New Leica M6 Film Camera

[BradS]

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35 minutes ago, neekon said:

After seeing the announcement and reading a bit about it.  With the price listed at 5295$.  I stand by my previous opinion.   This is a camera without a market.  

The MP is 5695$, used the MP is 4500-5300$ and is a much better and aesthetically pleasing camera.  

The original M6 can be had for 2800-3800$ on the used market in varying conditions, if you want the M6 aesthetic.  

There is absolutely no reason, in my mind, to get this over an MP(used or new) or an original M6.  

Even the videos posted can't really give a good reason for this camera to exist.  All the marketing jargon is related to film, and film cameras, but that jargon can be put on a marketing video for the MP or any film camera.     

Collectors and wealthy people will have a field day.  And it will likely be sold out for months or years.   I, for one think this is a swing and a miss in terms of price.  

This should've always been a cheap M film camera that brings users to the M system and to film as a whole.

 

I am neither a collector nor am I rich. I'm not even a Leica fanboy (but that may have just changed).  I think the new M6 is beautiful. I really like it and I think they hit it out of the park with this one. I'm seriously trying to figure out how to afford one. Looks like I'll have time.  Maybe by the time I have enough money saved up, there will be a chrome option available. That would be my preference. Sure, it would have been nice if it were less expensive but, I'm really glad that Leica made the best product they could. That's what they do. That's what we want them to do. That's what is expected. Anything less would have been...well, a disappointment.

Edited October 20, 2022 by BradS

[Anbaric]

8 minutes ago, neekon said:

Why is the M6 more ergonomic?  I always preferred using an MP over an M6, and the lack of a bright red dot was always appealing to me aesthetically.

It has the 'modern' wind and rewind, which were seen as improvements when the M4 came out. The MP retro style may be prettier to some, but the rewind is slower. If I'd had the spare cash and inclination to buy an MP when the à la carte programme was active, this is essentially the camera I'd have ended up with, give or take the engravings. For those with other preferences, the MP is still available. Leica might have chosen to make the new M6 slightly cheaper than the MP for marketing purposes, but they didn't. It was never going to be the super-cheap version that some people hoped for.

[jsrockit]

On 10/18/2022 at 4:56 PM, Mikep996 said:

Oh... wait...What?  You're kidding!!  Records are now outselling CDs?  Go figure  

 

 

Actually, film and records have been cool for many many years now.  Cassettes too.  What I am starting to see now, is a resurgence in early digital cameras and CDs.  

[colonel]

I am very pleased that Leica is introducing a new film camera. And this is a handsome beast for those that want it.

To be honest, the brass top is the finest improvement over the previous M6

However, for my photography, I will be sticking with MPs

Its quite possible that I might pick up on of these in the future

[scott kirkpatrick]

I'm delighted to use (on rare occasions) my M2 and collapsible 50/2.0.  The M2 was restored by Sherry Krauter about 15 years ago and looks brand new.  The easy-handling c-50 has much of the flaring authenticity that the newly re-released 35/1.4 shows in Jono's article.  Here it is showing its style on an M8:

 

https://pbase.com/skirkp/image/78263193

 

[ejg1890]

9 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

RIP MP.

Just a redesign of the MP offering to make it more recognisable to current audiences, and sell into the current demand for old M6 bodies. The MP name was always confusing given the MP (M240), M9P etc. Will there be any new MPs made from now on? I doubt it. I wonder when the last one rolled off the production line? Spring this year?

It's the M6 from now on.

Now wait for the M-A to roll over and get the M4 treatment.

You might be correct regarding the MP and M-A for that matter. I will add I just acquired a new MP. I bought it knowing the M6 re-release was around the corner. I prefer the rewind knob vs the crank. I don’t like it on the M4 and no reason to think it would be different on the new M6. 

[Big John]

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Leica themselves have made a comment on their you tube video that this is not a limited edition.  
 

Am keen to understand what the ‘improvements’ are…..a key one for me would be knowing how the VF compares to the M10 version.  Anyone know?

 

And can anyone help me find a comparison of M film cameras pls?  Thanks. 

[Martin B]

This new M6 has one major advantage over my older standard M6 non-TTL camera: no more rangefinder patch flare since the new one uses the MP rangefinder. But regarding the price the just released one goes for now, I am just continue to live with the flare with simple work-arounds. Alternatively I could replace the M6 rangefinder with a new MP one, but already this costs $$$ and is not really worth it for me at this point to upgrade. Bought my M6 in 2016 for $1100 in EX condition and never looked back. 

[Anbaric]

8 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Will there be any new MPs made from now on? I doubt it. I wonder when the last one rolled off the production line? Spring this year?

I don't see why. If there's a demand from pre-orders etc., they'll make them, and the model hasn't been deleted as far as we know. Switching from one to the other is much less hassle than building all those combinations of à la carte models used to be, but they are probably concentrating on the M6 right now to meet the expected demand.

[jonnyboy]

Leica is been pushing the film agenda (pun intended) for quite a while: they know it's trending so they cashing in. I was at one of their event few days ago in Mayfair...film related...promoting their film developing courses as well....just in time to announce this 'new' M6.

I don't feel any way about this new M6...i'm extremely happy with my old M6 (which costed me £600 few years ago). 
In fact, I don't like the leatherette they using in the new bodies, I much prefer the old tough ones for film Ms.

[jsrockit]

43 minutes ago, neekon said:

After seeing the announcement and reading a bit about it.  With the price listed at 5295$.  I stand by my previous opinion.   This is a camera without a market.  

The MP is 5695$, used the MP is 4500-5300$ and is a much better and aesthetically pleasing camera.  

The original M6 can be had for 2800-3800$ on the used market in varying conditions, if you want the M6 aesthetic.  

There is absolutely no reason, in my mind, to get this over an MP(used or new) or an original M6.  

Even the videos posted can't really give a good reason for this camera to exist.  All the marketing jargon is related to film, and film cameras, but that jargon can be put on a marketing video for the MP or any film camera.     

Collectors and wealthy people will have a field day.  And it will likely be sold out for months or years.   I, for one think this is a swing and a miss in terms of price.  

This should've always been a cheap M film camera that brings users to the M system and to film as a whole.

Some people really prefer the M6.  Some people like the red dot.  Some people just are not you.  You say it will likely be sold out but it is swing and miss regarding price?  How can both be true?  Lastly, there will never be another cheap Leica.  They are a luxury brand with luxury stores in the luxury zones of numerous cities.  

[hdmesa]

23 minutes ago, neekon said:

Because there has been talk and rumors of a cheaper M film camera for what feels like years.  Then there was talk of an M6 and that seemed like the natural camera to do that with, a new M6, priced to bring people into the M.  
No one owes up a cheap film M, never said anyone did.  

The rewind I can see, however I personally prefer the MP film advance.   I didnt see that post of his, I am coming back into this thread and missed a page or 2.  

Maybe the negative reactions are people who were hoping for a more affordable film M and got a cash grab.  
 

I will again say, I do not have an issue with re-releasing an M6, I have owned a few in the past.   In my opinion, however, this release was a missed opportunity to release a less expensive film M, 4000-4500$.   The M6 has been a lot of M users first film M, or first M in general, mostly due to the price being cheap on the second hand market.  With this release they could've done just that, release a cheaper film M to bring in new users.  As it is, it feels like a collectors camera, for collectors and rich people.  

Yes, lots of talk and speculation about a cheaper film camera on forums but Leica never gave us hints that was the case. So those expectations where just us setting ourselves up.

Why do we want more people shooting film? Will that help increase the supply of film due to greater demand or will it simply suck up what we have faster and drive up prices? I'm not sure.

And why is making a product that will be popular called a derogatory "cash grab"? The only people I've heard clamoring for a cheaper camera are the ones that can afford the current MP/M-A prices. Everyone else seems happy buying used M6s.

[Datachrome]

So the « new film camera » turns out to be nothing new. Anticlimactic and a bit sad IMO. But plenty will buy for sure. Oh well…

[madNbad]

The original M6 became the M6 TTL which evolved with the the change from alloy top plates back to brass leading to the release of the MP. Now the MP is reconfigured as the new M6 Classic. As many post have suggested, this will be the film body offering and the MP being discontinued.

[hdmesa]

34 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said:

RIP MP.

Just a redesign of the MP offering to make it more recognisable to current audiences, and sell into the current demand for old M6 bodies. The MP name was always confusing given the MP (M240), M9P etc. Will there be any new MPs made from now on? I doubt it. I wonder when the last one rolled off the production line? Spring this year?

It's the M6 from now on.

Now wait for the M-A to roll over and get the M4 treatment.

Did you read the line in Jono's article on the 35 Steel Rim about Leica ramping up their film camera production capacity? I think all the models are all here to stay, and in greater quantities. If the MP/M-A get discontinued, it will be to make other variants. Everyone thought I was joking when I said Leica would move the dormant production capacity from the APS-C digital line over to film.

Edited October 20, 2022 by hdmesa

[Matlock]

Some of the responses to the introduction of the new M6 have made me smile. We are all different, some like red dots and logos, some don't. Some prefer the old style of film advance and rewind levers, some just the opposite. It should be noted that we are members of a Leica Forum and that there are many Leica users out there that are not (and would never consider joining), we are a minority view and Leica look to the bigger picture. I probably won't be buying the new M6, not because I don't like it, but because I have a M6TTL, M7 and MP3. To buy more would be rather overkill I think 🙂 

[Danner]

Considering the worldwide supply shortages and inflation, I feel like the price of the M6 Reissue is quite fair.

Put me down of the "Happy" list of potential customers.

[Anbaric]

Incidentally, what are we going to call this thing? The New M6? M6 10557? M6 2022? M6 Reissue? M6 Reboot? M6 Classic Classic? M6 Hipster? M6 Liz Truss Resignation Edition?

[madNbad]

3 minutes ago, Anbaric said:

Incidentally, what are we going to call this thing? The New M6? M6 10557? M6 2022? M6 Reissue? M6 Reboot? M6 Classic Classic? M6 Hipster? M6 Liz Truss Resignation Edition?

How about the Millennial Edition?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[ejg1890]

Just now, madNbad said:

How about the Millennial Edition?

The ME6?