New Leica M6 Film Camera

[raizans]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Somebody explain how the parts ban and software lock on calibrating meters on post-M6 Classic meters supports the right to repair.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Anbaric]

1 hour ago, raizans said:

Somebody explain how the parts ban and software lock on calibrating meters on post-M6 Classic meters supports the right to repair.

I suppose if Leica did make a new meter board for the M6 Classic, as they've suggested they might, it could well be software-calibrated like the later cameras. In which case there would still be a good reason for Alan Starkie to continue with his independent meter project whatever Leica does (from his comments on the possibility of supporting the M6-TTL, he would just use potentiometers that can be adjusted directly).

[Huss]

4 hours ago, raizans said:

Somebody explain how the parts ban and software lock on calibrating meters on post-M6 Classic meters supports the right to repair.

Why don't you explain that given that Leica itself no longer has supplies for the meter boards in the M6TTL or the M7.

How about explaining why Japanese mfgs - Nikon for example - refuse to repair or provide parts to repair current items that you can buy right now, if you do not buy them in the same country that you are trying to get them repaired in?  Explain how it is legal for them to ban repairs to their own products that you paid them for?

Leica provides international warranties on everything they sell.  No matter where you bought it from, no matter where you are, they will cover you.  

 

[raizans]

Thanks for pointing out that anti-R2R policies are an industry-wide issue. Given your critique of Nikon, whose parts ban in 2012 led to a huge uproar among Nikonians, should I assume that you are also against Leica's parts ban?

Small businesses like DAG, Cameraworks, and Reddot Repair don't just need parts, they also need to be able to give comprehensive service. Leica could let independent repair shops calibrate M6TTL and M7 meters if they removed the software lock. Replacing broken meters is another topic.

With any luck, Leica's work on making new meters for the M6 Classic results in circuit boards with potentiometers that can be calibrated by anyone, rather than one that only they can service.

[earleygallery]

I think Leica are really just interested in selling you a new M6.

[lmans]

Why should/would Leica provide what is being stated? By doing so would only hurt the ‘new’ M6 sales and take away the mystique of ownership. Maybe…. Just maybe, down the road but not now.

[raizans]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

14 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

I think Leica are really just interested in selling you a new M6.

They’re working on the M6 Classic meter repair problem, which goes to show that they are also interested in supporting the used camera market. But we don’t know the details of how they plan on doing that, whether they’re going to shut out independent repair shops or not.

[Huss]

1 hour ago, raizans said:

They’re working on the M6 Classic meter repair problem, which goes to show that they are also interested in supporting the used camera market. But we don’t know the details of how they plan on doing that, whether they’re going to shut out independent repair shops or not.

But are they?  File this one under "I'll believe it when I see it".  A whole bunch of hooey was announced when they introduced the new M6, all to keep us talking about it.

[Anbaric]

1 hour ago, lmans said:

Why should/would Leica provide what is being stated? By doing so would only hurt the ‘new’ M6 sales and take away the mystique of ownership. Maybe…. Just maybe, down the road but not now.

They already have a workshop that fabricates other parts that are no longer available (some independent technicians do the same), and they have said the old M6 meter is something they are looking at (which isn't the same as having done it, of course!).

If anything, making cameras that can be repaired many years later adds to the 'mystique', and could make potential purchasers of the new film cameras more confident that Leica will have their back in the years to come. And they have a long tradition of servicing or even upgrading film cameras decades after they were originally purchased. It's this sort of thing that helps to justify their high prices.

[raizans]

3 hours ago, Huss said:

But are they?  File this one under "I'll believe it when I see it".  A whole bunch of hooey was announced when they introduced the new M6, all to keep us talking about it.

Totally, they made a lot of vague and contradictory statements. But is it vaporware if they're openly trying not to overpromise?

Comments start at around 15:15.

https://youtu.be/o0nfZ4JAy2Q

 

[andrew01]

I agree that Leica does not owe us anything in terms of supporting the serviceability of the original M6, especially since they have provided support for 40 years.  Obviously they are unmatched by any competitor in terms of providing support for the M cameras (unfortunately the same cannot be said for the R cameras).

However I do think it would generate significant additional good will for the brand if they could provide a solution to keep M6’s working.  I am not convinced that it would be a major undertaking for Leica to engineer a new circuit board  - probably just some software tweaks of the new M6 board.

 

[Anbaric]

11 hours ago, raizans said:

Totally, they made a lot of vague and contradictory statements. But is it vaporware if they're openly trying not to overpromise?

Comments start at around 15:15.

https://youtu.be/o0nfZ4JAy2Q

It would be nice to have English subtitles or a transcript of that video - the auto-translation of the auto-generated German captions sometimes does quite well, but tends to become incoherent just when it sounds like they are saying something interesting!

Edited December 6, 2022 by Anbaric

[Huss]

3 hours ago, andrew01 said:

I agree that Leica does not owe us anything in terms of supporting the serviceability of the original M6, especially since they have provided support for 40 years.  Obviously they are unmatched by any competitor in terms of providing support for the M cameras (unfortunately the same cannot be said for the R cameras).

However I do think it would generate significant additional good will for the brand if they could provide a solution to keep M6’s working.  I am not convinced that it would be a major undertaking for Leica to engineer a new circuit board  - probably just some software tweaks of the new M6 board.

 

There is nothing new about the 'new' M6 board.  It is the MP board that has been in production since 2003.  Almost 20 years now!  You'd think that if it was as simple as a software tweak to make it work with a 40 year old M6, they would have done it by now.

The old M6 meter is different - not just in sensitivity but the very obvious 2 leds w/ varying degrees of brightness vs the current 3 led system.

[andrew01]

Perhaps Leica didn’t try making the new board work because they still had a box full of the old ones.  In any case it is good news that Alan Starkie is going to knock something up in his garage. 

[madNbad]

Leica should offer a trade in program to the target market. Send in granddads' old black paint Leica M and get €500 off the new M6!

[jukka]

On 12/4/2022 at 2:40 AM, Mr.Prime said:

There are so many old serviceable film cameras out there why all this talk about somebody needing to step up at all?

Well, sooner, or rather later, those are going to run out. 

Meanwhile, Pentax is rumoured to perhaps coming up with a new film body, as well as developing repair services. 

https://pentaxrumors.com/2022/12/19/breaking-news-pentax-is-starting-a-new-film-project-that-could-include-the-release-of-a-new-film-camera/#more-15086

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, jukka said:

Well, sooner, or rather later, those are going to run out. 

Meanwhile, Pentax is rumoured to perhaps coming up with a new film body, as well as developing repair services. 

https://pentaxrumors.com/2022/12/19/breaking-news-pentax-is-starting-a-new-film-project-that-could-include-the-release-of-a-new-film-camera/#more-15086

More than just a rumour - that looks like an official announcement by Ricoh that they will develop a film camera under the Pentax brand. OTOH the form factor looks speculative and any launch date is likely to be a long way off - it's a statement of intent.

[Herr Barnack]

At first, I didn't have much of an interest in the new M6.  Now I want one.

So now my Leica dream shopping list consists of -

M11

M6

35/2 APO

28 Summilux

50/2 APO

75 Noctilux

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Herr Barnack

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[logan2z]

9 hours ago, Herr Barnack said:

At first, I didn't have much of an interest in the new M6.  Now I want one.

What changed your mind?

[Mr.Prime]

As the days and weeks tick by my initial decision to buy one is weakening and as my annoyance with Leica at being unable to provide a camera or any clue when they are going to be available, I am less and less likely to buy one.