$14,995.00/£14,000 is a lot, even for a Leica. This Andy Summers ‘signature’ edition is essentially a Leica M Monochrom with a bundled Summicron-M f/2 35mm ASPH. lens, which would normally sell for around half that amount.
This is a lot cheaper than Leica’s previous £24,000 Lenny Kravitz Leica M Monochrom edition, but then that was a twin-lens kit with a Leica Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH, and a Leica APO-Summicron-M 75mm f/2 ASPH.
This is no ordinary Leica M Monochrom, in any event. The exterior is decorated with a custom leatherette finish made from a collage of Summers’ own photographs and also boasts a glossy paint finish, silver chrome controls and Summers’ signature engraved in red. Apart from the included Leica Summicron-M f/2 35mm ASPH. lens (and vintage round lens hood, you’ll get a Fender guitar-inspired camera strap (there is a similarly themed Fender Signature guitar, if you’re interested) and an OBERWERTH leather black system bag.
The Leica M Monochrom is unique amongst today’s digital cameras in having a monochrome sensor with no color filter array. It’s black and white only – but with the advantage that you can use regular black and white filters without any tonal degradation (regular camera sensors start to get a little noisy when use channel mixing techniques in software).
Andy Summers has contributed to books and exhibitions across his 36-year photographic career and works with a wide variety of musical instruments on his latest album, Triboluminescence.
The LEICA M MONOCHROM “Signature,” limited to 50 sets worldwide, is on sale now at Leica Stores and Boutiques for $14,995.00. Don’t expect any Black Friday deals.
Read more:
The best Leica cameras in 2019
