Today in Thumbprint & Signatures; a series that highlights the unique visual signature of Leica lenses, new and old, we are featuring the Leica 19mm f2.8 Elmarit R ROM lens.

In early 2021 Leica Camera announced the reissue of the legendary 50mm f/1.2 Noctilux-M that was originally produced in 1966 for the M rangefinder system. You heard that right, Leica Camera is revisiting the archives again, this time rebuilding a historic lens using the best research, technology, and materials available today. At a performance level, the 50mm f/1.2 is one of the fastest lenses available for low light photography and isolating subjects with its shallow depth of field. It offers a beautiful and ethereal thumbprint that is incredibly eye-catching.

I feel like I know what to expect, having handled and shot various copies of the original Noctilux lens #11820, made from 1966-1975. This is clearly not the case.

Ralph Gibson is a photographer best known for his mesmerizing photographs of abstract reality and the female form. In addition, Gibson founded his company, Lustrum Press, to publish landmark photo books that made his mark as a key player in the history of photography. He has been a dedicated Leica user during his entire career. It began during his studies at the California School of Fine Arts (now SFAI) when one of his instructors loaned him a Leica M2. From that point on he used his Leica camera as a tool to develop his visual signature and continue his journey towards what he calls his "Point of Departure."

Paul Fusco, a distinguished Magnum Photographer, created incredibly moving images of social conflict and issues from around the globe. Particularly, Fusco is well known for his sequence of images from the RFK Funeral train which he documented from the viewpoint of the train looking out at the masses in mourning as the train traveled from New York City to the Arlington Cemetery. Fusco brought to light many other social issues and injustices through his camera and lens including the aftermath of Chernobyl's impact on the lives of those living in the spoiled environment surrounding the explosion.

From the words of photographer Jim Marshall's longtime assistant and head of his estate, Amelia Davis:

Jim’s first Camera was a Leica which he purchased in 1959 for $50 down and 12 monthly payments of $24, this was the start of Jim's obsession with Leica camera’s.

I will admit, I have a bit of an infatuation with smaller cameras. I have owned almost every Fujifilm X100 series camera they have produced as well as a couple versions of the Sony RX100. In Leica, I have owned an X camera, the D-lux 109 and a few others. I have burned up a few Olympus X-A cameras and have long lusted after a clean Leica Minilux or C3.

During the Leitz Park opening a new special edition M10 was announced in a partnership we have loved before. The Zagato M10 is an illustrious and beautifully designed digital M. The combination of Zagato's Italian design and Leica's German engineering is a collaboration of beautiful magnitude.

Over the years I have had the opportunity and pleasure to visit Leitz Park, Wetzlar, on several occasions since its grand opening celebration, the SL Launch, the M10 Launch, plus a few other noteworthy events. To date I must say that the new facilities are in a word, stunning! It has been both exciting and mesmerizing watching Leitz park mature from concept, to industrial park, to the beautiful factory and finally to a gorgeous campus that it today. The current facilities include a four-star hotel, restaurant, café, museum with a gallery, gallery shop and factory archive, Leica Akademie teaching facility, Ernst Leitz Werkstatten and a new and improved location for Sonder Optic, now Ernst Leitz, cine lenses.

A unique and rare piece of Leica history is currently available at Leica Store San Francisco and Camera West Stores. This piece is the first ultra wide optic to be fitted for the Leica M system and finds itself among some of the rarest and most desirable Leica lenses of all time.