Leica Collabs with Streetwear Brand BAPE in Limited Edition D-Lux 7
Leica has announced a collaboration with streetwear brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE) to produce a limited-edition D-Lux 7 camera that it says merges “industry-leading technology with a chic, urban sensibility.”
The Leica D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE X STASH” collaboration consists of a black-finish compact camera that will be sold exclusively through Leica and a silver-finish version available exclusively through the streetwear brand. Both special editions feature the ABC CAMO look from BAPE that covers the entire camera body, the brand’s ape head insignia, and the “tag” of American graffiti artist STASH.
“The result is a camera that integrates the power of street photography with icons of streetwear and street art,” Leica says.
“The streetwear label BAPE encapsulates the youthful spirit of an entire generation, bringing Tokyo’s urban street style to the world with its contemporary designs. From the Asian metropolis, we turn our attention to New York, where pioneering street-art legend STASH (aka Josh Franklin) paved the way for a new genre of graffiti by moving his creations from the anonymity of subway tunnels into the public eye,” the company continues.
“Finally, we turn to Wetzlar: the German city that has become almost synonymous with the art of optical engineering and camera design. This special-edition camera combines the creative energies of Tokyo and New York. Photography has always been used to document both street art and street fashion — now the Leica D-Lux 7 ‘A BATHING APE X STASH’ is a tangible manifestation of this connective link.”
As is often the case with special edition releases of Leica cameras, the D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE X STASH” collaboration camera has the same technical specifications of the standard model, including a 17-megapixel four-thirds sensor and 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 optically stabilized lens.
The camera is capable of shooting up to 4K at 30 frames per second and up to 60 frames per second in 1080p Full HD.
The Leica D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE X STASH” is set to retail for $1,895 and will come with a carrying strap, a specially designed camera pouch, and an auto lens cap that opens and closes as the lens retracts and extends. Leica has not said if the limited edition camera has a limited production.