New Leica M6 Film Camera

[MarkP]

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1 minute ago, stephen.w said:

I love all the AE M-mount cameras! (M7, Hexar RF, CLE  - although never tried the Zeiss Ikon)

I have a CL, 40mm Summicron and 90mm Elmar set.  The CL and CLE are great little cameras but the short distance rangefinder base limits accurate focusing with faster lenses. There are now too many exotic fast leica lenses (which are hard enough to focus with a RF as it is) for Leica to limit themselves by now producing a short RF base film camera. However, an M7 re-release would be nice.

[tom.w.bn]

I just discovered that M6 also means the original tiny dial for exposure times. I didn't like my original M6 because of that and bought an M7 later.

[tom.w.bn]

vor 58 Minuten schrieb stephen.w:

I love all the AE M-mount cameras! (M7, Hexar RF, CLE  - although never tried the Zeiss Ikon)

Zeiss Ikon is one of the few cameras I regret selling. Wanted to buy one later again but the prices already skyrocketed. Had an M7 and Hexar RF. Sold the M7, kept the RF.

[malligator]

15 hours ago, hdmesa said:

If you read Jono's review and watch Hugh Brownstone's interview on the M6 out today, they both say the benefit is supply chain availability and future replacement availability of the circuit boards. Evidently the company that made the MP meter boards has been out of business for a while. I don't think we have anyone saying the parts themselves are improved, but if the guts are all-new, I'm not sure why they wouldn't be in some ways – just don't know yet.

I'm an EE. There are countless ways to make boards. If the company I currently use went out of business I'd go find another in five minutes. It's not a big deal.

One thing is for sure, Leica is not making their own boards. They might be soldering them in Portugal, but that's nothing new or special. They certainly didn't build a PCB and component fab.

I don't begrudge them for it, but it's most certainly marketing.

[ianman]

14 hours ago, hdmesa said:

So if you can't stomach his regular videos, this one might be weird-safe.

Funny you should use that turn of phrase. The problem I had with him when I saw one or two of his videos some years ago was what seemed to be a constant need to belch.

[hborowski]

21 hours ago, tom.w.bn said:

Who is this guy? I don't think he is one of the usual youtube film 

Edited October 21, 2022 by hborowski

[pedaes]

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3 hours ago, MarkP said:

So I see that the price is identical to the MP.

It seems Leica have redesigned the internals to make them 'future proof' and possibly make the camera easier to build (so unit cost less than a MA/MP). The good news is it provides  long term production of at least one M film camera.

[a.noctilux]

19 minutes ago, pedaes said:

It seems Leica have redesigned the internals to make them 'future proof' and possibly make the camera easier to build (so unit cost less than a MA/MP). The good news is it provides  long term production of at least one M film camera.

I wonder if new M6 redesigned internals (normal for me as older M6 had some modifications over time) can be compatible with older M6 needing some repairs.

If not, or partial, this new M6 release can have small impact on the prolonged life of old style M6.

Happily, I use some, since 1985, those old M6, they are very reliable and durable, ...timeproof.

 

 

Edited October 21, 2022 by a.noctilux

[hdmesa]

12 hours ago, grahamc said:

I think some further clarification is needed whether the M6 is 1) new componentry (versus the MP) , or 2) simply "new to the M6" (i.e. marketing spin and identical to MP).  The initial leaks after a product meeting last week said it was an MP inside. 

Sorry if I missed info that answers this, there was lots of posts to read overnight 

Here's what I put together from what Jono said:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/336216-new-leica-m6-film-camera/?do=findComment&comment=4540241

But as I've said in other posts, one source we're hearing is Leica's marketing director, who knows a lot but may not be speaking the same language as an engineer, and the other is Jono, who has been told a lot, but is translating that for us into what he thinks it means.

Edited October 21, 2022 by hdmesa

[hdmesa]

4 hours ago, ianman said:

Funny you should use that turn of phrase. The problem I had with him when I saw one or two of his videos some years ago was what seemed to be a constant need to belch.

Well, there is another YouTuber who is forum member here (who I shall not name) who I've seen start to pick his nose in one of his videos and stop himself. I don't find the near-nose-pick to be what's funny, it's the fact that he didn't bother to edit or reshoot it 😅

[madNbad]

21 hours ago, hdmesa said:

There is no "500". The new M6 is not limited nor being first made in a batch of 500 – unless you have a source on that.

Leica Rumors was the source for my information on 500 piece initial run,

https://leicarumors.com/2022/10/10/the-leica-m6-film-camera-reissue-will-be-announced-on-october-20-with-a-price-tag-of-around-e4800-filmisnotdead.aspx/

[hdmesa]

Just now, madNbad said:

Leica Rumors was the source for my information on 500 piece initial run,

https://leicarumors.com/2022/10/10/the-leica-m6-film-camera-reissue-will-be-announced-on-october-20-with-a-price-tag-of-around-e4800-filmisnotdead.aspx/

This thread has been the main source for Leica Rumors

[madNbad]

Just now, hdmesa said:

This thread has been the main source for Leica Rumors

I'm well aware of that! If we say it often enough, maybe we could get them to report a new CM is coming!

[hdmesa]

3 minutes ago, madNbad said:

I'm well aware of that! If we say it often enough, maybe we could get them to report a new CM is coming!

If Leica were not too proud to do so, they could start a GoFundMe for it 🤭

[madNbad]

Having followed this thread since the start, I wonder what kind of reception the M5 would have received if the internet existed in 1970? 

[LocalHero1953]

2 minutes ago, madNbad said:

Having followed this thread since the start, I wonder what kind of reception the M5 would have received if the internet existed in 1970? 

Probably much the same as the X-Vario - advertised as a mini-M, and received here 'appropriately', despite users finding it a good camera taken on its merits.

[LocalHero1953]

Looking at the specs for the new M6 and the old one, and for other M bodies. 

• New M6: the Leica website says it is 40mm thick.
• Old M6: the wiki here says it is 38mm thick
• My own M4: the wiki says 33.5, while I measure the baseplate to be 31mm, the difference made up by the rear door (etc)
• M240 (the last digital M I owned): the wiki says 42mm
• M10: the Leica website says 37.5.
• M11: the Leica website says 38.5.

Was there a step change in thickness between M4 and later cameras? Or do they all have the same essential body thickness (and baseplate dimensions), but with different protrusions such as preview levers, wind-on lever etc?

I am asking because although I am content with my M4, and have no need for and certainly no intention of buying a new M6.........the idea of a new body with built in metering occasionally waves at me from a distance.

Edited October 21, 2022 by LocalHero1953

[mujk]

Strange description of film rewind on the new M6 data sheet: "Manual with telescopic rewind knob". 

[leicamr]

On 9/2/2022 at 4:19 AM, roboboss said:

Personally I'd like to see a successor to the M7

Keep the MA/MP models around for those that want mechanical, and add back an option for aperture priority, electronic shutter etc

I agree. I love my M7. The shutter is quieter at slow shutter speeds compared to mechanical M’s. 
It is so nice that Leica continue to produce M film cameras. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[madNbad]

29 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Looking at the specs for the new M6 and the old one, and for other M bodies. 

• New M6: the Leica website says it is 40mm thick.
• Old M6: the wiki here says it is 38mm thick
• My own M4: the wiki says 33.5, while I measure the baseplate to be 31mm, the difference made up by the rear door (etc)
• M240 (the last digital M I owned): the wiki says 42mm
• M10: the Leica website says 37.5.
• M11: the Leica website says 38.5.

Was there a step change in thickness between M4 and later cameras? Or do they all have the same essential body thickness (and baseplate dimensions), but with different protrusions such as preview levers, wind-on lever etc?

I am asking because although I am content with my M4, and have no need for and certainly no intention of buying a new M6.........the idea of a new body with built in metering occasionally waves at me from a distance.

There has been a lot of speculation and conjecture based on a few actual facts. We really won't know until a lot more information is released. Have there been changes to the body shell? What internal parts have been changed? What changes have been made due to parts availability or environmental concerns? It's like being blindfolded, then handed an object and asked to describe it. Is this like the M4-2? It looks like the M4 but is a much different camera.