100 Years Of Leica City Editions
How do you celebrate the 100th anniversary of a sea change in technology? If you’re the German camera maker Leica, you conduct a world tour issuing limited-release city editions at each of six global hot spots.
The Leica I debuted at the 1925 Leipzig Spring Fair as the first compact series-produced, 35-mm camera and would set the standard for quality modern cameras. No longer anchored by bulky equipment, photographers were free to roam. With exceptional lenses, crisp action and function-focused Bauhaus design, the German brand attracted a cult following, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Eisenstaedt and Annie Leibovitz.
The series of celebratory events culminated in June at the Leica’s HQ campus in Wetzlar, Germany, attended by photographers Joel Meyerowitz and Steve McCurry. Leica I’s forefather, the 0-Series prototype, sold at auction for nearly $8.5 million.
The brand has rolled out a number of anniversary-edition products, including binoculars, a commemorative book and a M11-D 100 Years of Leica boxed set with special 50-mm lenses. The city-themed Leica M11 100 Years of Leica models (100 pieces each, $10,695) are engraved with their designated city names. The Wetzlar edition was preceded by Dubai, Milan and New York. Shanghai followed and Tokyo will launch in October.
These compact digital rangefinder cameras represent the next revolution as they are equipped with a digital, 60-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor. The city editions incorporate glossy black paint, silver chrome-finished control elements such as the shutter release, on/off switch and ISO and speed dials, which are embellished with intricate cross knurling. Black cowhide armor lends a sense of tactile elegance while nodding to the vulcanite leathering of previous models. They are engraved with the city name and the hot shoe cover has the “100” anniversary logo. Missed out on the special edition? You can still buy the standard M11 for about $1,500 less.
