Leica M5
When Form Follows Function, Success Is Not Always a Given
Despite a variety of technical innovations, the first M with an integrated TTL light meter is met with relatively weak demand. Its large body is quickly blamed as the main reason. Thanks to the development of the M4-2 by Ernst Leitz Canada, Leica was quickly able to build on its previous success.
The Family Grows Abroad
Ernst Leitz III, who took the reins in Wetzlar in 1953, is faced with ever-increasing manufacturing costs from the start. To remain competitive while maintaining the product quality, factories are set up in Canada and Portugal. This move is a successful one. Ernst Leitz Canada would go on to be a long-standing source of lens and camera innovations for many years, while the factory in Portugal embodies the passion and precision of the Leica Family from 1973 to the present day.
Canada – Strategic Foresight, Part I
Portugal – Strategic Foresight, Part II
