Leica's Apple-inspired M camera (pictures)
The camera, co-designed by Apple design chief Jony Ive and industrial designer Marc Newson, will be sold to raise money to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Josh Lowensohn
Leica's M (Red) camera - front
This special Leica camera will go up for auction at a Sotheby's auction next month and is a collaboration between Apple design chief Jonathan Ive and industrial designer Marc Newson. The charitable project was announced last year, and on Tuesday the first images of the camera were unveiled.
The proceeds from the November 23 auction, which includes another 40 items curated by Ive and Newson, will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The auction is part of musician Bono's Product Red initiative.
Leica's M (Red) camera - back
Leica says it went through 561 different models and "nearly 1,000 prototype parts" to come up with this camera, which is based on the Leica M.
Leica's M (Red) camera - bottom
The bottom of the device is sparse.
Leica's M (Red) camera - side
Similar to some Macs, the body is perforated metal, which Leica says was machined from "custom engineered alloy" and wrapped in anodized aluminum.
Leica's M (Red) camera - front
The lens is a 50mm f/2 aspherical.
Leica's M (Red) camera - dials
The camera is made up of nearly 1,000 prototype parts and took more than 725 hours of manufacturing time, Leica says.
Leica's M (Red) camera - front
The front with the lens off.
Leica's M (Red) camera - close up front
A closer look at the aluminum front.
Leica's M (Red) camera - dials aplenty
Familiar buttons and dials in familiar places.
Leica's M (Red) camera - close up on controls
The textured control dials on the top.