Famous Leica Photographers

The photographers who defined what a Leica can do — and the photographs that made history.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare - Henri Cartier-Bresson (1932)

Henri Cartier-Bresson, 1932 (historical fair use / educational)

Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare

1932

Leica I (Standard) · Elmar 50mm f/3.5

Robert Capa

The Falling Soldier - Robert Capa (1936)

Robert Capa / International Center of Photography (fair use)

The Falling Soldier

1936

Leica II (Model D) · 50mm f/3.5 Elmar

Yevgeny Khaldei

Raising a Flag over the Reichstag - Yevgeny Khaldei (1945)

Yevgeny Khaldei, TASS, 1945 — historical fair use

Raising a Flag over the Reichstag

1945

Leica III · Elmar 35mm f/3.5

Unknown

V-J Day in Times Square - Unknown (1945)

U.S. Navy / Victor Jorgensen, 1945 — Public domain

V-J Day in Times Square

1945

Robert Frank

The Americans (Robert Frank) - Robert Frank (1958)

Robert Frank, 1955 — The Americans (fair use)

The Americans (Robert Frank)

1955-1957

Leica IIIf (screw-mount) · 35mm and 50mm (various; 35mm primarily)

Alberto Korda

Guerrillero Heroico - Alberto Korda (1960)

Alberto Korda, 1960 — public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Guerrillero Heroico

1960

Leica M2 · Leica 90mm (commonly cited as Elmarit 90mm f/2.8)

René Burri

Che Guevara with Cigar (René Burri) - René Burri (1963)

René Burri / Magnum Photos, 1963 (editorial reference)

Che Guevara with Cigar (René Burri)

1963

Leica M3

Marc Riboud

The Ultimate Confrontation (Flower Power) - Marc Riboud (1967)

Marc Riboud, 1967 — Wikimedia Commons

The Ultimate Confrontation (Flower Power)

1967

Leica M3 · Summicron 50mm f/2

Daido Moriyama

Stray Dog (Misawa) - Daido Moriyama (1971)

Daido Moriyama, 1971 — National Gallery of Art Collection

Stray Dog (Misawa)

1971

Leica M4 · Elmarit 28mm f/2.8