OSKAR BARNACK: Revolutionized Photography

Oskar Barnack's Ur-Leica
"The small format 35mm camera created a revolution in photography"

Hohenzollernbrücke, Cologne
Photograph (c) Oskar Barnack

Eselstreppchen, 1914
Photograph (c) Oskar Barnack

Flood, Langgasse, 1920
Photograph (c) Oskar Barnack

Eisenmarkt
Photograph (c) Oskar Barnack

Self Portrait, 1914
Photograph (c) Oskar Barnack

"Oskar Barnack's genius idea of creating the small format 35mm camera created a revolution in photography"

Oskar Barnack wanted to move away from the traditional, heavy plate cameras then used for most photography. As early as 1905, he had the idea of reducing the negative format and enlarging the photographs at a later stage. Ten years later Barnack developed the Ur-Leica, the first successful small-format camera. The photographs created in 1914 were of outstanding quality for the time. Delayed due to World War I the first LEICA did not enter series production until 1924 and introduced to the public in 1925.(more about the history of the Leica here).

Many thanks to New York Leica Gallery Director's, Rose A. Deutsch and Jay R. Deutsch, for introducing me to the Leica creator. Oskar Barnack Room, Leica Gallery, NY