mmonochrom

Leica and rock star Lenny Kravitz have teamed up to unveil a new limited edition Leica M Monochrom. Called the "Drifter" Set, the new Kravitz-designed camera features faux python skin.

Leica today announced its new M Monochrom (Type 246), a followup to the M Monochrome black-and-white rangefinder camera. The new camera boasts improvements in image quality as well as new video and live view features.

I’ve not long been back from a trip which took myself and my family back to the UK via a few other places, this wasn’t a photography trip but I’ve included a few of my favourite images picked up along the way. The are more images along with a more extensive write-up on my blog here -- The Reluctant Tourist.

A lot of people might have thought Leica had staked out enough of a challenge convincing people to pay $8,000 for a digital camera that only shoots black-and-white.

Never one to shy away from a luxury marketing opportunity, however, the German camera maker briefly offered the opportunity to pay an extra $20,000 for a limited-edition version of the M-Monochrom... an opportunity people jumped at.

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If you were watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart last night, you might have noticed a friend of ours stopped by. It was an expensive friend known as the Leica M Monochrom, and it earned a surprised and somewhat confused reaction from Jon Stewart.

We've embedded the five-minute segment above, but truth be told, the camera only plays a role at the very beginning and end of the video. It's nice to see a gorgeous piece of photographic gear getting some primetime airtime though, and it seems Jon Stewart reacted to it just like most people would: "wow that's a beautiful camera" is followed by "wait, it only shoots black and white!?"

Okay, fine, the normal human being would follow THAT up with a third statement: "What do you mean it costs eight grand!?"

“Monochrome is the new color” The world was introduced to color photography when Kodak introduced the revolutionary Kodachrome film in 1935. But fast forward to 2012, Leica decided that “monochrome is the new color”, and wants to turn back the clock with a digital rangefinder that shoots only black-and-white for $7,995. At this point, I can hear you screaming, “That’s the silliest way of spending eight grand!”