Press Release:

In cooperation with WestLicht Photographica Auction House, Vienna, Leica Camera AG, Solms, is auctioning the first series-produced Leica M8 camera. The auction is to take place during the next Westlicht auction on June 7th, 2008. The camera is estimated to be worth between 20,000 and 30,000 Euros; the starting price is 10,000 Euros.

Leica Camera AG will donate the proceeds to the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders. The first Leica M8 is being offered as lot number 147.

The M8 was first introduced at Photokina in Cologne in October 2006. The 10.3Mp digital rangefinder camera was the company's long awaited step forward into the digital world. Although the first generation of cameras had some teething problems the general concept was immediately appreciated by the worldwide community of Leica users because of its high system compatibility and compact design - all the key characteristics of the Leica M models. The M8 is just a few millimetres larger than the M7 which came on the market in 2002. Apart from a few differences in the controls, such as the absence of the wind-on lever and the rewind button, the front view of the Leica M8 is virtually identical to this analogue version. The understated appearance and the timeless elegance of the camera have been retained making it a modern classic. Since all its mechanical and electronic details of the camera are precision hand-crafted in the Leica factory in Solms and its assembly, adjustment and the minute checking are also carried out there, the M8 is also the first digital camera Made in Germany. This is the unique chance to get Leicas first digital system camera - a milestone in Leica history.

Leica had originally planned to donate the proceeds to the Crossroads drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in the Carribean, an organisation started by music legend Eric Clapton, but they changed their plans at the last minute!

Further information on the auction and the possibility of bidding online is available at the WestLicht Photographica website.

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