Key Takeaways
1. Auction Event: Leica will auction a unique ‘Pope Francis’ M-A No.5000000 camera on November 22nd at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna during the 47th Leitz Photographica Auction.
2. Camera History: Leica is a renowned German brand that launched the first successful 35mm film camera, the Leica I, in 1925 and has since excelled in both mechanical and digital photography.
3. Unique Design: The ‘Pope Francis’ M-A features a special silver chrome and white design with engravings that include the Keys of Peter and the motto ‘Miserando atque eligendo’.
4. Technical Features: The camera has a shutter speed of 1 to 1/1000th of a second, ISO settings from 6 to 6,400, and includes a Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 lens designed for beautiful bokeh effects.
5. Charitable Auction: The starting bid is €30,000, with all proceeds going to charity, and pre-bidding runs from October 22 to November 22, 2025.
Leica has revealed plans to auction a unique ‘Pope Francis’ M-A No.5000000, an all-mechanical 35mm rangefinder, during the 47th Leitz Photographica Auction. This event is scheduled for November 22nd at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna.
History of Leica
Leica, a well-known German brand, made its mark in 1925 with the launch of the world’s first successful 35mm film camera, the Leica I. Over the years, the company has consistently provided top-notch mechanical 35mm film cameras and lenses, as well as branching into digital photography in recent years.
Features of the Leica M-A
The Leica M-A (Typ 127) is a fully mechanical, metal-bodied 35mm film camera that was introduced in 2014. It works well with the company’s acclaimed M-Lenses. Unlike many other 35mm film cameras, the M-A employs a rangefinder focusing system (which is further detailed in the video below). This system does not experience the momentary image blackout that pentaprism SLRs face during shooting. Photographers align two overlapping images to focus accurately with rangefinders, a method some find easier than the single-image adjustment required by SLRs.
Special Design for His Holiness
The ‘Pope Francis’ M-A features a distinctive design tailored specifically for the Pope. Its silver chrome body is covered in white instead of the usual black, and it includes white-painted elements such as the back door. Unique engravings on this exclusive rangefinder are filled with black, gold, and white paint. Notable features include the Keys of Peter on the flash cover and the motto ‘Miserando atque eligendo’ on the top plate’s back.
The paired Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 lens boasts a chrome body with engravings in gold and white paint. The lens caps are adorned with engravings of the Coat of Arms of Vatican City and mark the date Pope Francis received this special gift in 2024.
Technical Specifications
This camera has a shutter speed ranging from 1 to 1/1000th of a second, with a bulb option, and offers an ISO speed setting between 6 and 6,400. It features a manual rapid wind lever for frame advance, though an optional Leica Winder can automate this process. A hot shoe on top allows for external flash units, with a flash sync speed of 1/50th of a second. The overall dimensions of the base M-A are 138 × 38 × 77 mm (5.43 × 1.50 × 3.03 in.) and it weighs 578 g (1.27 lbs.).
The lens consists of six elements, including two aspherical lenses arranged in four groups, which help create a beautiful bokeh at the wide open aperture of f/1.2. It can be stopped down to f/16 in half-stop increments, and the focusing range extends from 1 m (3.3 ft.) to infinity.
Auction Details
Those interested can sign up for the Leitz Photographica Auction before pre-bidding opens, which runs from October 22 to November 22, 2025. The starting bid is set at €30,000, with all proceeds going to charity. For those who miss out on the Pope’s M-A, the standard Leica M-A in silver and black is available on Amazon.
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