Through Mercedes-Benz news channels, we have word of "100 Years of Leica at the Dr. Carl Benz Museum" (in German). The Auto Museum Dr. Carl Benz in Ladenburg, Germany will be featuring a special exhibition on the occasion of the Leica centennial. From May 1, 2014 you can see 50 different Leica cameras and accessories from all epochs of production, including the very special Leica I.
Translation into English (via Google):
In times of digital photography, it is hard to imagine how difficult it once was to capture "moments for eternity." Large wooden crates from which loomed forward a brass lens, a gentleman in a dark suit, over his head and over the camera a wide black cloth had to protect from light, more reminiscent of a horror chamber. Those who wanted to be photographed, had mostly go to a photo studio where the ceremony of photographing often took hours.
Thus, the glass plates could be exposed sufficiently in the timber camera, people had to stand still for a few seconds until the lock on the lens could be closed again. Snapshots and spontaneous photography of sudden events were not possible.
The age of photographic recordings began in 1839, when the French Academy of Sciences announced that it is the scientist Louis Daguerre succeeded in lasting images with a Camera - Obscura produce. At the same time, this invention for use in the whole world is released.
Carl Benz This could already build as a student in the 60s of last century, a camera obscura. Our own darkroom enabled him even to develop the exposed glass plates and create deductions for people he had photographed. From his passion for photography even a small help finance his studies developed.
A certain Oskar Barnack was an avid amateur photographer at this time. His heavy wooden camera he carried on mountains and in valleys. Barnack was a slight man and the innate asthma made it not easy for him to convey the photographic equipment, and so, in his desire for a small camera. Oskar Barnack had long been professionally connected with the optics. As head of development for microscopes at Leitz in Wetzlar, all options available to him to realize his dream of a lightweight camera. Already in 1914 he had his first miniature camera ready. He used for the then-common material for movies. Therefore, the image sections got the size 24 x 36 mm. For insertion into the camera, the film material was wound on small film cartridges.
Oskar Barnack had his dream camera and was finally able to photograph, anywhere and in any situation sudden. However, it would take 10 years to the technique of miniature camera was perfected to the extent that one could they also offer the customers.
A name for the new sales product was found quickly. From the company name and Leitz camera, Leica.Die official launch of the Leica was carried out in 1925.Fotografen from around the world photographed soon only with her Leica and even today is considered a Leica as Mercedes Benz amongst the cameras. Lots of illustrations of vintage cars and many scenes from the early motorsport would have been without the Leica not possible. The Auto Museum Dr. Carl Benz takes the to devote a special exhibition on the occasion of the Leica. From 1 May to 50 Leica cameras are shown with accessories from all epochs of production. Here, the famous Leica is I.