We left Chelsea Market and headed to the Meatpacking District, a mere 5 minutes away on foot. There wasn’t much to see in this area until fairly recently, when the old warehouses were transformed into upscale retail and condos. The transformation is quite remarkable. There were many designer boutiques, including a Leica Store, which was my primary interest.

I’ve already mentioned the three cameras I brought to NYC last year: the Leica D-Lux 8, the Camp Snap, and the Fujifilm X Half. I also brought a fourth camera, which is arguably the most difficult to execute. However, when everything clicks into place, it creates the most sublime images. It’s the Leica M Monochrom Typ 246, a black-and-white-only camera released in 2015. I attached an old Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron lens from 1970. This classic rangefinder is manual focus only.

In the last two years, I’ve jumped into Leica with much enthusiasm, although most of my cameras are older models. Still, it can be pricy, though not the stratospheric prices that the new models command. People familiar with my Substack has already been treated to multiple articles featuring my Leica cameras, among other models that I have yet to mention on this blog.

I shot the three pictures in this post at the Leica Store with the M 246. I thought it fitting to document the Leica Store with a classic Leica.

The photograph above is of the special limited-edition Leica D-Lux 8. I have the standard D-Lux 8, but after seeing this special edition in hand, I decided to order one. Luckily, I did since they are no longer available.

As you can see, the Leica Store displays its wares like an upscale luxury boutique, even museum-like in some ways. It’s a quite low-stress environment showcasing their cameras. They are certainly happy to sell you a camera. Still, they also seem to serve as ambassadors for the brand, since many regular camera stores don’t carry a large selection.

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