Leica M-A and M11-P Hammertone Special Editions, Digi Mart USA News: Leica has introduced Hammertone special editions of two of its cameras, according to a report published by Notebookcheck. The German manufacturer from Wetzlar has produced cameras with a hammertone finish at irregular intervals since the 1930s, and the new editions extend the look to the only fully mechanical camera Leica still produces and to its current top-of-the-line digital rangefinder.
Both special editions combine a silver brass body with black leatherette. The textured hammertone surface is created by adding metallic pigments and additives that produce variations in surface tension during the drying process.
On the M11-P, Leica also applies a matching finish to the screw on the front and to the edges at the top and bottom of the body. The specifications of both cameras remain unchanged.
The Leica M-A is the only fully mechanical camera currently offered by Leica. Unlike the Leica M-P or the Leica M6, it has no light meter, but it also requires no battery.
The ISO dial on the back only indicates which film has been loaded, the shutter speed is set with a dedicated dial on top, and aperture and focus are adjusted on the lens. The M-A includes none of the modern convenience features found on the newer models.
The Leica M11-P offers considerably more modern functionality. It also lacks autofocus, but its 60-megapixel full-frame sensor supports Live View on both the touchscreen and a separately available electronic viewfinder.
The camera provides 256 GB of internal storage in addition to an SD card slot, wireless connectivity to a smartphone app, and both mechanical and electronic shutters with speeds of up to 1/16,000 second.
According to the report, the Leica M-A and the Leica M11-P Hammertone are available now. The analog Leica M-A Hammertone is priced at $8,000, while the Leica M11-P Hammertone costs $10,950. The report notes that the publisher article was not independently verified.
