The Leica is both a product of the twentieth century's inventive spirit and the means by which that spirit could be documented for posterity. As the first handheld camera, the Leica made possible a new kind of documentary photography, and included among its devoted fans are many of the century's greatest photographers. Its combined qualities of precision and compactness made it an essential tool for photographers everywhere, and today more than ever the Leica is prized by collectors. Leica is a social history of the people behind the camera; its ingenious inventor, Oskar Barnack, and the great photographers who found it indispensable, including Rodchenko, Kert, Cartier-Bresson, Capa, and many others. This completely new volume is richly illustrated with details that will satisfy even the most avid collector: diagrams, patent drawings, advertising posters, and biographies of some of its famous users. It belongs on the bookshelf of everyone who loves photography. 120 color illustrations and photographs.