Iconic German camera firm Leica has just unveiled a new, limited special edition – the Leica M7 Edition Hermès, designed in collaboration with the famed French fashion house. Only 200 silver chrome 35 mm cameras will be available starting next month wrapped in two colors of exclusive Hermès 'Veau Swift' leather: orange and étoupe (green), 100 examples of each priced at about $14,000. The special Leica M7 Edition Hermès set also includes a matching, silver anodised Leica SUMMILUX-M 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH. wide-angle lens. The lens is complemented by a classical round lens hood in silver anodised metal manufactured exclusively for the Edition Hermès. The set also includes a Leicavit M rapid winder finished in silver chrome. The finishing touch to the special edition is provided by a real leather carrying strap handcrafted by Atelier Hermès to match the color of the camera chosen. The camera marks the second collaboration between Leica and Hermès.

Leica Camera AG, manufacturer of the finest hand-crafted photographic equipment, just unveiled two new cameras, the Leica M9 (above) and Leica X1 (below), as well as the previously announced Leica S2, each heralded as the next evolution in Leica's legendary history. The next installment in the 55-year-old M-series, the M9 features a full-frame 18 megapixel sensor, extending the legacy of the M-series through the digital era, and will be available later this month. The X1, a new system product for Leica's camera division, is a point-and-shoot camera that closely resembles the beloved M-series, albeit in a more compact size. The X1 has a fixed focal length of 35mm and will be available to consumers in January 2010.

For the cost-is-no-object photography crowd, Leica is the be all and end all. We've reported on some of the high-end German optics company's products before, but they've just delved into the professional field of digital Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras with its new S-System, announcing prices for its initial line-up.

Packed inside a body smaller than most SLRs is a 37.5 million pixel sensor that measures 30x45mm – more than 50% bigger than the industry standard. The camera body alone costs a whopping $23k – and as any serious photog worth his flashbulb will tell you, that doesn't even include a lens. Those start at around five grand, while the cheapest accessory in the catalog is the $400 charger. Upgrading to the sapphire crystal display and what Leica calls its Platinum service costs another five grand, which would be enough to buy a good Nikon or Canon with all the lenses and extra kit you could ask for. But then, of course, they're not Leicas.

Welcome to the first in a new series of exclusive photo features showcasing seasonal style essentials inspired by classic icons of elegance, sport and design, photographed with the most beautiful and coveted cars on the road. The emphasis is on luxury of course, but of the timeless variety as opposed to mere extravagance.

In our recent Classicist column on the 2010 Jaguar XK convertible coming out this August, we remarked on the sleek new cat's stylistic heritage dating back to 1948's XK120, as driven by the likes of Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable, as well as later models like the D-Type (or XK-SS) made famous by the great Steve McQueen. The first in our new series of exclusive shoots is inspired by them and stars the XK in homage to these stylish icons, both man and automotive (read all about the new XK here).

In particular, the influence of Gable (with his XK120 in 1954, top right) and McQueen (with his XK-SS, center right) can be seen in the summery style essentials we've assembled for this shoot. For the pastoral setting we drew on another classic Jaguar reference, an image of writer Truman Capote in a Jaguar XK-E, the model most closely aligned with the new XK, in the Hamptons in 1965 (bottom right).

In the spirit of summer we've chosen a classic combination of navy and white, popular as fashionable resort wear for a nearly a century and still going strong in the right circles. While navy blazers of the type shown here originated as part of English cricket club scenery and other elegant sporting occasions such as the Henley Royal Regatta, without gold buttons it needn't be unnecessarily nautical or costume-y.

The jacket shown here, in tropical weight wool with soft shoulders by the dashing Italian house of Etro, references its sporting antecedents with grosgrain tipping on the lapels, pockets and cuffs; however, since it is finished in the same color as the jacket the effect is a subtle one, while the slim cut updates the look with Italian flair. A cream linen camp shirt by Paul Stuart and white linen pants by Polo Ralph Lauren round out the rest of the ensemble.

As an alternative on cooler days or evenings - which we've certainly had plenty of this summer - we've also included a variation of the navy blazer by Brooks Brothers made of butter-soft goat suede with spiffy sporting details including a throat latch, stand-up collar, action back and pure Irish linen lining, which calls to mind the jacket worn by Gable above.

While a polka dot foulard silk scarf by the venerable British clothier Turnbull & Asser (shirtmaker to the Prince of Wales) provides not only another classic touch and added dose of sprezzatura, it also protects against the elements while piloting the XK with the top down at serious speeds. A hefty dose of McQueen meanwhile can be seen in the rakish cap, sunglasses and watch. For the feet and the road, a pair of pebble-sold leather driving moccasins by Tod's keep the haute Italian vibe going.

The checked linen driving cap - this model is made by Brooks Brothers - of the type favored by McQueen has no brim to collide with a car's headrest, and is infinitely more elegant than a baseball cap. Also on view: iconic Italian Persol sunglasses, in particular the model made famous by McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair. Starring in this feature are a foldable version of McQueen's faves, as well as a couple of other killer Persol models; all are available at Ilori. Also included is a pair of shades by Paul Smith. The watch is a classic and vintage stainless steel Rolex GMT-Master II, available at Tourneau, of a similar design to the Rolex Submariner model favored by McQueen (and which recently fetched a record price at auction). Read on for details of the rest of the accessories after the jump.

Following the introduction of the limited edition Leica M8 Safari we wrote about in January, the famed camera company is releasing the D-LUX 4 Safari (above). The special limited edition model will be available in August. The body of the camera features an anodized olive green surface finish which is particularly resistant to wear and guarantees long-term protection against inadvertent damage. Like all models in the Leica D-LUX 4 series, the Safari has a tough metal body manufactured exclusively from the finest materials.

The 10.1 megapixel Safari edition's technical features such as a high-performance lens and lightning-fast image processing offer versatile options for any number of photographic situations. A waterproof carrying case is included with the camera, offering ample room for optional accessories for the D-LUX 4 collection such as a handgrip, optical viewfinder or flash. Additionally, the back of the case has a compartment containing a nylon "rain cape" that can be pulled out to cover the whole case and protect it from the elements.

The first model of Leica's chic new limited edition all-white digital camera which we scooped the world on earlier this month has just been spotted at the Audi Forum Tokyo. It's pictured above with a velvet purple Audi R8 as a backdrop. The German Car Blog posted the sighting along with the news that the camera is expected to be available around the end of May for roughly 7,000 euros, or around $9,000. The special edition camera is based on Leica's M8.2 model with 10.3 megapixel resolution and the Leica ELMARIT-M 28 mm f/2.8 ASPH lens.

Back in January we told you about the luxurious $10,000 limited edition Leica Safari M8 camera. Now we're informed that the world renowned German camera maker is readying its next special edition digital rangefinder camera, an all-white version of the M8. The very first one made is pictured above. An extremely limited number of the cameras will be produced, and the price has not yet been established, but anyone interested in the special edition can call Leica's toll free number at 800-222-0118 to inquire. Like all Leica digital rangefinders, each camera body is hand-assembled and manufactured from the finest materials available. Leica is the favored camera for famous photographers ranging from Henri Cartier Bresson and Diane Arbus to Nan Goldin.

World renowned German camera maker Leica has come out with a limited Safari edition of its beautiful M8.2 digital model. Leica, the favored camera for famous photographers ranging from Henri Cartier Bresson and Diane Arbus to Nan Goldin, is limiting the Safari to only 500 pieces worldwide, and it is priced at about $10,000. It comes bundled with a 28mm F2.8 Summicron lens and a matching canvas and leather camera bag. The 10.3-million-pixel M8.2 is an updated version of the original M8, the firm's first digital rangefinder camera, the prototype for which was auctioned off last summer. The Safari model features a matte green vulcanite finish body combined with brushed silver accents and a saddle leather strap.

On Saturday, Vienna-based auction house WestLicht Photographica will auction the first M8 digital camera ever produced by world-famous firm Leica, worth an estimated $30,000 - $45,000, with the proceeds going to freedom of the press foundation Reporters Without Borders. The M8 is just one of the beautiful and highly collectible Leicas -- the favored camera for famous photogs ranging from Henri Cartier Bresson and Diane Arbus to Nan Goldin -- on offer in the sale. Also included is an extremely rare M3 prototype c.1952, one of the most important cameras in Leica's history, est. $90,000 - $110,000; a unique olive painted IIIg made as a model for the German Army in 1960, est. $80,000 - $110,000; and one of our favorites, the 1955 M3 in black paint pictured here, est. $20,000 - $25,000. And if you're German's a little rusty, don't worry - you can place bids online with LiveAuctioneers.com.