How the Leica Family Survived the Digital Camera Revolution

When digital photography arrived in the 1990s, it seemed to spell the end for Leica, the legendary German camera maker that had been family-run for nearly a century. Competitors like Nikon and Canon embraced the new technology, while Leica stubbornly stuck to film. This episode explores how the Kaufmann family, which had owned Leica since 1910, navigated near-bankruptcy, internal family strife, and the rise of smartphone cameras. We focus on a specific turning point: the 2014 launch of the Leica T system, a radical bet on minimalist design and premium pricing that ultimately saved the company. Lucas and Luna unpack how the family balanced tradition with reinvention, and why Leica's survival is a masterclass in adaptive stewardship rather than rigid legacy preservation. #Leica #FamilyBusiness #KaufmannFamily #DigitalDisruption #CameraIndustry #GermanEngineering #LuxuryBrands #BusinessStrategy #SuccessionPlanning #Legacy #Photography #PremiumPricing #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #PrivateEquity #DesignThinking #Manufacturing Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo