Luxury cameras so expensive, you’ll need a down payment or second mortgage

If you think the Sony Cyber-shot RX1 camera is expensive at $2,800, then these cameras aren’t for you. What you see here are limited, special, or one-off editions of digital cameras so expensive that only the world’s super-rich can afford them (think: something you tag along on your yacht so you can take snapshots while cruising through the Andaman Sea). “Superfluous,” the bourgeois might say, but damn, they sure are pretty to look at.

Of course, expensive cameras aren’t uncommon. Professional photographers already carry pricey gear like DSLRs, medium-format cameras, and lenses that are in the tens of thousands when you add it all together. And there are plenty of high-end consumer models in the thousands. Plus, don’t forget about vintage cameras that bring in high amounts at auction. No, the cameras here aren’t designed to help you do a job or add to your collection of old stuff. Like any luxury product, these limited production cameras are for making a statement. If you have the money, you better act quick as most of these cams have a short supply (if they haven’t already been gobbled up).

Hasselblad Lunar ($7,000)

Hasselblad Lunar

How do you launch a camera called the Lunar? You bring in astronaut Buzz Aldrin to the event, naturally, which is what Hasselblad did for this unique handcrafted piece of art. (Fun fact: Neil Armstrong used a Hasselblad 500EL on the moon.) Most noticeable about the retro design is the grip, which comes in five options made of wood or leather. Although it isn’t mentioned, here’s the secret: It’s a repackaged Sony Alpha NEX-7 compact system camera, not Hasselblad tech, so you can use it with any E-mount lens. Of course, if the price is too high, you can always just get the Sony, which we gave an Editor’s Choice.