RARE Leica M6 HELP PLEASE

[jonsvw2000]

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Hello all,

Today I ran across a very unique M6. The seller said it was an MP-6 but the serial number states otherwise. After research on the serial number it seems to be just an ordinary M6 black from the batch 11/15/1993 1,995,001 to 1,997,000 which there were 2000 made. There serial number on this particular M6 is 1,995,377. Please look at the pictures and help me.

 

It looks like a black M3 with a battery and a meter to be honest with you OR an MP with out the "MP" markings with the serial number.

 

Please help

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[ezc203]

Never heard of an "MP-6" before and when talking about limited edition M6's (especially with the MP-like frame cocker) my mind goes straight for the "Millenium" edition. But that should be in blackpaint and also feature a TTL (which means larger shutter dial).

 

Judging from the picture, there's nothing that would suggest it's an M6. Looks a lot like an MP with classic engraving on top. Don't know how "rare" that is....

 

Someone else will probably be of more help. This is definitely the place to come to when you need this kind of information. Sorry I wasn't more helpful

[jonsvw2000]

thanks for the fast reply.

I know that this camera looks rare but it's serial number dates it to 1993 and it's listed as an M6 Black.

 

it truly does appear to be an MP but the serial number doesn't match an MP's markings for example MP-1995377 on the top plate and not the flash hot shoe area.

 

this camera has me stumped

 

PLEASE HELP

[earleygallery]

I would suggest that you're looking at an M6 'Bitsa' - a one off special someone has put together by fitting M2 or MP parts (top plate, advance lever and rewind knob) to an M6 - maybe one whose original top plate was damaged perhaps.

[sabears]

For sure a customized camera, but...everyone can have one, you can buy some spare parts and then change the original ones.

Or you can ask for "a la carte" service to Leica itself.

Without a strong provenience, papers, etc. do not worth more than a plain camera.

 

However

Not an MP-6 for sure (rif.- March 2003: New Leica MP6 Limited Production introduced, with a traditional Leica script top plate engraving, serial number starting with MP6 instead of MP, and a traditional vulcanite body covering instead of the a new shark skin like body on the new MP.) the top plate is different, for ex. look the recessed window, the black shoe, ...

 

cheers.

[sabears]

I forgot...

 

 

Leica MP6

 

 

Leica MP6_2

[Pecole]

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Hello all,

Today I ran across a very unique M6. The seller said it was an MP-6 but the serial number states otherwise. After research on the serial number it seems to be just an ordinary M6 black from the batch 11/15/1993 1,995,001 to 1,997,000 which there were 2000 made. There serial number on this particular M6 is 1,995,377. Please look at the pictures and help me.

 

It looks like a black M3 with a battery and a meter to be honest with you OR an MP with out the "MP" markings with the serial number.

 

Please help

 

Funny ! have you seen the rewind button? like the first M3, with two red dots. And the lever, also M3-style... I think I remember a special M6 edition to celebrate the introduction of the M3. But I do not see any connection with MP.

[jonsvw2000]

there is no paper work with the camera unfortunately. Just the white presentation box. It's totally a beautiful camera and very unique for an M6.

[jc_braconi]

please have a look at this page :

 

Leica M6 Early Production

 

may be a M6 -P "à la carte"

Edited October 22, 2011 by jc_braconi

[luigi bertolotti]

Funny ! have you seen the rewind button? like the first M3, with two red dots. And the lever, also M3-style... I think I remember a special M6 edition to celebrate the introduction of the M3. But I do not see any connection with MP.

 

Yes, there has been the so called "M6 J" made for the 40th anniversary of M3 intro - to say, in 1994 : Leica M6J

No relation with the item posted, which I think is a custom modified one - nice - interesting - no special value... I'd say that one, if likes it, would pay just a bit more than for a standard one... after all a certain work has been made onto it, and probably with original parts / spares.

[adan]

"Ernst Leitz" and "Wetzlar" were not engraved on Leicas after 1987, so if the serial number is 1993, then it is a pastiche of various camera parts, not something Leitz/Leica produced as such.

 

There were a score or so official "MP6" cameras produced as "dealer specials" (as sabears says), but they have - a silver ring around the shutter button, silver hot shoe, "M6 - P00000xx" serial numbers, are engraved "LEICA CAMERA GERMANY" (not LEITZ or WETZLAR), have "OFF" engraved on the shutter dial beside the "B" setting," and have no red dot in the lens-release button.

 

There is a "real" MP6 for sale on "that auction site" right now for $28,000 or so.

 

Leica M body parts are generally swappable (a number of people have had their standard post-M2/M3 cameras refitted with the M2/M3-style all-metal wind lever over the years, because they didn't like the modern plastic tips). There was (is?) a guy named Shintaro who specialized in repainting any M body and doing other cosmetic modifications.

 

I'd guess the camera in question here was just a "hot-rod" someone had modified for cosmetic reasons - modern MP top plate* (with new engraving added) and levers/knobs, put on their 1993 vanilla M6. Probably worth a little extra over a stock 1993 M6, if you like the cute cosmetics and the rewind-knob operation.

 

*M2 top plate would have two flash sync ports, and no opening for the frame counter - although I guess those could be filled and/or drilled out.

[rob139]

Interesting stuff, Adan.

 

The frame counter which is 'negative' of normal counters is different to. A hotrod, but a nice one.

 

Rob

[jonsvw2000]

Thanks for the great information. the M6 is going for around $2000. It is still very unique and beautiful in person.

 

I have a bastardized M7 that I bought from a store here and it's very unique as well. The previous owner changed out the advance lever, changed to leather and swapped out the red dot for a black one. I got a good deal on it for $1900 so I couldn't pass it up.

 

Maybe I will sell the M7 for this unique M6... hmmm

[sumolux]

Very, very late to the party here, and interesting to see the questions this camera raised at the time of the dicusssion !

In contradiction to the (copy/pasted) info online, this particular MP6-2880XXX camera was indeed made within a small run of 400 units for the Japanese market, as a (further)  testing ground for what was to become the MP.

What is lesser known and never mentioned online is that a smaller run of only 100 cameras was made before this batch, with numbering MP6-2752XXX, also sold in the Far East to various special dealers.

Both cameras seem to be identical in execution etc. as far as I know.

Edited December 31, 2024 by sumolux
grammar!