Chinese join the wave of Leica collectors

It was not until 2004 that Tian could afford an M6 Leica camera. After having one, Tian could not stop buying. Once he was told by a friend that his Japanese friend had brought a vintage Leica lens to Shanghai. He immediately flew to Shanghai from Beijing and bought the lens at the airport.

"Every part of the camera is of the highest quality. Its compactness and classical design makes it hard to beat," says Tian.

When the Leica camera was first produced in 1913, made-in-Germany equaled low quality and low price. After World War II, the sophistication and strict style turned German products into classics.

"We are charmed by the stories behind Leica and its spirit, from ordinary to classical," says Tian.

"Chinese people were too poor to appreciate the creations of the industrial revolution. Now we have money and time to discover the part we have missed out."

Tian says the Leica camera intrigues Chinese collectors because of its long history. Many historical moments were captured by photographers who used Leica, such as the V-J Day in Times Square when an American sailor kissed a young woman as people turned up on the streets to celebrate the victory of World War II.

There are always celebrities among the list of Leica users including Queen Elizabeth II, Dwight David Eisenhower and photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt. Since 2006, Chinese names joined the list. They include the country's first space traveler Yang Liwei.

"Leica now produces digital lens reflex cameras. But for collectors, the most valuable ones are always those classical 35-mm cameras," Tian says.