The nearer we get to the announcement of a new M camera, the more special editions are announced in an attempt to breathe new life into the old version. We’ve had Ms with red nobbles, reportedly in some demand, and now comes the dernier cri — the Leica Monochrom Meister Edition Berlin.
I’ve visited the Meister Camera Leica store in the elegant Fasanenstrasse (Pheasant Street, definitely not Peasant Street) just off the Ku’damm on a number of occasions. I usually stop by every time I’m in the city to see what’s new. I’ve learned, though, that this Meister store was the first one to carry the latest black-and-red interior theme that we recognise as the hallmark of the Leica boutique worldwide. It had its makeover ten years ago.
The new edition is very limited — only ten copies, to celebrate the store’s tenth anniversary — so it is well outside my price league at €18,880. It’s an attractive beast, nevertheless. It comes with a 50mm Summilux-M f/1.4 lens and both camera and lens are finished in what Meister Camera calls “brown mordant”. In the photographs it looks more like matte black to me but I expect it does have a browny cast to it. The “mordant” is also said to be a tribute the city of Berlin, “a bridge to the constantly changing and further developing and pulsating City of Berlin.” Quite.
Beneath all that mordancy, though, lurks an M246, a camera that will continue for some months after the launch of the new M next week. Still, with a limit of ten sets it could be a good buy. They are probably all sold by now, anyway so better phone before booking your German Wings flight to Tegel.
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What I can’t figure out is I like all Leica Mono and seems every time I view other camera websites there are more and more B/W so it begs question why hasn’t one these other camera companies make a Mono like Fuji Xpro2 in Mono.
It’s a mystery to me, too. The original Monochrom was an unexpected success for Leica and the M246 has continued the trend. I find it strange that no other manufacturer has tried to muscle in on the party.
I love it. Mike, thanks for posting – I might have otherwise missed this. Every time I see one of these releases I give out a quiet "yessssss". I think it’s a very slick way to keep the brand alive and stir interest and discussion. The broader discussion often has a "bitter" tone but nevertheless the talk goes on.
From an aesthetics POV this does appeal to me. The mechanics appeal more but a monochrome is still beyond my pocketbook and the whole Leica system is a past dream, once realized.
I’m hopeful, but not optimistic, that the M10 will be in my future. I’ve experience the M3 and classic M6 w/ M7 VF and a couple of lenses. The latter I’ve been trying to find somewhere else for a decade and nothing matches my (possibly romanticized) recollection of their performance.
I relish precision mechanical things and the design and craftsmanship that makes them possible. My future in those areas may just be to resort to my Captain Queeg fist full of ball-bearings/steelies and enjoy the ground-floor basics of mechanical precision. 🙂
Keep it up Leica, your product is interesting and desirable on many levels, some non-intersecting but always satisfying. In the right hands, the output is obvious and superlative.
Roger
Roger,
Thanks. I’m also hopeful that the next M will have the same dimensions, weight and feel as the M7. It’s perhaps too much to expect it to shrink to the M3 but there isn’t that much in it now. I agree with your view on the Brown Mordant (which must get the prize for the most inventive name for a Leica special edition). I like it too and wish I could afford it. Fortunately, none left I tell myself.
I’m not usually one for limited edition versions but I like this one, very discreet looking.
I agree…. But no doubt they are all sold.
🙂
They have all gone Mike…
I bought the last four.
… Oh and three whiff-whaff editions for the wife.
Anyway the upcoming M10 does look interesting, since it might well have the SL/Q innards, and the rumour of the M 24-90 zoom… Yikes!