Leica Camera grows again: innovation, precision and strategic vision drive a new record year

In fiscal year 2024/2025, Leica Camera AG consolidated its position among the global leaders in photography and precision optics, exceeding all previous records in terms of turnover and profitability. In an ever-changing market, the German brand has been able to enhance its 100-year tradition with a strategic vision combining innovation, quality craftsmanship and internationalisation.
The result? A turnover up +7.6% year-on-year to €596 million, driven in particular by the key segments of professional photography and the growing expansion into new business areas such as mobile imaging, eyewear, smart projection and lifestyle accessories.

A Century of Leica: from Photography Icon to Global Brand of Visual Culture
The year 2025 represents a symbolic milestone in the company's history: one hundred years since the introduction of the Leica I, the first mass-produced 35 mm camera. A century in which Leica revolutionised the way the world is photographed - and which it now celebrates through international events, cultural projects and special editions under the motto "One Hundred Years of Leica: Witness of a Century".
The cities of Milan, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai and New York are just some of the milestones in a celebratory year that culminated with the centenary week in Wetzlar, the brand's historic headquarters.

Photography, mobile, home cinema: the levers of an expanding ecosystem
The beating heart of Leica remains photography. In the year just ended, models were launched that combined aesthetics and technology, such as the Leica Q3, the SL3 and the compact D-Lux 8. The iconic M11-D, a digital version without a display, also attracted great interest among professional photographers and collectors.
At the same time, the integration of the physical and digital world found new directions. The collaboration with Xiaomi brought the 14T and 15 series smartphones equipped with Leica optics to the market, while the Leica LUX iPhone app, with over a million downloads, paved the way for a new way of thinking about mobile photography.
In the home cinema sector, the Leica Cine Play 1 mini projector expanded the smart projection offering, providing an immersive experience in the most compact format. And that's not all: with the new Leica ZM 12 watch, the German company also strengthened its presence in the high-end lifestyle segment.

Global Presence and Multi-Channel Vision
Driving the growth is not only the products, but also an increasingly comprehensive distribution strategy. Leica has in fact expanded its retail network with new Leica Stores in Asia (Tokyo, Seoul, Wuhan) and strengthened its e-commerce platform, with online sales growing by +12.5%. The multi-channel model that combines direct sales, digital and aste has helped position the company distinctively in the global market.
Europe is also showing encouraging signs, with a increase of +11.4% in Germany and +7.6% in EMEA, confirming the deep connection between the brand and its European roots.
"Even in Italy we are registering a strong interest in the world of Leica," says Renato Rappaini, Managing Director of Leica Camera Italia, "which goes far beyond the product. It is an ecosystem of photographic culture, experience and value over time. Our network of galleries, the Leica Akademie and local special projects are helping to strengthen the bond between Leica and an ever-growing community of enthusiasts and professionals".

Innovation as a Strategic Leverage
"We respond to the growing global demand for cameras with products Made in Germany that embody the best of our optical and mechanical heritage," commented Matthias Harsch, CEO of Leica Camera AG. "Our success is based on our continued ability to innovate and the strength of our global network.
With two production facilities - in Wetzlar and Vila Nova de Famalicão (Portugal) - and a network of some 120 Leica Stores worldwide, the company continues to promote photographic culture through the Leica Akademie and its more than 30 international galleries, with exhibitions, events and prestigious awards such as the Leica Oskar Barnack Award.

Looking to the future
Leica Camera AG confirms its ability to innovate while respecting its own identity. While technological development continues in core and emerging sectors, the company's vision remains centred on a clear objective: to create meaningful, authentic and lasting photographic experiences.
In a world dominated by the speed of the image, Leica once again chooses the path of quality, detail and profound storytelling.