Limited Edition Leicas
Leica has often celebrated special events or significant anniversaries through the release of Special Editions of its cameras. These small-batch production runs are based on the technology and design of the regular camera models, but feature alterations, for example, in body material, color, and texture. In addition, the Limited Editions frequently have special engravings that mark the occasion of their release. The cameras also generally carry an edition number alongside the regular series number, and come in elaborate box-packaging to further accentuate their distinct character. As a result, some of the Leica Limited Editions are arguably among the most beautiful and luxurious cameras ever made.
The special edition cameras are fully functional photographic tools, but few are actually used to take pictures. Instead, their beauty and scarcity entices them to collectors, who are willing to pay a substantial premium over the regular camera price in order to own one of these extraordinary objects. The Limited Editions are often carefully stored and maintained, so that it is not unusual to encounter LE-Leicas that are decades old, but still in mint condition. Such cameras tend to keep their value well over time and sometimes manage to achieve remarkable results at photography auctions. Hence, what might appear on first sight as an excessive price for a slightly modified camera model might – with collector skill and luck – turn out to be a high-yielding investment.
Selected edition cameras
Leica M10 Edition Zagato
- Leica M10 with Summilux 35 mm f/1.4;
- Colaboration with Italian design and automotive styling house Zagato;
- Aluminium body and control elements;
- Bodyshell finished with fine grooves;
- Limited to 250 sets;
- Launch Price: $21,600;
- Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica Monochrome Blue Stain
- Leica Monochrome (Typ 246) with Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4;
- Released on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Leica Store Berlin;
- Finished in Blue Stain ("Blaubeize"), a ground coating wich is used to protect the metal;
- Renunciation of color engravings;
- Limited to 10 sets;
- Launch Price: €18,880;
- Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-P Grip by Rolf Sachs
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) with Summilux-M 35mm;
- Collaboration with artist Rolf Sachs;
- Main body covered by red nubs of rubber normally used for table tennis bats;
- Engravings on top plate dials in red;
- Rolf Sachs logo engraved on the back of the top plate;
- Limited to 79 sets;
- Launch Price: $14,950;
- Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica Q Indonesia
- Leica Q with green body cover;
- Map of Indonesia engraved on top;
- Limited to 45 units;
- Launch price: about $5,000;
- Street price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-P Titanium Set
- Fifth annual edition made from titanium;
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 28mm f/2 and 50mm f/2;
- Top plate, base plate and control elements precision machined from solid titanium;
- Body 90g lighter than regular brass M-P;
- Classic Leica script engraved on the top plate;
- Limited to 333 units;
- Launch price: $22,900;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-P Titanium Ginza
- Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Leica store Ginza in Tokyo;
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) body;
- Titanium body is 90g lighter than regular brass M-P;
- Rear engraving of "10 Jahre";
- Limited to 50 units;
- Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-P Marina Bay Sands Edition
- Celebrating the opening of a new Leica store in Singapore;
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) with Summilux-M 35 mm;
- Silver leatherette with matching lens;
- Top engraving of the Marina Bay Sands skyline;
- Lens hood engraving of a lion head;
- Limited to 18 units;
- Launch price: SGD 19,000;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-P Galerie Frankfurt
- Special edition for Leica store Frankfurt;
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) with Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH;
- Grey top and base plate, and grey leatherette;
- Lens styled like the 1960th original;
- Handmade Oberwerth bag with the "Galerie Frankfurt" logo on the front;
- Limited to 50 sets;
- Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-P Brass Edition 35
- Special edition created for luxury retailer The Hour Glass;
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) with Summicron-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH;
- Matt brass finish;
- Chetnut leather on exterior wrap;
- Limited to 35 sets;
- Launch price: $35,000;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M Panda Edition
- Honoring the Panda as a national treasure;
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) with Summicron-M 28 mm f/2 ASPH or Summilux-M 35 mm;
- Special black and white color design;
- Rear engraving of the panda logo and the words "CHENGDU CHINA";
- Sold in China, Hong Kong and Macau;
- Limited to 30 units each with 2/28 or 1.4/35;
- Launch price: $20,000;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M Kinderlachen
- Collaboration with non-profit organisation Kinderlachen e.V.;
- Design based on cardboard paintings of children;
- Implemented on Leica M by Munich-based artist Helmut Lutter;
- Unique copy;
- Winning bid at charitable auction: €28,800 (incl. buyer's premium);
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-E Kinderlachen
- Collaboration with non-profit organisation Kinderlachen e.V.;
- Design based on cardboard paintings of children;
- Implemented on Leica M-E by Munich-based artist Helmut Lutter;
- Unique copy;
- Winning bid at charitable auction: €28,800 (incl. buyer's premium);
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-P Safari
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) in olive green safari-look;
- Bundled with Summicron-M 35 mm f/2 ASPH;
- Top plate engraving of "Leica Camera AG" and "Wetzlar Germany";
- Limited to 1500 units;
- Launch price: $9,990;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M-P Correspondent
- Collaboration between Leica and artist Lenny Kravitz;
- Leica M-P (Typ 240) bundled with 2/35mm and 1.4/50mm;
- Black snakeskin trim;
- Camera and lenses intentionally aged by hand in homage to a well-used camera system;
- Limited to 125 sets;
- Launch price: $24,500;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica X Edition Moncler
- Leica X Typ 113;
- Collaboration with French fashion house Moncler;
- Tricolore leathering: blue, white, red;
- Engraving of "Moncler" on flash housing;
- Pouch that resembles a Moncler down jacket;
- Limited to 1,500 units;
- Launch price: $2,950;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M Edition 60
- Commemoration of 60 years of the Leica M system;
- Leica M Typ 240 with Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH;
- No LCD screen - replaced by an ISO dial;
- Stainless steel with anthracite leather;
- Designed by Audi;
- Limited to 600 units;
- Launch price: $20,000;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica S Summicron 100 Edition
- Commemoration of Leica's centennial anniversary;
- Leica S camera and Summicron-S 100mm;
- "Linsenschnitt" engraving on both camera and lens;
- Matte black finish with black chrome strap lugs and controls;
- Limited to 100 sets;
- Launch price: $30,000;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M Limited Edition
- Commemoration of Leica's centennial anniversary;
- Leica M (Typ 240) in either black or silver chrome;
- Engraving with the centennial logo on top of the camera;
- Limited to 250 black and 250 chrome units;
- Launch price: $8,600;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica X Vario Leitzpark
- Official opening of the new company complex in Wetzlar ;
- Leica X Vario compact camera;
- Engraving of "Leitzpark" on the top;
- Limited to 200 units;
- Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica D-Lux 6 Edition 100
- Commemoration of Leica's centennial anniversary;
- Leica D-Lux 6 compact camera;
- Two-color finish with a silver lens and a high-gloss black camera body;
- Engraving with the centennial logo on the camera front;
- Limited to 5,000 units;
- Launch price: $950;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica S Edition 100
- Commemoration of Leica's centennial anniversary;
- Leica S (Typ 006) with Summarit-S 70 mm f/2.5 ASPH CS and Elmarit-S 30 mm f/2.8 ASPH CS;
- Engraving with the centennial logo on both camera and lenses;
- Launch price: $34,500;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M for (RED)
- Leica M designed by Jony Ive and Marc Newson;
- Custom made for the (RED) charitable auction 2013;
- Main body of magnesium die-cast;
- Outer shell of milled and anodized aluminum;
- Lens based on APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH;
- Only one unit made;
- Winning auction bid: $1,8 million.
Leica D-Lux 6 Edition G-Star Raw
- Collaboration with clothing manufacturer G-Star Raw;
- Leica D-Lux 6 compact camera;
- Camera covered in textured leather;
- Top plate engraving "LEICA BY G-STAR RAW...JUST THE PRODUCT";
- Custom leather carrying case, neck strap and wrist strap;
- Launch price: $1,150;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M9-P Edition Hermès - Série Limitée Jean-Louis Dumas
- Dedicated to the former president of Hermès;
- Silver-chromed M9-P and three lenses (Summicron-M 28mm, Noctilux-M 50mm, APO-Summicron-M 90mm);
- Camera covered calfskin leather in "ocre";
- Redesigned top deck, base plate, shutter speed dial, and multifunction wheel;
- Limited to 100 sets;
- Launch price: $50,000;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Leica M9-P Edition Hermès
- Collaboration between Leica and fashion house Hermès;
- Silver-chromed M9-P with Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH;
- Camera covered calfskin leather in "ocre";
- Redesigned top deck, base plate, shutter speed dial, and multifunction wheel;
- Limited to 300 units;
- Launch price: $25,000;
- Street Price: check offers on ebay.
Further Reading
New Limited Editions are sometimes announced through an official Leica press release, while smaller or geographically limited launches are covered only by specialized news services, such as leicarumors.com. For technical details on regular Leica equipment, you might want to have a look at the M-camera and R-camera compendiums on this site, as well as the respective M-lens and R-lens overview pages.
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