The Leica M Edition 70 is a special product based on the current Leica M-A and limited to 250 examples worldwide. It is expected to become a collector’s item and will be supplied with the Leica APO-Summicron 50 f/2 ASPH lens. It will be available in selected Leica stores from early 2025 and will retail at £19,000 | €22,500, including value added tax.
“Leica M Edition 70”
In announcing the commemorative package, Leica says,
“The “Leica M Edition 70” has been produced as an exclusive special edition to mark the 70th anniversary. This is a unique collector’s item par excellence: the platinum-plated special edition combines classic elegance with precision craftsmanship, the iconic design of the legendary Leica M3 with the state-of-the-art technology from the Leica M-System.
“It is quipped with a Leica M-A camera, Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 f/2 ASPH lens, which is one of the best in its class, a Leicavit M fast winder and a film container including film. The Leica M Edition 70 is not only a wonderful homage to the history of the Leica M-System, but also a perfect investment in the future of analogue photography.
“The combination of timeless design and tried-and-tested craftsmanship, as well as the luxurious platinum coating, make the edition set a coveted item for discerning photographers and collectors.”
The backstory
Leica explains that a new chapter in the history of photography began with the introduction of the Leica M3 exactly seven decades ago, marking the beginning of the M-System which still exists today.
“The Leica M3 set standards with its unique rangefinder”
Launched in 1954, the Leica M3 set standards with its unique rangefinder, and the M-System has been continuously developed in the decades since. For example, the legendary Leica M6 featured integrated exposure metering; additional Leica MP models were specially tailored to press photography.
The Leica M9 was the first digital full-frame rangefinder camera, and the M (Typ 240) was the first to use a CMOS sensor and was also the first series-produced model without a window for illuminating the viewfinder frames.
The Leica M Monochrom ultimately went on to revolutionise digital black-and-white photography; the Leica M-D was the first digital M to offer a genuine analogue feeling, with the removal of the rear display screen; the current model, the M11, allows direct access to the battery and has a Triple Resolution sensor with a resolution of 60, 36 and 18 megapixels.
Leica’s M-System has remained both highly compatible and future-proof, with a recent example being the Leica M11-P, which is the world’s first camera capable of verifying the authenticity of digital images thanks to the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI). This focus on essential features, combined with Leica’s perfect craftsmanship, guarantees quality and consistency — values that are central to the brand’s core identity.
“The quality and craftsmanship of the materials, the sense of precision in every movement, the soft click of the shutter release and the visual clarity of the viewfinder all combine to create an experience that goes far beyond just taking pictures”, says Mark Shipard, Head of Design, Leica Camera AG.
“The beauty of the Leica M is that it is so small and therefore discreet and handy to use”
The Leica M was, and still is, a favourite camera prized by the best photographers, who use it for more than photo-journalistic and documentary work. An M camera is a medium for expressing artistic freedom and individual vision. Countless significant moments would have never been captured without a Leica M and their poignancy would have never been highlighted without the impact of powerful, culturally influential photographs. All these points are reason enough for Leica Camera AG to celebrate seven decades of the Leica M.
“The beauty of the Leica M is that it is so small and therefore discreet and handy to use. Even when people see me using it, they don’t get scared. They don’t see me as a paparazzo – they see me as an artist”, says street photographer Matt Stuart, who was born in London, England.
Leicavit M fast winder
In addition to the special edition, three more versions of the Leicavit M fast winder for manual film transport will also be available black-paint, glossy black-paint and silver-chromed variants. These are not limited editions, but part of the regular series production.
The Leicavit M is compatible with the analogue models, Leica M-A, MP, M6, M7, M6TTL, M4-P and M4-2. It is mounted in place of the baseplate and allows photographers to take up to two pictures per second without taking their eyes off the viewfinder.
All three variants will be available globally at Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorised dealers in the first half of 2025 at a price of £900 | €1,050, including value added tax.
The anniversary book: “Leica M”
The “Leica M” book is also being published in honour of its first 70 years. The history of the Leica M-System is presented over more than 250 pages, with insightful essays, legendary photographs, rarely shown archival material and an overview of the M-Cameras produced to date. The result is an impressive homage, which portrays the complexity and many layers of the Leica M-System’s development over 70 years, vividly and from every angle.
“This book is also a huge ‘thank you’ to all the people who worked with the M and on the M: Photographers, employees, customers, and friends of what we call ‘the Leica family,’” sums up Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leica Camera AG.
The “Leica M” book will be available globally at Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store, the LFI (Leica Fotografie International) Online Store and select authorised dealers from 5 November 2024. The retail price is £45.00 | €49.00 including value added tax.
Jonathan Slack’s review of the new Leica M6
A cup of coffee works wonders in supporting Macfilos
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For anybody who’s missed the chance to order one of these there’s a used Leica M3D David Douglas Duncan up for grabs. Only €215,000 at Jo Geier.
Oh, after using the new website for a few days, I love the new site and appreciate the tremendous effort you guys are doing to update it.
Thanks, Brian. We haven’t had much feedback, which probably means most readers are happy. So it is very encouraging to get your positive comment. There has been a tremendous amount of work, and no little cost. But it will all be worthwhile if readers like it. It’s certainly more involving.
Given the prices being asked for the LHSA version of the APO Summicron with the same ‘scalloped’ barrel, this Set looks a bargain!
I think so, too. No doubt, though, they have all been sold to the usual suspects. I note that it is appearing in Leica Stores only, not authorised dealers. So that probably excludes Red Dot Cameras.
I will miss out on this because a did not get a preorder in before it was announced.
It will be a lovely film camera but unfortunately most will stay in unopened boxes. Anyway, these cameras help fund development of cameras and lenses which is what really matters.
Could they have improved the shutter speed (no fast enough at /1000), could they have improved the viewfinder (Zeiss Ikon comes to mind), rather than just dressing up?
I’m holding out for the Leipzig Spring Fair 100th Anniversary Edition which will be due in the first week of March 2025 (smiley!)
William