Industry News
Actor Daniel Craig is perhaps best known for his role in the James Bond series, but the British actor recently took on a new role: camera designer. The Leica Q2 Special Edition Daniel Craig x Greg Williams model, announced just last week, is a black and gold rendition of Leica’s full-frame compact camera that both Craig and photographer Greg Williams—the official James Bond photographer—worked together to conceptualize. According to Leica, the pair’s core inspiration was the look of vintage Leica M models whose black paint had become chipped through years of use, only to reveal glimpses of the gold-colored brass beneath.

Celebrity photographer Williams is behind many of the more well-known photographs of the actor and is also an award-winning director of short films. His still photography maintains a cinematic feel that he’s honed over years after launching his career working behind the scenes of movies.
Williams originally bonded with Craig on the set of Casino Royale (the first Bond film for Craig) over a mutual passion for Leica. “Daniel takes beautiful photos and has a great eye,” Williams said. “The Leica Q2 is an extension of me—you never see me without one around my neck, so to work with Daniel and the team at Leica on this has been very special.”

This Leica Q2 special edition keeps the specifications of the full-frame 47.3-megapixel camera and 28mm f/1.7 lens intact but overhauls the camera’s exterior in true British spy luxury. The camera’s black leather is embossed with a subtle diamond pattern, giving the camera a bit of texture. The engravings, meanwhile, are crafted with gold paint.
[Read: Sony A1 50.1MP Powerhouse is Unveiled]

That iconic red Leica logo, however, isn’t part of the special-edition camera—that too has switched to the black-and-gold color scheme. As a special edition, the camera is laser-engraved with the model name and serial number. Leica says that laser engraving is a first for the company.
The camera also ships with a Nappa leather carrier strap. The strap features the Leica logo and gold accent eyelets.
[Read: Clever Fujifilm Video Reveals GFX 100S Rumors Were True]
Leica is known for luxury cameras that come with a high price, and the special edition Q2 is no exception. The Leica Q2 Daniel Craig x Greg Williams sells for $6,995, available from Leica stores, boutiques and dealers. The design is limited to 750 models. The standard Q2 sells for $4,995.