Despite all that’s on the market these days, finding meaningful Christmas presents for your loved ones can be a bit of a challenge – but if you’re looking to give something special to a budding travel or fashion photographer this year, there’s really only one choice.
German photography powerhouse Leica have just unveiled the Leica CL ‘Edition Paul Smith’, in collaboration with the esteemed British fashion designer. Limited to only 900 units, the high-performance gadget is likely to become a collector’s item in no time, obtaining – and you can quote us on this – cult status just like Paul Smith’s bespoke 2016 Land Rover Defender. The vehicle in fact formed part of the inspiration behind the CL, along with the British countryside, whose colour palette Leica claims to be reflected in the camera case (it must have been a notably sunny day when Smith stepped into the backyard of his West London estate).
Completing the designer’s signature aesthetic are thoughtful details: an animated eye marks the viewfinder while the message ‘look and see’ in Smith’s handwriting sits above the display screen, in reference to his famous quote, ‘many people look, but often they don’t see’ – a playful reminder of the photographic medium’s unique ability to make us actively engage with and mould the appearance of the world around us, in a way we wouldn’t if it wasn’t for the lens.
Though shoppers whose gaze is directed inwards – that is, into the camera’s body – need not worry either. The CL ‘Edition Paul Smith’ features a 24-megapixel sensor, an Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH lens and the Leica FOTOS App, which conveniently shoots images straight from the camera onto your smartphone.
You bet we’ll be unpacking at maximum shutter speed if this lands under our Christmas tree.
Photography courtesy of Leica x Paul Smith
