Some individuals say it with flowers; Leica likes to mark particular events with limited-run cameras you’d miss a mortgage fee (or three) to personal. 2024 is an enormous one, because it marks 70 years of M-system interchangeable lens cameras, so the images agency is pulling out all of the stops with the Leica M Version 70.
Restricted to simply 250 units worldwide, the M Version 70 isn’t simply the recently-launched M11-D in a elaborate frock. It’s a real blue analogue movie digital camera, based mostly on the Leica M-A and plated (appropriately, given the anniversary being marked) in platinum. That is paired with an APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2, which is hallowed floor so far as M-system photographers are involved for its excellent optics and dreamy depth blur.
An identical movie container and Leicavit M quick winder – for taking as much as two photographs per second with out pulling your eye from the viewfinder – are additionally included with every equipment. The latter goes into collection manufacturing, in black, gloss black and silver-chrome variants, for anybody with a Leica M-A, MP, M6, M7, M6 TTL, M4-P or M4-2 to bolt instead of their base plate, for £900/€1,050.
Every particular version equipment additionally comes with some movie, as a result of aren’t meant to be show items. Although given the asking worth I wouldn’t blame any potential house owners for protecting theirs underneath lock and key.
The Leica M Version 70 received’t truly be happening sale till early 2025. When it does, count on to pay a princely £19,000/€22,500 to take one residence from choose Leica Shops. Unique Nineteen Fifties Leica M3 rangefinders are actually so extremely wanted that pristine examples are being left in wills for the subsequent era of photographers, so I’d guess the M Version 70 might sooner or later be simply as collectible.
A bit too wealthy in your blood? Leica can also be launching a £45 commemorative Leica M anniversary guide, detailing the historical past of the vary over 250 pages. Count on write-ups from Leica ambassadors, iconic photographs snapped on M system cameras, and loads of archive materials.