---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make…"
description: "\"Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But you have to see.\" — Ernst Haas"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/ernst-haas-12621_bits_leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a_3169122.jpg"
---

#  Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of…

![“Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But you have to see.” quote by Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/ernst-haas-12621_bits_leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a_3169122.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/ernst-haas-12621_bits_leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a_3169122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/ernst-haas-12621_bits_leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a_3169122.jpg)

> “Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But you have to see.”

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote suggests that the quality of a camera is irrelevant; the photographer's vision matters more than equipment.

**In simple terms:** Equipment is less important than the photographer's eye.

Key Takeaway

Focus on seeing, not gear.

Themes

photography perception skill

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

- portrait photography
- documentary work
- creative projects
- learning composition

Key Concepts

visual literacy subjectivity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you improve your visual awareness?
- What habits help you notice details?

A Different Perspective

Even the best camera cannot compensate for a lack of vision.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera/) [Camera and photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera-and-photography/) [Camera Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera-doesn-1342476/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Leica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leica/) [Photograph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photograph/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Record Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-seeing-5760584/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Schmeica Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schmeica-camera-5760583/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/)

## Related quotes

> [If I stand correctly in the mirror I can frame it so that I still have hair. But the camera doesn't lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-whitehouse/if-i-stand-correctly-in-the-mirror-i-can-frame-it-so-that-i-still/)

[Paul Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-whitehouse/)

> [If you can shoot well, all you need is a disposable, toy camera or a camera phone to create great work. If you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-rockwell/if-you-can-shoot-well-all-you-need-is-a-disposable-toy-camera-or-a/)

[Ken Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-rockwell/)

> [I know it's not particularly tech-savvy of me to suggest a camera that doesn't have a touchscreen, but I think when it comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-blasberg/i-know-it-s-not-particularly-tech-savvy-of-me-to-suggest-a-camera/)

[Derek Blasberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-blasberg/)

> [Just because you're the person on camera, doesn't mean you don't have something to contribute behind the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/just-because-you-re-the-person-on-camera-doesn-t-mean-you-don-t-have/)

[Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/)

> [A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/a-portrait-is-not-made-in-the-camera-but-on-either-side-of-it/)

[Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/)

> [The important thing is not the camera but the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-eisenstaedt/the-important-thing-is-not-the-camera-but-the-eye/)

[Alfred Eisenstaedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-eisenstaedt/)

> [The instrument is not the camera but the photographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/the-instrument-is-not-the-camera-but-the-photographer/)

[Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/)

> [Nothing happens when you sit at home. I always make it a point to carry a camera with me at all times...I just shoot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/nothing-happens-when-you-sit-at-home-i-always-make-it-a-point-to/)

[Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/)

> [I shoot with a few different camera's. A Sony A6000 with several lenses and a Lumix LX100 with a beautiful Leica lens. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-lewis/i-shoot-with-a-few-different-camera-s-a-sony-a6000-with-several/)

[Eliot Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-lewis/)

> [There were days, rainy gray days, when the streets of Brooklyn were worthy of a photograph, every window the lens of a Leica, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/there-were-days-rainy-gray-days-when-the-streets-of-brooklyn-were/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [While we're working, we must be conscious of what we're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/while-we-re-working-we-must-be-conscious-of-what-we-re-doing/)

[Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/)

> [Photography is nothing-it's life that interests me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/photography-is-nothing-it-s-life-that-interests-me/)

[Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/)

> [I know what I like to use myself. I use Leicas, but when I look at the photograph, I don't ask the photograph questions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-know-what-i-like-to-use-myself-i-use-leicas-but-when-i-look-at-the/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [I don't really have a favorite camera. I use a Leica and Canon a lot. It depends, especially professionally, on the requirements. But my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/i-don-t-really-have-a-favorite-camera-i-use-a-leica-and-canon-a-lot/)

[Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/)

> [It doesn't matter if you use a box camera or you use a Leica; the important thing is what motivates you when you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-use-a-box-camera-or-you-use-a-leica-the/)

[Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/)

## More by Ernst Haas

> [I love to read theories without ever using them when working... The paradoxical fact in the aesthetic is that theories are also true in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/i-love-to-read-theories-without-ever-using-them-when-working-the/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [A picture is the expression of an impression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/a-picture-is-the-expression-of-an-impression/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [The best pictures differentiate themselves by nuances...a tiny relationship - either a harmony or a disharmony - that creates a picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/the-best-pictures-differentiate-themselves-by-nuances-a-tiny/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [We can write the new chapters in a visual language whose prose and poetry will need no translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/we-can-write-the-new-chapters-in-a-visual-language-whose-prose-and/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [Best wide-angle lens? Two steps backward. Look for the 'ah-ha'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/best-wide-angle-lens-two-steps-backward-look-for-the-ah-ha/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [There is no formula. There are only confirmations to formulas which one has already discovered oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/there-is-no-formula-there-are-only-confirmations-to-formulas-which/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [Through photography, both artist and scientist can find a common denominator in their search for the synthesis of modern vision in time, space and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/through-photography-both-artist-and-scientist-can-find-a-common/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [With photography a new language has been created. Now for the first time it is possible to express reality by reality. We can look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/with-photography-a-new-language-has-been-created-now-for-the-first/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [The best zoom lens is your legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/the-best-zoom-lens-is-your-legs/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [Every work of art has its necessity; find out your very own. Ask yourself if you would do it if nobody would ever see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/every-work-of-art-has-its-necessity-find-out-your-very-own-ask/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [Learn by doing or even better unlearn by doing. The opposite of what you learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/learn-by-doing-or-even-better-unlearn-by-doing-the-opposite-of-what/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [The most important lens you have is your legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/the-most-important-lens-you-have-is-your-legs/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [Refine your senses through the great masters of music, painting, and poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/refine-your-senses-through-the-great-masters-of-music-painting-and/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [Living in a time of the increasing struggle of the mechanization of man, photography has become another example of this paradoxical problem of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/living-in-a-time-of-the-increasing-struggle-of-the-mechanization-of/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

> [Photography is a transformation, not a reproduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/photography-is-a-transformation-not-a-reproduction/)

[Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

[Explore all 54 Ernst Haas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/)

## More Bits quotes

> [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/)

[David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/)

> [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-became-a-bit-of-a-teacher-s-pet-and-it-became-known-in-the-school/)

[Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/)

> [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/)

[Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/)

> [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/)

[Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/)

> [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [He referred to me as an 'insufferable puffed-up prat'. This is a bit rich coming from a man who actually married his own mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/he-referred-to-me-as-an-insufferable-puffed-up-prat-this-is-a-bit/)

[Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/)

> [It won't do you a bit of good to know everything if you don't do anything with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-fitzhugh/it-won-t-do-you-a-bit-of-good-to-know-everything-if-you-don-t-do/)

[Louise Fitzhugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-fitzhugh/)

> [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/)

[Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/)

> [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/)

[Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/)

> [We, as pop stars, are people not androids. We’ve got views. I’ve got opinions and I don’t see why I shouldn’t use a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-meddows-taylor/we-as-pop-stars-are-people-not-androids-we-ve-got-views-i-ve-got/)

[Roger Meddows Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-meddows-taylor/)

> [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/)

[Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/)

> [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [When my name started popping up I was quite irritated and a little bit in shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snow/when-my-name-started-popping-up-i-was-quite-irritated-and-a-little/)

[Michael Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snow/)

> [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/)

[Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/)

[Browse all 5,709 Bits quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But you have to see.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ernst Haas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a-bit-of-difference-all-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bits"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a-bit-of-difference-all-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/ernst-haas-12621_bits_leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a_3169122.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/ernst-haas-12621_bits_leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a_3169122.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81a/ernst-haas-12621_bits_leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a_3169122.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing…” — Ernst Haas",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ernst Haas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a-bit-of-difference-all-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/leica-schmeica-the-camera-doesn-t-make-a-bit-of-difference-all-of/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
