Leica M11 Monochrom digital camera

Leica is a prestigious German company that manufactures cameras, optical lenses, photographic lenses, binoculars, rifle scopes and microscopes. The brand was founded in 1914 by Ernst Leitz in Wetzlar, Germany, though its heritage in optics dates back to the mid-19th century. Leica is renowned for creating the first practical 35mm film camera, which revolutionized photography by making it portable.

Today, high-end Leica M-series cameras like the M11 Monochrom shown here are primarily handcrafted at the Leica factory in Wetzlar, Germany. While some components and lower-tier product lines are manufactured in Leica's factory in Portugal or through partnerships in Asia, the flagship rangefinder systems remain a hallmark of German engineering and domestic production.

Since 2011, Leica Camera AG has been majority-owned by ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH, an investment company based in Salzburg, Austria, led by Dr. Andreas Kaufmann. Blackstone Group held a significant minority stake for several years but sold its 45% share back to ACM in recent years, consolidating the brand's ownership under the Kaufmann family's investment vehicle.