A 2.5-hour restoration masterclass

Leica released an official video documenting the complete restoration of a Leica I from 1925. The film runs two and a half hours, showing virtually the entire repair process.

The camera that changed photography

The Leica I helped establish 35mm as a portable format in 1925. The name comes from combining 'Leitz' and 'camera', after manufacturer Ernst Leitz.

A family heirloom needs help

This particular Leica I belongs to the Leitz family itself. After a century, its cloth shutter curtain had deteriorated with countless tiny pinholes letting unwanted light reach the film.

Complete disassembly, not quick fixes

Leica doesn't just replace the obvious broken part. The restoration begins with almost complete disassembly, removing the mechanical assembly and cleaning decades of accumulated dirt and old lubricant.

Inside the mechanical heart

At the 25-minute mark, base plates and gearing are cleaned before fresh lubricant is applied. The front and rear shutter curtain mechanisms are removed, serviced, and fitted with new curtain material.

Precision adjustment for accuracy

The winding shaft gets cleaned and lubricated. Then comes painstaking shutter-speed adjustment to ensure this century-old camera operates as it should.

Back to working condition

The internal assembly returns to the body, the lens is fitted, and the exterior is cleaned. The result is a Leica I that looks remarkable and functions as a photographic tool again.

Built to last, not disposable

At a time when modern technology is considered disposable once support ends, this camera proves what happens when manufacturing and repairability are worth preserving. People still possess the knowledge to understand every component inside.

“This isn't merely a restoration video about an antique camera; it is a demonstration of what happens when manufacturing, repairability, and craftsmanship are treated as things worth preserving.”