Leica M Monochrom “Drifter” – Lenny Kravitz Limited Edition: A Collector’s Gem in 2025
In 2019, Leica Camera AG released a striking and soulful limited edition of its M Monochrom series in collaboration with legendary musician and style icon Lenny Kravitz. Known as the Leica M Monochrom “Drifter”, this special edition wasn’t just a reimagining of a classic—it was a bold, design-driven tribute to a creative, nomadic lifestyle.
Now in 2025, six years after its launch, the “Drifter” holds a revered place among Leica collectors and remains one of the most distinctive and sought-after models in the modern Leica archive.
Design Philosophy: Inspired by the Road
The “Drifter” is based on the Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246), but Kravitz’s design approach transformed the camera into a statement piece. The body is finished in a warm sepia-brown lacquer, with textured vegan python leather wrapping the camera in earthy, tactile luxury. The untreated brass accents are left to age naturally, developing a personalized patina over time—an intentional nod to the marks of travel and time, echoing Kravitz’s life on the road.
“I’m a drifter. That has been my life since I was 15. I’m always on the road,” Kravitz said at launch—words that became the camera’s ethos.
This camera is as much about storytelling as it is about photography—every worn edge and brass tone deepening the tale of the photographer behind it.
What’s in the Set
Leica didn’t stop with just a unique camera body. The Drifter set was thoughtfully curated for on-the-go creatives:
Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) camera in sepia-brown finish
Summicron-M 28mm f/2 ASPH. lens with integrated hood
APO-Summicron-M 75mm f/2 ASPH. lens
Two vintage-style lens cases in brown leatherette
Woven strap with matching vegan python accents
Accessory pouches for travel essentials
A rugged-chic “Drifter Traveler” weekender bag, custom-fitted to carry the entire kit
Every piece in the kit is a seamless extension of the camera’s aesthetic—warm, worn-in, stylishly utilitarian.
In the Collector's Market – 2025 Status
Fast-forward to 2025, the Leica M Monochrom “Drifter” has cemented its place as a grail item for collectors. With only 125 sets released worldwide, its rarity alone would ensure desirability—but its unique styling, celebrity collaboration, and fully outfitted set elevate it even further.
Collectors today regard the Drifter not only as a camera but as a piece of cultural memorabilia. It represents a rare convergence of music, design, and photography—a perfect storm for value appreciation. Clean, complete sets in excellent condition command high prices in private sales and boutique auctions, often crossing into five-figure territory.
Leica auction previews for Fall 2025 have already teased a few rare Drifter sets, including unopened examples that are expected to spark fierce bidding wars.
Notably, while many Leica special editions are admired for their polish, the Drifter is celebrated for its earthy, worn-in soul—a perfect metaphor for the analog revival movement and the deepening appreciation of slow, purposeful photography in the 2020s.
Image credit: Designboom
Finally
The Leica M Monochrom “Drifter” isn’t just another special edition—it’s a rare artistic collaboration that reflects a creative philosophy. In 2025, it lives on not just in collections, but in the hearts of those who value timeless design and soulful image-making. Whether proudly displayed in a collector’s cabinet or still riding shotgun on the road, the Drifter tells a story that only grows richer with time.
Video credit: Mintandrare