The buyer’s guide to Leica Cameras
Leica is the most prestigious camera brand in the world and Leica lenses are praised by all the greats. The little red dot, the minimal and stripped design with a big price tag.
Leica cameras are known for their exceptional quality and precision, as well as their unique design and craftsmanship.
Leica SL2-S
The Leica SL2-S is a brand-new mirrorless camera that features a full-frame sensor and exceptional low-light performance. It is an excellent camera for shooting in low-light conditions and for capturing video. This is a dream camera for street photographers.
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Leica M10-R (Black Chrome)
The Leica M10-R is a rangefinder camera that boasts a 40-megapixel full-frame sensor and a slim, compact design. Like the Leica SL2, this camera is for street photographers and documentary photographers. This might be the slickest camera design of any modern camera.
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Leica Q2 - a street photographer’s dream
The camera I would get for street photography
The Leica Q2 is one of the most popular Leica cameras. It’s is a fixed-lens full-frame camera that features a 47-megapixel sensor, a high-quality lens, and excellent image stabilization. It is an excellent camera for travel and landscape photography.
Leica CL
The Leica CL is a compact and lightweight mirrorless camera that features a 24-megapixel sensor and interchangeable lenses. It is an ideal camera for photographers who want a versatile camera that is easy to carry and use.
Leica M-A
The Leica M-A is a film camera that is simple to use and produces beautiful, high-quality images. It is an ideal camera for photographers who enjoy the traditional, tactile feel of shooting with film. If you’re into film photography, this is the one.
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There are plenty of great cameras to choose from in 2025 – also from other camera brands than Leica, such as Fuji, and Sony.
Leica lenses are highly regarded in the photography world for several reasons. Firstly, they are known for their exceptional build quality and attention to detail in design and manufacturing.
So why buy a Leica?
Optical excellence: Leica lenses are renowned for their exceptional sharpness, clarity, and contrast, thanks to their precise construction and use of high-quality glass.
Build quality: Leica cameras are built to exacting standards using the finest materials, including brass, aluminum, and leather. Leica cameras are hand-assembled by skilled technicians, which gives each camera a unique character and feel.
Unique design: Leica cameras are easily recognizable thanks to their classic and timeless design, which has remained largely unchanged for decades. They are designed to be simple and intuitive to use, with minimal buttons and controls.
Rangefinder technology: Many Leica cameras use a rangefinder focusing system, which allows for precise manual focusing and a more immersive shooting experience.
Legacy: Leica has a rich history and legacy of innovation and excellence in photography. Many iconic images have been captured with Leica cameras, and the brand has been used by some of the most renowned photographers in history.
What’s so special about Leica Lenses?
Each lens is made by hand and undergoes strict quality control to ensure that it meets the high standards set by Leica.
In terms of optical performance, Leica lenses are renowned for their sharpness, contrast, and color rendition. This is due to the use of high-quality glass and advanced coatings that minimize reflections and flare. As a result, images captured with Leica lenses often have a distinctive “look” that is highly sought after by photographers.
Another factor that sets Leica lenses apart is their compatibility with Leica cameras. Leica has a long history of producing high-end cameras, and its lenses are designed to work seamlessly with these cameras. This results in a level of integration and precision that is difficult to achieve with third-party lenses. Leica has a high history of being the camera of choice for photographers practicing street photography, such as Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier Bresson, and Robert Frank
Finally, Leica lenses are known for their longevity and durability. These lenses are built to last and are often passed down from generation to generation. This is due in part to the use of high-quality materials, but also to the fact that Leica lenses are designed to be serviced and repaired if necessary.