New equipment: Leica Q2 ‘007’ edition

To coincide with the release of No time to die, the 25th James Bond film and the fifth (and final) with renowned photographer Daniel Craig, Leica announced the limited edition Edition T2 “007”. Only 250 individually numbered cameras are sold worldwide for $ 7,995 each.

The whole situation is a bit strange, especially since the Leica S (type 007) is an already existing medium format camera at $ 19,995, but let’s explore it anyway.

Specifications briefing

Let’s be clear: the Q2 edition “007” (hereafter, “the 007”) is primarily sold as a collector’s item, not as a camera. It really is a regular Leica Q2 (retail price, $ 5,495), which means it has:

• A 47.3 megapixel full-frame sensor
• Summilux 28mm f / 1.7 ASPH fixed lens (although you can zoom digitally at equivalent viewing angles of 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm)
• Weatherproof IP52, so it is protected against dust and water
• High-resolution OLED viewfinder and touchscreen
• The ability to capture 4K videos up to 30 frames per second or Full HD videos up to 120 frames per second
• A bright red Leica logo

So what do you get from the additional 2,500 simoleons for the 007? (Other than the potential to resell it later.)

Well, the Special Edition has the iconic 007 logo on the top plate and the famous Bond pistol barrel design on the lens cap. It is also wrapped in an “Ocean Green” leather finish that matches the “handcrafted case designed by the British luxury suitcase brand Globe-Trotter”. Each camera is also individually numbered, just to double the overall collector’s item. (I imagine that in a few years, # 007 will sell for very high prices.)

Additional Information

In recent years, the Bind movies have become heavy with product placement. The last movie, Spectrum, looked like a GQ photo shoot. There were prominent products from Omega, Heineken, Gillette, Sony, Persol and many more—many of which published connections.

Leica is doing the same. In No time to die, you can expect to see Leica cameras on display in Bond’s Jamaican house and a Leica Q2 featured prominently in Q.

There is also an exhibition of 25 behind-the-scenes photos shot by Greg Williams, Nicola Dove, Daniel Craig (yes, that one) and Michael G. Wilson (a producer on the film) using Leica cameras. They will be on display in Leica stores in Frankfurt, London, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Salzburg, Vienna, Tokyo and Osaka over the coming months.

Other agents

Interestingly, this is not the first time Bond has used a Leica. In The golden finger, the original novel by Ian Fleming, he had a Leica M3. On screen, however, spy camera choices have been more varied.

Plus, it’s not even the first limited-edition Leica involving Daniel Craig. The Leica Q2 “Daniel Craig x Greg Williams” was released earlier this year for $ 6,995. There were 750 cameras with a black-gold color scheme in the edition. (It’s actually much more beautiful than the 007.)

Hidden elegance?

Leica claims that the Limited Edition “exudes understated elegance, just like James Bond.” Whether this is the case or not is up to you. Personally, I think this all sounds a bit cheesy. The understated elegance prevents heavily branded corporate logos from being all over your business.

As silly as the collectible camera link is, however, backstage photos are worth a look. Daniel Craig is a solid photographer, although he probably uses a regular Q2.