The auction of 21 Royal Limited Edition Leica M10-P cameras raised a total of 214 million baht.
The auction was held on Friday night, as part of the Sustainability Expo 2022 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
The limited-edition camera campaign was the initiative of Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, CEO of ThaiBev, Thailand's largest beverage company, and a former president of the Thailand Photography Association.
He saw the campaign as a way of celebrating the Royal Coronation of King Vajiralongkorn.
happy to help: Terence Cheung, a Hong Kong businessman, donates a total of 30 million baht for two cameras to two charitable foundations during the Sustainability Expo 2022 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on Friday.
Thirty gold-plated Leica cameras were produced with the King's Royal Coronation emblem. There were 21 cameras -- four cameras in yellow crocodile leather and 17 in green crocodile leather -- placed for auction on Friday night. One more yellow camera will be up for auction in Singapore later.
At the Bangkok auction, Hong Kong businessman Terence Cheung was the highest bidder who offered 30 million baht for two cameras -- 25 million baht for a yellow edition and 5 million baht for a green camera.
"I came to join the action because these cameras are unique with a special edition and I can't buy them from outside [Thailand] and importantly, it is for charity and I'm happy to donate,'' said Mr Cheung.
Nitikorn Kraiwichien, Thailand Photography Promotion Foundation secretary-general and former Thailand Photography Association president, said the proceeds from the auction were almost three times higher than the target of 80 million baht.
"We are overwhelmed that the auction generated 241 million baht for charity. The amount excludes the earnings that will be received from the 22nd camera, which will be auctioned in Singapore to help support the Singapore Kidney Foundation,'' he said
happy to help: Terence Cheung, a Hong Kong businessman, donates a total of 30 million baht for two cameras to two charitable foundations during the Sustainability Expo 2022 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on Friday.
The funds raised for the four yellow cameras comprise 25 million baht for the Friend in Need (of "Pa") Volunteers Foundation, the Thai Red Cross; 20 million baht for the Phatcharasutha Khachanurak Foundation under Royal Patronage, Ratchathan Pansuk Foundation and Phubodin Foundation under Royal Patronage; 16 million baht for the Rajaprajanugroh Foundation under Royal Patronage and 15 million baht for the Foundation for the Crown Prince Hospitals.
The funds raised from the 17 green cameras comprise 15 million baht for the MDCU Foundation (the foundation organised by the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University); 12 million baht for the Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Foundation; 11 million baht for the Chaipattana Foundation; 10 million baht for the General Prem Tinsulanonda Statesman Foundation; 9.5 million baht for the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand under Royal Patronage; 9 million baht for the Police General Hospital Foundation under Royal Patronage and 8.5 million baht for Unicef Thailand.
A further 8.5 million baht was raised for the Suan Dok Hospital Foundation.