Leica to release M9 made of titanium
Leica has collaborated with Volkswagen's chief designer, Walter de Silva, to produce a titanium version of its M9 camera, however, the model comes at a premium price
Author: Olivier Laurent
The Leica M9 Titanium is the result of a collaboration between the German firm and Italian designer Walter de Silva, who is responsible for the design concepts of Volkswagen Group's latest Audi cars.
"We asked him to help design a new camera," explained Leica's chairman, Andreas Kaufmann, at an exclusive event on 20 September at Photokina in Cologne, Germany. "I have a passion for cars, and (de Silva) has a passion for cameras."
The titanium version of the M9 is an exclusive edition strickly limited to 500 cameras. It will be released as a set with a Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens, whose exterior metal components are also manufactured from solid titanium.
In fact, Dr. Kaufmann did not shy away from claiming that Leica's cameras have always been special collector items, and that the 500 copies of this latest camera, despite its steep price of £19,800, will be sold within days.
In addition to the camera and lens, the Leica M9 Titanium special edition set includes a shoulder holster, a carrying strap and finger loops in two different sizes, made from the same premium Audi leather used on the camera body, says Leica. "Also part of the set is a book devoted to the design process leading to the creation of this high quality, special titanium edition and which also includes an interview with de Silva.
The Leica M9 Titanium will be available in the UK from the end of November 2010 priced at £19,800.
Visit www.leica-camera.co.uk.
Comments
Someone should do a deal with Leica so that for a fee the proud new owner can have the box scanned and receive a "suitable for framing" print of the scan... because you KNOW that out of a production run of 500, somewhere between 490 and 495 will never EVER have the shrink-wrap removed. They'll go straight from Leica's shipper into a glass case with a copy of the promo flyer and the framed scan....
Yet another stunning example by Leica, of a product ( for lack of a better word ) that will appeal to almost no one.
Leica to release M9 made of titanium
I think is is crazy what Leica doing, £19,800 for a camera, even that it's Leica, "no thanks".
Leica, unless I am gravely mistaken, have some financial issues. If they can sell a camera to a seriously gullible "collector" for nearly 20 grand, then so be it - but like the Bugatti Veyron, I bet it cost almost as much to make - so what exactly is the point?
Perhaps those nice people at Leica have stopped taking the medication, but for the price of a good second-hand Land Rover that can take me and my battered but functional Canon to almost anywhere in the world to make pictures, they can - and should - stick to producing goods that will change this planet with what they can do, not with what they are.
Leica have definitely lost the plot. They need to realise that most photographers would rather purchase a camera and several lenses, for the price of a Leica. I would love a Leica but a reality check makes me stick with my superb Canon system. But come the Lotto win :-))
Well this is the leica, and this is how the leica philosophy always was. They make simple to use "luxury" cameras that are compared do swiss watches and they never made any sucsessful consumer camera.Just like ferraris and bugattis they are expensive but there is allways a market for them
I support the previous comments in that this company has now gone too far!
On this planet, in these times, with all the disturbances that mould the human condition we have this 'lot 'of cameras. Billions of people have never owned a camera, let alone seen one. Leica, make them a $10.00 Leica!
If the money you obtained from those purchasers went to help the needs of the abused; it would be wonderful, perfect, we would all praise you.
Right now, I just want to Drill Holes though my 'M' and 4 lenses and spike them to a post. I hope I do it! That would make you guys look sick.
Related Articles
BJP Daily
Most Popular Articles
12 photographers selected for 2013 World Press Photo's Joop Swart Masterclass
Don McCullin to headline Visa pour l'Image's 25th edition
Hipstamatic launches Oggl, a new social network for creative photographers
VII Photo's CEO Stephen Mayes resigns
EyeEm photo-sharing app aims to enable photographers to sell their images
Kodak sells two businesses to its own UK pension plan, in $650m deal
Updating your subscription status 
About us
British Journal of Photography is the world’s longest running photography magazine, established in 1854, and online since 1997. A high-quality monthly printed edition is available as a subscription or from selected newsagents in the UK and around the world.
Jobs
Key Account Manager
We have a vacancy for a Key Account Manager working on The British Journal of Photography
Head of Photography
Magnet Harlequin, one of the UK's leading Creative Production Agencies is seeking a new Head of Photography.
Photographic technical support officers
We have opportunities for two experienced photographic, audio or video technicians.
Popular Topics
