original price of a 1994 Leica M6

arnie k · Dec 31, 2020

I just sold my beloved M6 using Tamarkin in Chicago. They were great and I got a great price. I forgot what I paid for the 6 as well as the 35mm Summicron that I also sold and was curious if anyone knows what those guys went for when new in 1994. Thanks.

Huss · Dec 31, 2020

Leica M6 right now fetches $2400 body only private sale.

When it was released in 1984 it was about $2000, so using the inflation calculator, about $5000 now.

BradS · Dec 31, 2020

Looking through Popular Photogaphy Magazine from 1994 (free on line - search google books). I found a Cambridge Camera Exchange ad that lists the...
Leica M6: $1729,
Leica M6 Titanium: $2295
50mm Summicron: $599.

BradS · Dec 31, 2020

Later in the same issue, there is a multi page ad from 47th street photo that is much easier to read it lists the...

Leica M6: $2495,
black 50mm Summicron: $795
chrome 50mm Summicron: $945.

here's a link....
https://books.google.com/books?id=nDAVsvMUYksC&pg=PA5&source=gbs_toc&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=true

mshchem · Dec 31, 2020

I bought a used mint black chrome M6ttl with a 50mm Summicron for $1300, it was priced at $1700, I asked if they could do any better. The seemingly unhappy clerk looked at the directive left by the seller. He without any negotiation dropped the price to 1300.
I sold that camera because I wanted a 0.85x finder. I bought a NOS version 0.85x, silver from a Japan based dealer, he originally had 10 identical cameras from a collector, never taken out of the box.

Alan9940 · Dec 31, 2020

I bought a 0.85 M6 from Tamarkin around that time for about $1,600 brand new. Maybe a year or so later, I bought a second 0.85 M6 from Tamarkin for around $2,000. Still use both to this day and I will never sell 'em.

logan2z · Dec 31, 2020

Current M6 prices baffle me a bit. A very nice M4 is about 1/2 the price and arguably at the zenith of Leica quality. Is the built-in meter (which Leica says can't be repaired, although apparently DAG has managed to do so for some customers) really worth $1200+ to buyers?

logan2z · Dec 31, 2020

Alan9940 said:
I bought a 0.85 M6 from Tamarkin around that time for about $1,600 brand new. Maybe a year or so later, I bought a second 0.85 M6 from Tamarkin for around $2,000. Still use both to this day and I will never sell 'em.

Tamarkin lists them for closer to $3K now.

Kodachromeguy · Dec 31, 2020

logan2z said:
the built-in meter (which Leica says can't be repaired,

Why is that? Is it a lack of replacement sensors, or the shutter curtain with the pattern?

logan2z · Dec 31, 2020

Kodachromeguy said:
Why is that? Is it a lack of replacement sensors, or the shutter curtain with the pattern?

I believe it's the circuit board for the meter that is unrepairable. Not clear if that only affects the M6 TTL or the Classic as well. More info at this link:

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topi...x-my-leica-m6-ttl-light-meter-not-even-leica/

BradS · Dec 31, 2020

I believe it is only the M6ttl

The light meter PCA in my M6 (non-TTL) was repaired by DAG in 2019. He didn’t explicitly say but the behavior of the meter strongly suggests the a light meter PCA for the MP was substituted for the original.

logan2z · Dec 31, 2020

BradS said:
I believe it is only the M6ttl

The light meter PCA in my M6 (non-TTL) was repaired by DAG. He didn’t explicitly say but the behavior of the meter strongly suggests the a light meter PCA for the MP was substituted for the original.

That's what I've heard he does.

arnie k · Dec 31, 2020

Thanks to all for the info and special thanks for the link to the old Pop Photo. Really brought back memories. When they were new the advertised price was $2,495 and $1,295 for the 6 and the 35 f2. I sold them on consignment to Tamarkin for $2,320 and $1,880 respectively. I received 80% of the sale which means they sold for $2,900 and $2,350. My equipment was in pristine condition and I had the original boxes, warranty cards, etc. Tamarkin was easy to deal with. No BS. I shipped the camera and waited for a check. They gave me the quoted price which was much higher than other dealers. Thanks again to all who responded and happy new year.

Ko.Fe. · Dec 31, 2020

logan2z said:
Current M6 prices baffle me a bit. A very nice M4 is about 1/2 the price and arguably at the zenith of Leica quality. Is the built-in meter (which Leica says can't be repaired, although apparently DAG has managed to do so for some customers) really worth $1200+ to buyers?

Then I saw M6 on the street for first time, I asked the owner if it is Zeiss Ikon ZM. It didn't look as Leica M quality at all.
M6 is very popular among new users know. They know how to get extra cash for M6, but brainless on S16.

Huss · Dec 31, 2020

Sounds like you got a great deal! Good to know. A local shop recently offered me $500 for my excellent red dot M4-2! I politely declined.

original price of a 1994 Leica M6

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