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Leica recently announced the Leica M-P (Typ 240) ‘grip’ by Rolf Sachs Set which consists of a Leica M-P (Typ 240) with a rubber cladding with raised dot structures and a Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH with special engravings.
PRESS RELEASE
10/12/2016
Special edition Leica M-P ‘grip‘ by Rolf Sachs: legendary rangefinder technology meets creative design
In collaboration with artist and photographer Rolf Sachs, Leica Camera AG presents a new special edition in the Leica M-System portfolio – the Leica M-P (Typ 240) ‘grip‘ by Rolf Sachs. The unusual set, consisting of a Leica M-P camera and the fast classic lens Leica Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH., unites legendary rangefinder technology with creative product design. The combination of unusual materials in an eye-catching choice of colour and classic design lends the camera a unique look and makes the Leica M-P ‘grip‘ by Rolf Sachs a true collector’s item. This special edition will strictly be limited to only 79 sets for the worldwide market and will be available exclusively at select Leica Stores from November 2016.
“For many photographers over many years, the Leica M has been a passionate love affair! Its functionality and iconic design attracts me as an artist and an avid user. I am thrilled for the opportunity to ‘undress’ the camera and create a new look, surprising as much as functional. Applying a material that has never before been used as an easy-to-grip camera surface, created a striking aesthetic and a unique tactility,” says Rolf Sachs.
In his Leica M-P ‘grip‘ by Rolf Sachs concept the artist focused on the Leica M-P rangefinder camera in black paint finish modifying features of its design to create the unique style that he envisaged. For the body trim, Sachs chose a material that is usually used in the production of table tennis bats. Applied to the camera body, the red nubs of this rubber trim lend the otherwise plain and simple appearance of the camera a uniquely striking look – while also creating an entirely new haptic experience.
Various individual elements on the top deck of the camera are matched to the colour scheme of the Leica M-P ‘grip‘ by Rolf Sachs – the engravings on the accessory shoe, the shutter speed dial, the on/off switch, the video button and the style of the shutter release button are now picked out in red, rather than white. A ‘Rolf Sachs’ logo graces the back of the top deck as a signature of the designer. The engravings on the lens are also partially picked out in a shade of red.
The Leica M-P ‘grip‘ by Rolf Sachs set comes in a black case containing the camera, the lens, a carrying strap and a Leica SF 40 flash. The special edition also includes a special brush for cleaning the camera trim and a premium-quality brush for cleaning the exposed parts of the set.
In all other respects, the performance and technical specifications of the camera and lens of the Leica M-P ‘grip‘ by Rolf Sachs special edition are identical to those of the equivalent serial production products. The Leica M-P offers all the technical advantages of the Leica digital rangefinder system cameras and possesses the same enduring and robust qualities for which the Leica M-System is renowned. Thanks to its combination of moderate wide-angle character and natural reproduction of proportions, the Summilux-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. is one of the most versatile lenses in the Leica M-System portfolio. From selective focus in the close-up range to high-contrast available-light applications and landscape shots with immense depth of field, the lens delivers persuasive arguments in any situation.
The long-standing collaboration and amicable relationship between Leica and Rolf Sachs is founded on a multitude of projects. Most recently, ‘Camera in Motion: from Chur to Tirano’, an impressive exhibition showing his work shot with a Leica S, was on view at the Leica Galleries in Salzburg and Wetzlar.
About Rolf Sachs:
Rolf Sachs was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1955. He studied in England and the USA. He found inspiration in the art around him from the early years of his youth and became an artist himself in the late nineteen-eighties. His creative genres include photography, sculpture, set-design and installations. Inspired by everyday objects and their materiality, he searches for the unusual and unconventional within them and brings it to light in the unique conceptual diction of his multidisciplinary works.
About Leica Camera
Leica Camera AG is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the construction of lenses. And today, in combination with innovative technologies, Leica products continue to guarantee better pictures in all situations in the worlds of visualisation and perception. Leica Camera AG has its headquarters in Wetzlar, in the state of Hesse in Germany, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The company operates branch offices in Australia, China, England, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea and the USA. New and innovative products have been the driving force behind the company’s positive development in recent years.
The following video presents Rolf Sachs: Camera in Motion:
“Rolf Sachs describes his conceptual long-term “Camera in Motion — From Chur to Tirano” project in this video shot with the Leica M. The work, which was taken with the Leica S-System, was presented at St. Moritz Arts Masters 2013.“
