Leica Designed by Jony Ive

Leica Designed by Jony Ive — Apple's illustrious design disciple, Jony Ive aka the man behind the iPhone, iPod, and iOS 7, is putting his signature rounded corners on another gadget: a limited-edition Leica M for (RED) camera that will be auctioned off at Sotheby's New York event benefitting The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Jony teamed up with fellow designer Marc Newson to create the latest Leica M digital rangefinder camera, a process that required over 500 models and 1,000 prototype parts, before arriving at the finished design.

The Leica M for (RED) is part of a collection of iconic designs curated for the Nov. 23 auction by Jony and Marc. Seeing how Apple EarPods in solid rose gold and a Russian cosmonaut suit are some of the other items up for bidding, it doesn't look like the limited-edition Leica M (typically $7,000 and up) is in our price range.

But we can dream, right? In the gallery, take a closer look at the classic camera's Jony Ive redesign, and learn more about the Leica's standout features. Click the button with arrows in the upper right corner to give the Leica full-screen glory.

Leica M For (RED)

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The aluminum body is laser machined, and the outer shell is made of anodized aluminum.

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Leica M For (RED) — Rear View

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There are very few moving parts on the camera, as evidenced by the minimalist rear. There are quick access buttons to ISO settings, the menu, and others on the left.

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Leica M For (RED) — Rear Close-Up

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The camera has a three-inch monitor, and the Leica M's signature right-side navigation controls.

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Leica M For (RED) — Top View

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A new Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH lens will come with the camera.

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Leica M For (RED) — Dial Close-Up

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There's a physical shutter dial sunk into the body of the camera.

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Leica M For (RED) — Side View

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Inside of the Leica M for (RED) is a full-format CMOS sensor and high-performance processor.

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Leica M For (RED) — With Lens Cap

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It took 85 days to take the Leica M for (RED) from concept to reality.

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Leica M For (RED) — Lens Cap Close-Up

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Learn more about the entire family of M-system cameras at Leica online.

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