. Even today, no lens or camera leaves the Leica factory without having first been subjected to rigorous testing at all the crucial stages of production. Enduring Products that can still be maintained after several decades are a genuine luxury these days. Every piece of Leica equipment comes with decades-long repair assurance. Leica's service department still maintains and repairs all M series cameras that have ever been produced. Their experience and expertise allow them to offer the customer excellent service. 10 / 11 A Leica M gets younger as the years go by. In the 1950s, the engineers from Leitz in Wetzlar proved their foresightedness by creating a new standard with the Leica M bayonet. Remaining faithful to this standard has guaranteed compatibility over the decades. At the same time, state of the art technology has been incorporated into the design. This is most noticeable on the new Leica M lenses that continue to set new performance standards with aspherical technology and, more recently, a floating element. The cameras themselves have also developed. For example, the brightness and reliability of the viewfinder have been enhanced with features to prevent flare. Improvements are constantly being made to design and production methods. Leica is always looking to the future without forgetting its unique history. Compatibility Since the launch of the standard bayonet for the Leica M3 in 1954, almost all Leica M lenses fit on the successive new generations of Leica M cameras. Expansion Anyone who starts using a Leica camera will constantly learn new things and will want to be able to do even more. New highspeed lenses and practical accessories are continually expanding the creative freedom available to Leica photographers. 12 / 13 The world's best lenses are designed simply ­ with a lot of thought and craftsmanship. It was the lenses that established the legend of the Leica brand. Their unsurpassed performance is all down to one basic principle: the Leica engineers always put a great deal of work and ingenuity into finding a clear, straightforward solution. This often involves just a few lens elements, placing as few obstructions as possible in the way of the light. This natural design, made with high quality types of glass and perfectly manufactured, is the basis for images of unmistakeable character. As well as outstanding sharpness, contrast and resolution, these images always feature incredible structure, richness and natural expression. There is also the pleasure of a Leica lens' zero lens flare and silky smooth focusing. To assure this quality, each lens is individually manufactured by the experienced hands of our master craftsmen in optics and precision mechanics. In contrast to industrial mass production, every single Leica lens meets the highest quality standards, which the photographer can always rely on. Natural Achieving vital and true to life pictures of people ­ that was the idea for which Osckar Barnack developed his Leica 35 mm camera back in 1914. Since then, photographers such as Gisèle Freund, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and Sebastiao Salgado have used their Leicas to capture impressive images of our age for posterity. High contrast The optical superiority of Leica lenses is demonstrated by their ability to capture magic moments sharply and at high contrast without additional lighting (available light), even at twilight or indoors. LEICA MP ­ The Tool Maximum reduction Known as the MP, this Leica rangefinder is one of our photojournalistic' cameras, specially tailored to the requirements of professional photographers. Reduced to what is absolute necessary, it is intuitively operated and leaves all decisions and settings up to the photographer. It is the mechanical alternative to the LEICA M7, which provides increased convenience and more functions with its electronically controlled shutter and automatic exposure mode. 14 / 15 Classic mechanics The LEICA MP is the essence of precision mechanics and its development and production are the result of more than 50 years of experience. The MP is the epitome of a mechanical rangefinder camera. This masterpiece provides a memorable photographic experience from the moment you pick it up. Always ready to use The LEICA MP has such an uncompromising design that you can always depend on it. It relies on the photographer's ability, not on batteries. They are only needed for exposure metering. Anyone who wants to estimate the shutter speed and aperture themselves can do without electronic features altogether. The sturdy body stands up to any kind of use. All the controls are completely metal. The extending rewind knob is extremely handy and impact resistant. Lise Sarfati Lise Sarfati, born in 1958, lives in Paris. She graduated from the Sorbonne in Slavonic Studies, specialising in Russia. The subject of her thesis was "Photography of the 1920s". In 1986, she was appointed in-house photographer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris. In 1989, she travelled to Russia on a scholarship from the Paris Ministry of Culture and the Villa Medicis Hors Les Murs. Until 1998, she worked almost exclusively in Russia. Her work from that period appeared in her first monograph, entitled "Acta Est", based on the Latin phrase "Acta Est Fabula" (The game is up). In her pictures, Sarfarti brought to life the modern era in Russia ­ with her familiar, almost intimate look at society and individual people. Since 2003, she has been taking portraits of young Americans who have chosen to live in isolation. This project has taken her to Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, California and Oregon. The ...