Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Jony Ive Partners With Leica for One-of-a-Kind Charity Camera

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,482
40,600



Apple hasn't produced a dedicated camera since it released the QuickTake in 1994, but a new collaboration between Apple's senior vice president of design Jony Ive and Leica gives a glimpse of what an Apple camera could look like today (via Pop Photo).

leica5.jpg
Ive has designed a one-of-a-kind Leica M Rangefinder to be auctioned off at Sotheby's to benefit Product (RED). The camera, which utilizes a sleek aluminum design, took more than 561 models, 1000 prototype parts, and 85 days to design.

leica6.jpg
Leica Camera is pleased to present The Leica M for (RED), designed by Jony Ive and Marc Newson. The camera, based off the Leica M, will be auctioned off at Southeby's on November 23rd 2013 to raise money for The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. From a design standpoint, it features a laser machined aluminum body and an anodized aluminum outer shell.
Click to expand...
Like all Leica M Rangefinders, the camera features a full-frame 24-megapixel sensor, a 3-inch LCD, and full HD 1080p video. The standard Leica camera retails for $7,000, and Ive's version could fetch quite a bit more.

leica7.jpg
The camera will be auctioned via Sotheby's on November 23, along with a number of other products including solid gold EarPods that were also designed by Ive. Proceeds will go to Product (RED), a longtime Apple partner. Apple has raised more than $65 million for the charity since 2006.

Article Link: Jony Ive Partners With Leica for One-of-a-Kind Charity Camera
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/10/08/jony-ive-partners-with-leica-for-one-of-a-kind-charity-camera/
Wow

Its a - camera. With a lens. And screen. And in a Apple MacPro kind of design which is already obsolete.

Though the fact that it's for charity is nice, so in that respect I applaud their effort.
 
@above me: it's in the old Mac Pros color, not design, which you obviously have no idea of.
It picks up Leica's design combined with Ive's taste.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I prefer how the classic Leica designs look.

Leica-M9-SD-Issues.jpg


I always remember how Steve Jobs compared the design of the iPhone 4 to a "beautiful old Leica camera".

The iPhone 4 is even more beautiful.

iphone-4-verizon.jpg
 
MacRumors said:
Apple hasn't produced a dedicated camera since it released the QuickTake in 1994, but a new collaboration between Apple's senior vice president of design Jony Ive and Leica gives a glimpse of what an Apple camera could look like today.
...
The camera, which utilizes a sleek aluminum design, took more than 561 models, 1000 prototype parts, and 85 days to design.
...
Like all Leica M Rangefinders, the camera features a full-frame 24-megapixel sensor, a 3-inch LCD, and full HD 1080p video. The standard Leica camera retails for $7,000, and Ive's version could fetch quite a bit more.
Click to expand...


Yeah, that could work...;)
 
Its a nice update on the classic Rangefinder design and shape. Don't know why people are kicking off about it...
 
I don't think Apple would bother releasing a product that looks anything like this. Apple releases products that look like nothing that has come before them. This looks like an ordinary camera - I wouldn't know that anyone from Apple had anything to do with it unless MR had reported on it.

I'm not saying it doesn't look good - it just doesn't look groundbreaking enough to be a product Apple would bother making.
 
I like it. still looks like a Leica, and there is a hint of Jony touches on the curves.

Apple should team up with Leica and not just for charity, like I don't know use a leica lens in iphones :D
 
Tankmaze said:
I like it. still looks like a Leica, and there is a hint of Jony touches on the curves.

Apple should team up with Leica and not just for charity, like I don't know use a leica lens in iphones :D
Click to expand...

Then your phone would be way more expensive... ;)

(But it would get awesome lens)
 
Apple designers usually take something and add the wow factor.

I understand it's just a one-off, but I think they've done the opposite here. I guess the problem here is retro is in, big time, with cameras and there's so many gorgeous looking units on the market already.
 
anomie said:
@above me: it's in the old MacPros color, not design, which you obviously have no idea of.
It picks up Leica's design combined with Ive's taste.
Click to expand...

@below me - I have an MacPro standing right next to me (as it says in the signature). So, no, I am not a designer and yes, I have an idea of its design. For me the "laser machined aluminum body " reflects the front face of the still current MacPro.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Eduardo1971 said:
Nice timeless design.

(Though from some of the above comments it may seem like I'm in the minority.)
Click to expand...

kingbadger said:
Its a nice update on the classic Rangefinder design and shape. Don't know why people are kicking off about it...
Click to expand...

Tankmaze said:
I like it. still looks like a Leica, and there is a hint of Jony touches on the curves.

Apple should team up with Leica and not just for charity, like I don't know use a leica lens in iphones :D
Click to expand...

In common with those who have posted above whose posts I have cited, I must say that I rather like it.

In any case, Leica favours evolutionary design, rather than anything too radical, and this looks to me like a nice fusion of retro seeming Leica design along with some Apple (aka Jony Ive) touches. And it is for charity, too.
 
Maybe Ive should focus more on iOS 7 then working on these side projects. Just proves my point that Ive just blindly rubber stamped approval for iOS 7 designs and concentrated only on hardware. They just used his name to sell us iOS 7.
 
I'm a huge Leica fan and I think this design is very good, it smooths out the already very clean and minimalist lines of the Leica M.

It will probably sell for at least a quarter million dollars in auction.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back