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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
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
Josh Lowensohn
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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.

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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.

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Leica's M (Red) camera - bottom

The bottom of the device is sparse.

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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.

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Leica's M (Red) camera - front

The lens is a 50mm f/2 aspherical.

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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.

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Leica's M (Red) camera - front

The front with the lens off.

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Leica's M (Red) camera - close up front

A closer look at the aluminum front.

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Leica's M (Red) camera - dials aplenty

Familiar buttons and dials in familiar places.

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Leica's M (Red) camera - close up on controls

The textured control dials on the top.

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