{
  "id": 4853851,
  "title": "Kamerahersteller: Wie sich Leica immer wieder neu erfindet",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/kamerahersteller-wie-sich-leica-immer-wieder-neu-erfindet",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-01T11:36:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/it-internet/leica-kameras-wie-vereint-die-kultmarke-tradition-und-innovation/100218417.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Wetzlar, Germany has been a hub for crafting lenses since the 17th century, be it for eyeglasses, telescopes, or camera objectives. Leica Camera AG, established in 1869 initially to manufacture microscopes, has recently turned to an innovative method that deviates from this age-old tradition. In a new production line located in Wetzlar, employees press glass blanks into a heat-resistant metal mold known as Wolframcarbide at temperatures reaching 700 degrees Celsius and under high pressure. This process slowly shapes the glass into an aspherical form, as calculated by engineers using computer simulations. The first product fully utilizing this technology is the Noctilux M-35, a high-performance lens, launched in late January for approximately 9,000 Euros. Jan-Helge Staasmeyer, head of tool manufacturing, notes that this new lens is noticeably lighter and more compact than its predecessor without compromising light strength, a feat achieved by capitalizing on their physical expertise. As expected, Leica's pricing and prestige align with this innovation. The brand is synonymous with compact cameras housed in leather and metal casings and a photographic aesthetic favored by enthusiasts: exceptional detail fidelity, precise color reproduction, and a distinctive background blur. However, nostalgia alone is insufficient to maintain this standard. In an era where smartphones have become the primary camera for many, Leica must continuously innovate technologically. Andreas Kaufmann, who joined Leica in 2004 through his investment firm ACM to rescue the company from bankruptcy in 2005, emphasizes the necessity of developing the right products to establish the brand's dominance. Periodically, \"technological leaps\" are required to achieve this goal.",
  "summary": "Leica hat eine treue Fangemeinde und stand trotzdem einmal vor der Pleite. Wie Mehrheitseigner Andreas Kaufmann die Marke immer wieder neu erfindet – und was er von Leica-Parfüm hält.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}