Leica cameras have been manufactured by Leitz (Ernst Leitz GmbH, Wetzlar) since 1923. The Ur-Leica was a prototype in 1913, but no rush for a company founded in 1849 to produce optical equipment. Leica cameras in good condition are collectorable, even the more consumer oriented compact 35mm cameras made in Japan.

Leitz have made a matchbox subminiature, a prototype 110 cameras and the C11 is almost a small APS camera.

Leitz did however market an exceptional quality 110 slide projector.