In Memory of Thomas Weber 1946-2026

In Memory of Thomas Weber                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Thomas Weber – co-owner of ALPA of Switzerland from 1991 to 2022, and the visionary behind the radical, groundbreaking ALPA 12 series.

Thomas Weber’s relentless pursuit of uncompromising quality, paired with a profound passion for mechanical design, gave ALPA cameras their legendary reputation, far beyond Switzerland’s borders. His legacy lives on in every frame and in the community of photographers who value tools built with soul and precision.

After the end of the 35mm era of ALPA Pignons in the early 1990s, Thomas Weber and his wife Ursula Capaul laid the foundation for a revolutionary medium format system: modular, sustainable, and made entirely in Switzerland. A new generation of ALPA was born, led by the now-iconic ALPA 12 WA.

First sketches of the ALPA 12 System by Thomas Weber and Ursula Capaul

Debuting at Photokina in Cologne, the WA immediately drew international attention. Among the first to embrace its potential was French Magnum photographer Raymond Depardon, who acquired model no. 290547 - The second ALPA 12 camera ever built. The very first WA, proudly marked “290546,” carries Thomas Weber’s own date of birth – a subtle nod to Thomas' personal dedication to the craft.

“I’ve waited my whole life for this camera,” Depardon said upon discovering it and has remained loyal to it ever since. What followed was a long-standing friendship between Depardon, ALPA, Ursula Capaul, and Thomas Weber.

A LEGACY BEYOND THE FRAME

Thomas Weber was not just a designer. He was a passionate force, a thinker, and a builder of ideas made metal. What he shaped continues to inspire photographers, artists, and engineers alike.

His legacy also lives on and can be visited in the permanent exhibition of the Swiss Design collection of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.

This moment of farewell is marked by sorrow – yet also by pride and purpose. His legacy reminds us that even in today’s world of mass production and algorithms, it is still worth creating things of lasting value and inner integrity.

Together with the Capaul Weber family, we mourn the loss of a true visionary, and continue what he began: Precision, built to endure.

With sincere gratitude,

The ALPA Team
Dübendorf, Switzerland

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