More Than A Red Dot

The most storied brand in the photography world is Leica even though the current lineup is running on fumes.

The Leica of today is a mere artifact of its past great self. Earlier this century, the great company fell on hard times. It was “saved” by a series of private equity acquisitions.

By “saved” I mean stripped of its soul and reduced to a “red dot” logo, transformed into a luxury brand for people with more money than sense.

Now that it’s a bauble, it barely registers with pros who need gear that will return on their investment.

That doesn’t mean the fondness for this legendary camera brand has diminished. My heart still stops when a Leica enters my view like this one in a private collection.

The moment for this brand has passed. However, the photographs that these cameras helped create still endure.

About the author: I am Stephen Kennedy, an experienced photographer with more than 2500 completed sessions in all 50 US states.