What would you buy? 1997 M6 Titanium vs 2022 M6 Reissue

[Winedemonium]

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OK, lots of good answers here. 

By coincidence, I handled both today. The M6 Classic titanium drew my attention lately for a couple of reasons. The first is that I recently bought the 1.4/35 SX v2 in titanium finish. I bought that because of the quality of that brass barrel version, and not the colour.... but when it arrived, the colour strangely grew on me and I wondered about the other titanium lenses. Today I had a look at two different copies of the M6 Classic Titanium. They are really nice. Actually, when M6's were around $1000 used (about 12 years ago when I got into this), the Titanium ones were a significant premium. They don't seem to be anymore. So, the second reason is that it actually looks like really great value right now.

(There's also the TTL much more limited run version, which in a coin toss I'd take... except they are so much more expensive. The Classic seems the deal).

One thing to note... if this sends you down the titanium lens GAS rollercoaster some time down the track, note that the 'titanium' lenses were a bit limited and are generally quite a premium over the regular versions, AND, they are all much heavier too. The upside is they look great (today I looked at the 90 Elmarit, 90 APO Summicron, and 35 Summilux ASPH, but the one to get is the 35 pre-ASPH, as while it is heavier than the regular version, it is still small and light).

OK, my 2c on the M6 reissue. It's basically a slightly upgraded MP with M6 finish. Upgraded? I'll have to go find the release notes / interviews I looked at back in '22, but I recall the meter is new on the M6 reissue, over the MP's. You get the MP's upgraded (less flare) view/rangefinder (over the more flare-prone M6 Classic's), and I forget now... some further tweaks. It's a handsome camera.

Have you seen them in the metal? 

The M6 Classic Titanium is often also a collector piece - not much used - and very clean. But yes, as others have said, it would probably benefit from a CLA - these are a third of a century old at this point.

In short - both great choices I think! Good luck.

 

[Paulus]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb Winedemonium:

OK, lots of good answers here. 

By coincidence, I handled both today. The M6 Classic titanium drew my attention lately for a couple of reasons. The first is that I recently bought the 1.4/35 SX v2 in titanium finish. I bought that because of the quality of that brass barrel version, and not the colour.... but when it arrived, the colour strangely grew on me and I wondered about the other titanium lenses. Today I had a look at two different copies of the M6 Classic Titanium. They are really nice. Actually, when M6's were around $1000 used (about 12 years ago when I got into this), the Titanium ones were a significant premium. They don't seem to be anymore. So, the second reason is that it actually looks like really great value right now.

(There's also the TTL much more limited run version, which in a coin toss I'd take... except they are so much more expensive. The Classic seems the deal).

One thing to note... if this sends you down the titanium lens GAS rollercoaster some time down the track, note that the 'titanium' lenses were a bit limited and are generally quite a premium over the regular versions, AND, they are all much heavier too. The upside is they look great (today I looked at the 90 Elmarit, 90 APO Summicron, and 35 Summilux ASPH, but the one to get is the 35 pre-ASPH, as while it is heavier than the regular version, it is still small and light).

OK, my 2c on the M6 reissue. It's basically a slightly upgraded MP with M6 finish. Upgraded? I'll have to go find the release notes / interviews I looked at back in '22, but I recall the meter is new on the M6 reissue, over the MP's. You get the MP's upgraded (less flare) view/rangefinder (over the more flare-prone M6 Classic's), and I forget now... some further tweaks. It's a handsome camera.

Have you seen them in the metal? 

The M6 Classic Titanium is often also a collector piece - not much used - and very clean. But yes, as others have said, it would probably benefit from a CLA - these are a third of a century old at this point.

In short - both great choices I think! Good luck.

 

Hey, that’s new to me? There was a titan pre - aspherical????? I know ther was a 2.0 / 50mm summicron but 35??

only one I knew was the 2.0/35 summicron asph an summilux asph ? 
My 2.0/35 asph was the lens which I sent back because of the titan “ wholes “ in the finishing after a few weeks. Since then have the chrome version who is actually build the same as the titan version . Reason they are brass is the finishing: It doesn’t do well on other metal material like the black lenses are build from I was told. 

[Winedemonium]

15 hours ago, Paulus said:

There was a titan pre - aspherical?????

It's the most common titan lens actually. The titanium finish Leica M6 Classic was shown at Photokina 1992 with this lens, and the promise of more titan lenses to come (LFI #6, 1992, p23).

https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php?title=35mm_f/1.4_Summilux_II

In preparation, the 357* batch was made in 1991, all titanium-finish, 1000 pieces. Titan pieces were also included as part of the 359*~360* batch of 3000 pieces in 1992. Smaller numbers were made of the 50mm Summicron, 90mm Elmarit, 90mm Summicron, 35mm Summilux ASPH, mid-1990s through 2001, some for the second M6 titan - the TTL version, in 2001. The M6 TTL titan is a very nice camera, but used prices are nearly double the M6 Classic titan. 

[Paulus]

vor 9 Stunden schrieb Winedemonium:

It's the most common titan lens actually. The titanium finish Leica M6 Classic was shown at Photokina 1992 with this lens, and the promise of more titan lenses to come (LFI #6, 1992, p23).

https://wiki.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php?title=35mm_f/1.4_Summilux_II

In preparation, the 357* batch was made in 1991, all titanium-finish, 1000 pieces. Titan pieces were also included as part of the 359*~360* batch of 3000 pieces in 1992. Smaller numbers were made of the 50mm Summicron, 90mm Elmarit, 90mm Summicron, 35mm Summilux ASPH, mid-1990s through 2001, some for the second M6 titan - the TTL version, in 2001. The M6 TTL titan is a very nice camera, but used prices are nearly double the M6 Classic titan. 

Ah, yes, I can remember the ad / photo of the 35/1.4 now. Strange how thing slip past ones memory! 

[Aussierob78]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Interesting to see others thought processes here. I ended up picking up a brand new M6 reissue today, with a build date of 10/10/2025! Got an offer from an ex employer that was hard to refuse. It's sitting on my desk now with a Voigtlander 40mm 1.4 with hood and my black rope strap, can't wait to shoot it!

[TomB_tx]

Good choice - Enjoy!

[Don Flynn]

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3 hours ago, Aussierob78 said:

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Interesting to see others thought processes here. I ended up picking up a brand new M6 reissue today, with a build date of 10/10/2025! Got an offer from an ex employer that was hard to refuse. It's sitting on my desk now with a Voigtlander 40mm 1.4 with hood and my black rope strap, can't wait to shoot it!

Nice.