Today, Leica has announced their second special edition product in partnership with the legendary design house Zagato: the Leica M10 Edition Zagato Set. Limited to only 250 examples worldwide, the M10 Edition Zagato Set is comprised of a unique silver M10 and Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens.
This is the first special edition for the M10 and goes far beyond minor cosmetic tweaks like we have seen in the past with some special editions. The camera is constructed from aluminum, rather than the traditional brass, and features a number of unique design elements including an integrated grip, red shutter button and engraved body in place of a standard leather body covering. The lens has an integrated, slide-out lens shade (a first for a 35mm Summilux) and a uniquely styled focus tab that mirror's one of Zagato's classic design cues, the “double-bubble” roof.
Technical specifications are identical to the standard production items, however it would not surprise me to see some of the functional changes to show up on future models!
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The official release, from Leica:
Leica Camera today announces the Leica M10 “Edition Zagato”, a timelessly beautiful special edition set that combines the best of German craftsmanship and Italian design. Comprised of a Leica M10 camera body and a Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens, the set takes its name and design from Dr. Andrea Zagato, owner of the Italian design house and automotive styling specialists of the same name. Limited to only 250 sets, this is the second special edition created in collaboration between the two long-established companies. The first Leica x Zagato collaboration was a set of limited series binoculars from 2015 with strikingly elegant design, the Leica Ultravid 8×32 “Edition Zagato”.
Founded a century ago, Zagato has created some of the most beautiful coachbuilt bodies in the history of automobile construction, incorporating the innovative uses of aluminum throughout that they are known for. Today, the company continues to create special, and strictly limited, editions of cars with unique styling in Milan – the city where their storied success began with founder Ugo Zagato in 1919.
This passion for aesthetics and precision is shared by Leica and Zagato in every respect, with photography also being a key element. “Photography plays an essential role in our work. Without the possibilities offered by photography, we would never have had the invaluable pictures and the ability to reconstruct vehicle models, and would not be able to present our work from the past decades in such an impressive way,” explains owner Dr. Andrea Zagato, who, together with his wife and Art Director Marella Rivolta-Zagato, now lead the family company in its third generation.
The Leica M10 “Edition Zagato” is the first special edition of the Leica M10 camera, and offers extraordinary visual and tactile highlights, designed by Dr. Zagato himself. The top deck, baseplate, outer casing and control elements of the camera are all manufactured from the signature Zagato material: aluminum. This makes it 70 grams lighter than the standard M10 camera. Instead of the usual leather trim, the body of the camera is finished with precisely cut fine grooves, which, together with accents like the red shutter release button, lend the camera its one-of-a-kind look and feel. The elegant curves of the integrated handgrip at the left of the body further distinguishes the special edition from the serial production model of the M10, and adds a new dimension of comfort and handling. The M10 “Edition Zagato” is the first Leica camera to have its own special serial number engraved on an aluminum badge on the base of the camera that is revealed only when the baseplate is opened.
Perfectly matched with this exquisite camera and completing the special edition set is a uniquely designed Leica Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens, which has an integrated hood that can be pulled out and locked in place in a single motion – a new feature for a Leica 35 mm lens that streamlines its handling. The design of the focus tab on the lens also pays homage to an iconic styling signature of Zagato automobile design – the double-bubble roofline of many Zagato cars. The distinct “Zagato” logotype lining the lens ring highlights the role of the prominent design partner in this collaboration. In all photographic capabilities and aspects, the technical specifications of the camera and lens in the Leica M10 “Edition Zagato“ set are identical to those of the standard production model.
Complementing the camera and lens, the set also includes a bright and bold red carrying strap in full-grain leather embossed with the Zagato logotype. This M-Camera is the first to feature rectangular strap lugs in the same design as those adorned on the flanks of the Zagato binoculars. The certificate of authenticity graces the packaging of the set in the form of an aluminum plate with an engraved serial number.
Accompanying the launch of the Leica M10 “Edition Zagato” is the publication of the second volume of the coffee-table book trilogy, “Leica and Zagato – Europe Collectibles.” This beautiful photo book showcases 33 Zagato models spanning the entire history of the brand against the backdrop of beautiful Southern European settings.
The set is priced at $21,600 and you can check it out online here: Leica M10 Edition Zagato
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