New Leica M6 Film Camera

[ianman]

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1 hour ago, Anbaric said:

Of course! How did I forget that? And I bet the lens is a serious competitor to their previous benchmark of optical excellence, the Thambar.

Blasphemy!!!!! 
 

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[IkarusJohn]

A new, Leica version of the Minox 35 GT - loved mine

[jakontil]

8 hours ago, Huss said:

Leica already offers a 120 camera, with an optical lens to boot.  But there haven't been many takers as people like the traditional Ms more.

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Very limited run of production and collaboration with designer Holga Legend

[Matlock]

Well I see that, according to the latest announcement from Leica Rumors, the new Leica film camera will have a “Leitz” red dot instead of the regular “Leica” logo engraving. This is a tribute to the early M6s.

Now do I sell all my existing Ms and order this new M6? 🤣

 

[ejg1890]

5 hours ago, Matlock said:

Well I see that, according to the latest announcement from Leica Rumors, the new Leica film camera will have a “Leitz” red dot instead of the regular “Leica” logo engraving. This is a tribute to the early M6s.

Saw the article as well. It’s rumored as an “M6 reissue” with an estimated price of low $4,000’s less than the MP. Not sure that makes sense for Leica. Why would someone go for the MP or MA if the reissued M6 goes for a $1,000 less. Can’t get any more manual then the MA/MP. Wont add electronics for $1,000 less. Only thing would be cheaper materials (some internal plastic parts?) and made outside Germany. 

[ejg1890]

With all this rumor mill going at full speed has Leica actually announced or sent out invitations for a specific announcement date (similar to Apple setting an announcement date)? I see rumors everywhere but in talking with a Leica rep in Europe he stated Leica hasn’t announced any set date for release/announcement of a new camera. 

[Mike Rawcs]

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Just looked on the Leica website and the only film camera shown is the Leica M-A.

[Mike Rawcs]

My bad. I didn't scroll down far enough! Duh!

[SJH]

28 minutes ago, ejg1890 said:

Saw the article as well. It’s rumored as an “M6 reissue” with an estimated price of low $4,000’s less than the MP. Not sure that makes sense for Leica. Why would someone go for the MP or MA if the reissued M6 goes for a $1,000 less. Can’t get any more manual then the MA/MP. Wont add electronics for $1,000 less. Only thing would be cheaper materials (some internal plastic parts?) and made outside Germany. 

I think this is along the lines I referred to above earlier in the discussion, in summary very faint rumours from those that should be in the know suggested that Leica considered 2 options:

1) an M6 relaunch using cheaper materials and priced under the MP/MA - made in Portugal, assembled in Germany - commercials being to attract used M6 buyers into the fold so UK price of say £3,300 to £3,500 - good used M6's in the £2,500+ range now.

2) A new 'M6 Classic form' camera with additional features over an above the MA/MP - 1/4000 shutter and aperture priority. New finishes etc. I guess an M6/M7/MP hybrid. probably replaces the MP but the MA remains as the traditional 'brass' camera (no meter) styled on the M3. Maybe slightly more expensive than the current MP & MA.

I don't think it reality even Leica rumours really knows which way they've gone and it might be that they actually do both, with say option 1 limited to 2,000 camera's as a final M6 special edition.

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by SJH

[Anbaric]

32 minutes ago, ejg1890 said:

Saw the article as well. It’s rumored as an “M6 reissue” with an estimated price of low $4,000’s less than the MP. Not sure that makes sense for Leica. Why would someone go for the MP or MA if the reissued M6 goes for a $1,000 less. Can’t get any more manual then the MA/MP. Wont add electronics for $1,000 less. Only thing would be cheaper materials (some internal plastic parts?) and made outside Germany. 

That  'estimated price' is just the guy on Leica Rumors guessing, the same as the rest of us. No price has been leaked.

[ejg1890]

15 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

That  'estimated price' is just the guy on Leica Rumors guessing, the same as the rest of us. No price has been leaked.

Correct/agree. Just saying from my POV that price doesn’t make sense unless it’s it’s a cheaper made camera. 

[Anbaric]

1 minute ago, ejg1890 said:

Correct/agree. Just saying from my POV that price doesn’t make sense unless it’s it’s a cheaper made camera. 

I personally doubt that any change Leica is likely to make would actually make it significantly less expensive for them to manufacture; a few plastic parts wouldn't make much difference. If they did want to sell a camera at a slightly lower price point as a marketing strategy they might, as suggested above, use something like an aluminium alloy top plate rather than brass - not because brass is really that much more expensive, but just because it is perceived as a 'premium' material. This sort of product differentiation, like a 'Made in Portugal' rather than a 'Made in Germany' engraving (though we know a lot of the work would be done in Portugal either way) could be used to 'justify' perhaps a 5-10% difference in price.  But who knows? Any new camera could just as easily be a limited edition sold at a premium if the marketing guys think that would be more profitable.

[raizans]

Not an upgrade, just a limited edition MP. Good news for the collectors if the price is lower than an MP.

[armadsen]

The biggest thing for me is that Leica Rumors is claiming a limited run of "probably 500". If that's the case, what's the point? They'll get snapped up by collectors, and probably sold out by the time it's announced. So those that want a cheaper new Leica film camera because of its affordability won't actually get one. At 500 pieces it's just a typical limited edition Leica, not something to address the current demand for film cameras.

[pedaes]

I am sure you will know answer at or before LHSA conference that starts 13th October.

[madNbad]

5 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Remember the last time Leica made a major "cheaper" M mount film camera? It was the Leica (slash Minolta) CL. The year was 1973. So many classic movies hit the big screen that year - The Exorcist, Papillon, Westworld, Soylent Green, American Graffiti, The Sting, Live and let die, Serpico, Mean Streets, The Wicker Man, Enter The Dragon and The Holy Mountain. Killing me softly and Crocodile Rock were on the radio and playing from juke boxes. US Troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. World Trade Center in New York became the tallest building in the world. Life was good.

Yeah, I graduated from high school, the draft ended, was working a good job, bought a brand new Datsun pickup two weeks before the first gas crisis, had two Nikons with FTn finders and life was good. Then came 1974.

[Noctinoir]

On 9/21/2022 at 5:56 AM, Casual_photo_enjoyer said:

Also let’s be honest - they Leica hype is only growing and if they have any sense they will be producing cameras faster and quicker than previously if they want to capitalise on the current uptrend. imo. 

I certainly hope they don’t! It will kill the brand if it goes towards mass market.

Take a look at the Patek Phillipe model where production is always strictly limited despite sky rocketing demand. Some of the other swiss watchmakers too.

Leica need to keep focusing on quality and produce for the ‘purist’ photographer / consumer. Not for the masses.

Otherwise it will just become another mass consumer brand that once used to stand for something.

[Noctinoir]

A limited re-release of this dated 2022, however unlikely for Oct given the timeline, would command huge $$$ given recent events.

The Queen loved her M6

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[hdmesa]

On 9/23/2022 at 9:49 AM, ejg1890 said:

Correct/agree. Just saying from my POV that price doesn’t make sense unless it’s it’s a cheaper made camera. 

US price will likely be less than the MP/M-A due to the exchange rate, just like the new 35 Lux is cheaper than the old one here. Everywhere else it will probably be the same price as the current film bodies.

Edited September 25, 2022 by hdmesa

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[logan2z]

I may be reading too much into this, but there has been an awful lot of film-related emails/social media posts from Leica and Leica stores over the last several weeks so I'm starting to think that a new film camera may actually be imminent. 

Here's the latest one from the Leica Store San Francisco:

In collaboration with Negative Supply, Leica Store San Francisco is excited to host an upcoming event that will present and demo Negative Supply's current and soon-to-be-released film scanning products. Founded in 2017, Negative Supply products have quickly become the new standard for digitizing film using your existing dedicated camera and macro lens, eliminating the need for slower in-home scanning methods. This event is tailored for all analog photographers, as the Negative Supply product line supports various film formats.

Edited September 25, 2022 by logan2z