A workshop log proves that at the latest in 1914, Oskar Barnack put the finishing touches on the first working model of a compact camera for 35 mm standard cinema film. He had not merely invented a new camera - the Leica, not introduced until 1925 due to the war, it in fact ushered in a paradigm shift in photography. The Leica made it easier for amateurs, newcomers, and emancipated women to take pictures, but it also enabled a whole new way of seeing things. Just in time to mark Leica''s centenary, this volume offers 800 images showcasing a wide artistic and cultural history.