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Sir Jonathan Ive to design one-of-a-kind Leica M rangefinder

Sep 19, 2012 at 11:06:57 GMT

CAMERA NEWS LEICA RANGEFINDER

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Leica has announced that it is in discussions with Sir Jonathan Ive - chief designer at Apple - about designing a unique, one-of-a-kind version of its new M rangefinder. In a statement to the British Journal of Photography, Leica has confirmed that the intention is for the resulting camera to be auctioned for charity in summer 2013.

According to Leica, the unique, Ive-designed M rangefinder will be auctioned in summer 2013 with proceeds going to Reporters Without Borders, a charitable organization dedicated to fighting censorship and supporting journalists around the globe. Sir Jonathan Ive is one of the most well-known industrial designers in the world, and is responsible for the design of some of Apple's most iconic products, including the iMac and iPhone. What do you think an Ive-designed M will look like? Let us know in the comments.

(Photo: Apple)

Leica statement (via British Journal of Photography)

'Leica Camera AG is currently in discussions with Sir Jonathan Ive, senior vice president of Industrial Design at Apple Inc., about designing a single example of the new Leica M. The auction will be organised by Bono, vocalist of the rock band U2. The proceeds from the auction will go to those whose work Leica particularly wants to support: reporters in parts of the world afflicted by war and crisis'.

Comments

Total comments: 170

I wish he would design an ethernet cable to match the elegant MacBook Pro connector, instead of this ugly thing coming out of the side of mine. And make it right angle, too.

0 upvotes

I love Johnny's work since iMac. Trying to imagine what will be an ipod driven Leica M look like..

Do we like a M that will have panoramic, multi-touch screen, video (maybe), voice command by Siri, GPS with map tag on pictures. and, maybe no memory
slot also..

How about those manual focus lenses? If there will be an automation, could we still have those once-awhile-useful manual focus screens?

0 upvotes

I think it would still look very, very much like M. Maybe a bit thinner, or sexier. But that would compromise ergonomic, so I don't know.

I think the biggest change will be the internal machined components resulting in combining elements to reduce parts. Especially when only one will be made. Then again Leica Engineers went through that design process with MP. But I guess manufacturing tech had probably improved enough to revisit that again.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I hope Ive knows knows enough about photograhy and camera control to make an effective design.

0 upvotes

Ive could design a Leica AND figure out a way for Foxcomm to make it AND make it for $2000 each. That's the realm Ivy works in.

Apple more or less conquered the smartphone. There's no reason they couldn't do the same for the camera... ;-)

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

how does one "type" that sound you make sticking half of the tongue out and blow out with the mouth closed around the tongue (kinda sounds like a f..t?)?
tzzzzzz? , trrrrrrrzzzz? ptzzzz?

1 upvote

phbbbbbbt

3 upvotes

Don't know if "chief designer at Apple " is real a recommendation.
I never bought / used anything of Aplle, too much bla, bla and overpriced.

But I support the intention of Leica to fight against sensorship and supporting journalists...

0 upvotes

Funny, my sentiments about Lika.

1 upvote

so you never used "anything of apple".
aaaand you are sure about apple's products being overpriced.

2 upvotes

Uh, did most of you read 'the unique, Ive-designed M rangefinder will be auctioned in summer 2013'? That means there will be 1. This is not a consumer product, or a real product at all for that matter, its because they know they can combine Leica and Apple and got a ton of money from some rich person and put that money to charitable use rather than sitting in someone's stock portfolio, good for them - sure, it's probably a PR gimmick too, the end result is the same.

This will not destroy Leica design, revolutionize Leica design, revolutionize the industry, destroy the industry, or otherwise have much of an impact at all on Leica, Apple, the industry or the world in general. Quite complaining and go take some pictures.

6 upvotes

Sadly there's this trend on the web that is on the rise: people reading and thinking less but spewing more crap.

0 upvotes

Oh .... Holy Mac .... I worship you !
Oh .... Holy Leica .... I worship you !
You are the only true joybringers to all of man kind .... We worship you !!!

No hostility against "holy brands " please :-)

..... now if we were to discus Sony's and Hasselblad's Lunar eclipse here ...
pfui, yuck, kotz, brech, vomit, p..s, w...k, f...k,c...p....

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

3 upvotes

Precisely KRW to the point

To this kind of modern fetish Apple/defeated Leica worship we have one German style expression

KRW = kotz, reiher, würg

Means maybe spill over, acid comes up.

You have got the wording just right!

0 upvotes

Wow some of you need to get a life. If you seriously hate Apple design so much chances are your photography is probably s*&#.

3 upvotes

It is interesting how many people reply to this news, without having actually read the news, and believing that Leica really is about to launch on the market a product designed by Ive. I'm the only one who finds it funny? :D

2 upvotes

Sir ? rofl. Monarchy = parasites

1 upvote

I am constantly amazed with the negative comments on the site. Wow. It just never ends. I think it's great to see companies value design and challenge themselves and others. Putting quality before quantity. I can't afford a lot of the products posted, but you can be sure photography wouldn't be what it is today without them.

6 upvotes

I have yet to see any reasonable explanation of why there are so many vicious, retarded people posting regular comments on this website. No matter what the product, they have something rabidly negative to say about it. I wish they would all go somewhere else.

4 upvotes

DPReview is becoming the YouTube of photography sites. So many completely uninformed people making utterly ridiculous comments showing they've more often than not actually read the story.

2 upvotes

"any reasonable explanation of why there are so many vicious, retarded people posting regular comments"

Gen Y (and Z?)! This generation is full of narcissistic people with a strong sense of entitlement. They want the best and the world isn't good enough! Also, being always connected makes them readily share their thoughts. You should read the book, "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled--and More Miserable Than Ever Before" by Dr. Twenge .

0 upvotes

I've seen a possible next gen AppLeica. A fresh look at a camera line badly in need of 21st century tech. Ive may start thinking about photographers instead of phonefotographers. Start with a Sigma Merrill imaging chip. But take it outside of Sigma's me too myopia.

Imagine being able to control aperture or lens angle by voice, or command "flash off" by saying it. Or invoke saved settings like "indoor sports" or "open shade" and have the camera bring up settings appropriate for the situation.

As long as we are adding features, local WiFi to a cell phone or laptop, or to a remote eyepiece clipped inside a pair of shades. How about eye controlled focus point, like Canon was able to do in the film era but seems unable to do now (hint, patents do expire)

Put all that in an Apple retail store where I could actually handle equipment before buying and after the sale get warranty and advice in support. As for the logo? A red circle with a byte out of the side ( C TM.
Daniel

1 upvote

You mean the design that makes iMacs overheat and whereby all ports are behind the computer?

1 upvote

My Imac never overheats and I'm glad the ports are where they are. Easy to access and not making the design look ugly. Of course if you would have a disability this would be another discussion.

2 upvotes

"My iMac overheats" - said no one, ever.

1 upvote

no, they mean the design that everyone on this planet and your grandmother want to copy

0 upvotes

Let me guess: it'll be white, every button will have three functions - none of them clear, and it won't come with any instructions, because if you have to ask, you're not one of the klan...

2 upvotes

Most likely will only have one button.

0 upvotes

No good to anyone if it is unaffordable!

0 upvotes

Sorry, I am not convinced the approach of Leica authorities about the designing of a new Leica M. The designing chance of Leica M is given to the new comers’ in the field rather than "Sir Jonathan Ive" but design must be accepted only according to the strict high level designing parameters. Basically I am a Graphic Designer but I have a trained eye regarding all the relevant fields of designing; unfortunately I have not got any chance in my life to express my creative abilities because I born in most ignorant part of the world ......! In short where world topmost designers end their design exercise I start thinking from there......! If Leica’s gives me a chance to design their new Leica M rangefinder, I assured that I will perform my duty with best of my competitive spirit, creative abilities, knowledge and believe.

1 upvote

I'm pretty much convinced you'd come up with a better design, but ofc Leica wouldn't know about that. I guess Leica's idea about this one of a kind camera is to cooperate with a famous (atm) designer so that they could sell it on auction for an obscene amount of cash. (my guess is about 100k at minimum) So, try to get hugely famous in the 1st place ;)

0 upvotes

Yeah but your training or trained eye is limiting you in 2D space(monitor). The 3rd dimension is alien to ad graphic designers(fonts). It is kind of like a carpenter claiming he/she is able to design an architectural master piece, no?

1 upvote

Yeah but your training or trained eye is limiting you in 2D space(monitor). The 3rd dimension is alien to as graphic designers(fonts). It is kind of like a carpenter claiming he/she is able to design an architectural master piece, no?

1 upvote

Yes, a design contest would be neat.

0 upvotes

If you think about it, the Leica X2 has already that Apple-like sophisticated simplicity. It could have been an Ive design.

5 upvotes

I thought they already did an all-white version as a limited edition for the Japanese market?

An iLeica would want to be more reliable than my iPhone 4 that has been replaced twice under warranty already!

0 upvotes

Designer's cameras? Pentax K-1 and Hassy "Luni" come to my ugly nightmare.

2 upvotes

If it's an Apple-like design: yawn... no, thanks, I have seen enough boring, lame, bland flat alu or white plastic design, sorry.

2 upvotes

Hello and thank you for your valuable input, mr. szLevi, now that we got your message, we won't be making any of those. Keep us posted on your valuable insights.

--
Leica Camera AG
(not)

0 upvotes

Well, he has to pay for that new 17 million dollar home he just bought somehow.

1 upvote

I bet it won't look like that Hasselblad.

0 upvotes

We all hope that Leica won't be doing as bad taste as Hasselblad.

0 upvotes

>Yes right, I hope that Bonobo knows that Leica is well known to have >participated in war efforts and atrocities.

Actually that is not true, if you are referring to WWII. There is a full documentary available that chronicles how the Leitz family saved hundreds of Jews and other prosecuted individuals from the Nazis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_Freedom_Train

2 upvotes

Maybe so, but Leica was a fine photographic tool for the SS Sturmfuhrers to record their atrocities.

3 upvotes

Perhaps you mean "persecuted."

1 upvote

It will not be permitted to to have FLASH, pop-up or otherwise.

4 upvotes

Well, I got it!

0 upvotes

Will have non-removable battery, memory will be non-removable, will use a totally different unique plug, $50 adapter will be available. If held incorrectly will fail to work, in that case a case will be required. Some times will burn on people pocket. And will be manufactured in factory were people comit suicides. Will cost 2+ times more then normal product.

That sounds like a typical apple product.

7 upvotes

I guess that is what is required to go from a nothing company, almost out of business, to the most valuable company in the world.

1 upvote

Apple as a company has zero value (to me), because I never bought a red cent worth of their product, and don't intend to do so ever in the future, either. There are a few others like me, believe it or not. :-)

5 upvotes

it will also automatically download and play the right theme song for the scenery being shot, straight from itunes, and the charge will be automatically withdrawn from your account via a special on board chip.

1 upvote

An overrated designer of an overpriced, under-spec'ed product gets the chance to design for another overrated, overpriced brand with equally annoying gadget-collecting iFanb0is.

Also, crApple is "valued" that way because it is in the financial interests of the pump&dump stock market anal-ysts to have that stock priced that way. Same with the tech-ignorant mainstream media which have an advertising interest in hyping products from that techno-fascist, arrogant and deluded 2-bit company who can't stand 1-bit of competition.

2 upvotes

Rich, it's only valuable because of the excellent marketing team there that created a huge cult following for it. Otherwise, what they have aren't anything groundbreaking. A couple of innovations here and there, then it's mostly patent trolling.

0 upvotes

"There are a few others like me"

Thank heaven for small mercies, there's only a few like you.

1 upvote

Vlampa,
Just was wondering if you knew exactly what innovations they brought to the consumers, and any examples of paten trolling by Apple, that is if you understand the notion of a patent troll.....

Much of the PC technology you take for granted was first put to market by Apple, whether it be the mouse, usb, or the CD / DVD drive, windows interface, modern smartphone, to name a few. Apple may not have initially developed those products, but is was Apple who was able to put them into consumers had and change computing.

Don't want to buy Apple, fine; hate the walled Apple ecosystem, fine; hate Apple design, fine; but at least give the company the respect that it deserves and do some research before making such ridiculous statements.

0 upvotes

Seriously I can't WAIT to see what he comes up with!!! ...exciting!

1 upvote

Will the battery and flash memory be built in? Will it only shoot jpegs? If held incorrectly in a user's hand will it fail to function?

2 upvotes

It will be a revolutionary product.
It will be the thinnest and lightest Leica M ever.
You will notice a big difference to previous M cameras.
The conventional approach to design a digital camera uses two chips to capture and to store the image. With the new Leica M capturing and storing will be combined onto a single chip.
Along with the experience of actually using it, what will make the new Leica M so remarkable will be how it actually feels in your hand, the materials it will be made with, the remarkable precision it will be build with.
Jonathan Ive will start with the design we really love but he will look way beyond what know to be possible.
It will take all his learning, his best thinking to realize something so simple, so clear and yet so truely exraordinary.

And of course it comes with the much smaller, all digital lightning connecter.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

1 upvote

Well wildbild, you made me vomit. Congratulations!

2 upvotes

congrats to the spill!
It is all just Jonathan Ive's own words from Apple's marketing videos…

2 upvotes

I don't buy a lot of Apple stuff, just the Mac becasue I can never get Windows to work properly. But I do watch the videos this guy makes when they introduce a product and wow, does he know how pat himself on the back. Wow.

0 upvotes

1. Jonathan Ives is a great designer

2. I don't care how my camera looks, only how it functions.

3. This is mainly a naming/branding exercise.

4. Rich/luxury items these days are usually bog standard equipment coated in gold, veneered in exotic wood, or studded with jewels. It's old style luxury mixed with modern technology and never works well. Give me a luxury camera that is truly different; flawless f/1.2 lenses, 20FPS frame rate, something that is a technical achievement. Not a name and an appearance.

So there.

2 upvotes

My nominee for first entry should DPR ever start its own version of SI's "Signs the Apocalypse Is Upon Us" column.

1 upvote

Let's see: A one off, not really made to be used, more like a collectable for the super rich, like Gates, who once ensured that Apple survived, by donating a huge sum of money to Jobs & Apple (paid back eventually).

Probably a lot of white gold, with an Apple logo in silver, and Leica logo made from a ruby, and OIS, WiFi, and the Cloud! But probably a dry battery inside, as it has to be kept in a vault at all times! No need for recharging!

Seriously, a camera like that, with such a pedigree, made in 100 numbered copies, would be a grand collectable!

0 upvotes

You need to look up the definition of "donating" and it was Microsoft that made the investment, not Gates.

Imagine how much less debt Microsoft would have if they'd held on to the few hundred million in Apple stock, bought at something like $14 per share?

1 upvote

It probably won't have user a changeable battery or memory card.
Complete waste of time, just a gimmick.

4 upvotes

$10 on another ripped-off Braun design. Looking forward to!

3 upvotes

Wow, the world's highest ranked rip-off price gizmo company temporarily mating with is German equivalent.

But since the designed is a "Sir," no less, I think that fact alone makes this brouhaha of an announcement somehow palatable.

5 upvotes

The amount of hostility here toward a fundraiser for Reporters without Borders is surprising.

7 upvotes

Yeah, everyone is high on the haterade here. It's really sad. And most of these haters probably don't give a cent to any charity, let alone to Reporters Without Borders. The only contribution these haters are contributing is pure petty vitriol. It's as if these people can't get through the day without spewing hate somewhere.

6 upvotes

Many of us do. But we have the class & sense to not announce it to the entire world as if we are the Savior of Mankind like that arrogant, techno-fascist, self-deluded, mean, petty, lying founder of that iFruitcake company.

2 upvotes

I love how you use "us" like it includes you. Well stolen.

1 upvote

Prestidigitator,
Just was curious to who are you referring to?

0 upvotes

If Leica wants to support reporters, they should release a digital M camera that photojournalists can afford to actually use in the field... Like they used to.

3 upvotes

What kind of non-sense statement is that? What photojournalists use out in the field today are autofocus DSLRs, not manual focus rangefinders.

5 upvotes

Whaaaa? Are you saying Leica has lost touch with it's roots?!

1 upvote

A designer camera was a bad move on Pentax' part but in this case it's the perfect camera brand for such a pairing.

Many buy Leica for the same reason they buy Apple... it's a fashion statement. That being the case, who would be a better choice for a designer Leica than Johnny?

Yes, Leica makes usually good cameras and excellent lenses and there are those who buy them for their quality but there are also many sheep who buy them simply because it makes a statement to those who have no red dot.

I simply wouldn't be seen in the Hamptons without one. :-)

3 upvotes

Canon already made an i-pod that you attach to a lens - the EOS M. Just make it thinner, add the half eaten apple, and charge some insane price.

Oh but the User Interface!!! Power zoom would be controled only by two-finger touch screen of course. Apeture and shutter control would be apps that you need to download for $5 each.

4 upvotes

Baron von Frankenstein's great-grandchild hard at work at the subterranean family lab.

1 upvote

how is this news, it would be if they had something to show, but, announcing tha tthey are working on it is not news, but, free PR which DPR simply took the bait

3 upvotes

It will be equipped with a patent lawsuit ...

2 upvotes

No, it's the ICa...

0 upvotes

Good luck ! Apple has lost its way (new iPhone 5 anyone?) so why not ?

3 upvotes

iphone 5 is a joke

2 upvotes

Has to be the eica.

1 upvote

This "designer version" stuff is so 80s...

2 upvotes

Need to have the Corinthian leather touch, though.

1 upvote

It will end up looking very much like the Nikon J1, except on the back there are no buttons. All touch screen. RF is probably dropped.

1 upvote

It will have a red apple instead of a red dot.

0 upvotes

I'm betting he will make a better job of it than Marc Newson's Pentax.

5 upvotes

of course he will, the pentax is dirt cheap looking and ugly

Comment edited 10 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Most cameras are ugly. Carried on straps, and bobbing about pudgy guys' waists, they have an uncouth resemblence to indecent exposure. It's a good thing that Newson and Ive come into the field to offer something different. Let's hope the Leica appears dramatically different.

3 upvotes

Too bad Newson seems to know little about camera usability.

0 upvotes

Leica is not Pentax.

If anything, they've shown exemplary stubbornness at keeping with traditions, both in terms of design and in terms of usability (for good or for bad, doesn't matter).

If the new design would come close to anything as silly-looking as the K01, I think that Leica people would not allow it.

I expect something really beautiful, like the Hermes (however meaningless the latter is, photographically).

2 upvotes

I need the Corinthian leather striping and some wood grain glued onto it, too. Must-have items for any decent, high-end camera, come to think of it.

2 upvotes

Bizarre

Most bizarre tech story this year. Apple first suing their supplier Samsung. And now getting the next hardware vendor into their desperate vision decline grip: Leica – the weak Barnack name misuser. My god. The now Leica with the Louis Vuitton boutique appeal of sensors, others had to design and to manufacture. Zero Leica contribution to anything today.

Apple and Leica – the total climax. I will short Apple stock in about six months. Leica in Wetzlar – forget it. You even cannot short this.

5 upvotes

Android fanboys are so cute whenever anything even peripherally to do with Apple is mentioned.

1 upvote

I have an iphone, but you do realize that Apple has an end also right? Nothing is forever and Apple is no exclusion to that rule...

1 upvote

Now we at least know which company will Apple sue next in California civil court: Leica of Deutschland.

0 upvotes

The only person talking about Android is you.

Your obsession is unhealthy.

2 upvotes

Wow, typical crApple iFruitcake iAnnoying iFanb0i automatically assuming everyone hating on crApple is using Android. You indeed deserve to pay more and line up for hours outside a store to get a mass-produced, consumer electronics gadget made in China.

Comment edited 12 seconds after posting

1 upvote

Prest is right, some of them use still use Symbian.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 170


Leica invites entries for its Oskar Barnack Award 2013 Dec 10, 2012	Leica announces 'M' 24MP live view full-frame CMOS rangefinder with movies Sep 17, 2012	Leica announces the M-E, a stripped-down 18MP full-frame rangefinder Sep 17, 2012	Leica creates M9-P Hermès 18MP rangefinder special editions May 10, 2012

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