In 2004, Leica Camera AG marked the 125th birthday of Oskar Barnack (1879–1936) by releasing a fully functional replica of the historic 'Prototype 2' – Barnack's first serially produced 35 mm camera, originally manufactured in a small production run in 1923/24. Photography enthusiasts who were able to try out or purchase one of the limited edition models (priced at 2,500 euros) were amazed by the unfamiliar operation of the true-to-detail replica, which was certainly a long way from any 'point and shoot' experience. The camera's lens, a Leitz Anastigmat 50 mm f/3.5, had been reconstructed using the latest technology.
This concludes our series celebrating
100 Years of Leica Photography. We hope to have provided you with a brief but informative overview of Leica's most important products over the past century. If you would like more in-depth information, please visit the
LFI-Shop to order your printed copy of the Special Edition LFI
100 Years of Leica.