Leica just unveiled the new Leica M9 ‘Titanium’. It’s a special edition version of the M9, created in collaboration with Walter de’Silva, chief designer of the Volkswagen Group. But don’t let the VW heritage distract you, as de’Silva is responsible for the eye-popping designs from Audi, owned by VW. Now it all begins to fit together…
As part of the collabroation with Leica, de’Silva and his Audi Design Team re-interpreted the design of the Leica M9, slathering the outside in Titanium and buddying it up with a Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens. Of course, that lens also has a titanium finish.
The price for such a luxurious re-design is unsurprisingly high. £19,800 will get you a camera and a lens, but for the price you’ll be in exclusive company: Leica is making just 500 of the new M9 Titanium cameras.
As well as the Titanium coating, there are new features inside too. LED illumination of the viewfinder, and a single mounting point for a carry strap (rather than dual carrying clips) come as standard. There’s a new metal finger loop, covered with fine Nappa leather, too. In fact, the leather used in the trim of the Leica M9 Titanium is the same stuff “typically reserved for the interiors of Audi’s premium automobiles.” de’Silva’s clearly using his old contacts book to source suppliers.
There’s good news for clumsy millionaires too: The Leica M9 Titanium is scratch-resistant, with sapphire-crystal glass used to cover the screen, and lastly Leica has even let de’Silva tweak its iconic logo. It sounds like sacrelige to us, but the Leica badge “has been restyled and is elaborately hand-engraved in pure resin, inlaid with white enamel, sealed with a clear varnish and then polished.”
Who’s getting one for Christmas then? Also, can we come to your house and watch you open it?
Out now | £19,800 | Leica
