RocketNews24 (Japan) has an interesting article called "Tsunami survivor’s Y1.2 mil camera: heart-felt gift or PR stunt?" -- about an 18-year-old high school student from Miyagi Prefecture’s Shiroishi city. She began high school just weeks after the 2011 tsunami -- which tore through her town, destroying much of it and killing many of her classmates.
Turns out, she's a photography enthusiast who joined her high school’s photo club. She told her friend Herbie Yamaguchi (a Japanese photographer working with local Tōhoku high school photographers to create a charity calendar to raise money for disaster victims) about her wish to continue her love of photography. Dr. Andreas Kaufmann heard of her wish and decided to give her a Leica M Monochrom to let her pursue her passion without worrying about money. After the ceremony at Leica Store Ginza, things got interesting... Many wondered if Leica couldn't have done better with regard to charity - or if this was just a publicity stunt.
Astute readers will notice the unusual red APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH lens in the above picture. It's a specially-made lens; not much more is known. Here's a closer shot:
