Super-high-end German camera maker Leica is opening its first retail location in North America. On May 2nd and 3rd, Leica will be holding the official opening of a store in downtown Washington, DC at 977 F Street NW. In addition to the full line of cameras and accessories, the store will have a gallery for photographs taken with Leica cameras and space for its Leica Akademie workshops. On the day of the opening, Leica will also be hosting a lecture by photojournalist Peter Turnley, whose work will be the first shown in the gallery.

Leica's luxurious cameras — with the exception of the limited-edition white M9-P above — are already available through dealers in the US, but the company says it will be expanding its presence here over the coming year. Two more stores are planned, one in Miami and another in New York's SoHo neighborhood. It will also be opening "boutiques" at existing non-Leica camera stores in Rancho Mirage, California and Richmond, British Columbia.