The New Leitz - Wetzlar Leica M6 (and the dreaded film scratching issue)

[Huss]

Been there, done that 32 years ago. Bokeh, isolation, blablah.

Funny thing, I saw you appear on various forums. First, criticizing leica, gushing over nikon cameras. Then various chinese and cheapies. Then, challenging the silly leica prices and lenses with stellar voigtlander offerings. And now, gushing over leica.
Yeah, We all witnessed your ascension to leica fanboy. Pretty classic john doe roadmap, I’d say.

You also a stalker NB? I knew about the dancing around talking shots wildly to try and get one good one, but this is something else.

Seek help.

 

[Huss]

Beautiful shots

Thanks buddy! Appreciated.

 

[Huss]

Sarcasm alert!
Anyone else marveling at the bickering in this thread, which purports to be about a ~$7,100.00 CDN camera (sans lens) that has been made available in limited quantities - for a select few, of course?
Us moderators have been doing that - with virtual popcorn of course. And in my case, with a rueful look.
Personally I just want to know whether we can be assured that this new camera - or any other camera for that matter - will produce "unique deep grey tones with an almost silvery/metallic look" .
And to those who are doing the bickering, I'll put on my moderators hat for a moment and say: "cut it out, or take it elsewhere".
Moderator's interruption over.
And Sarcasm alert over as well.

But but maaaaaaatttttyyyyyy, heeeee starrrted it......

lol

Hey, Happy Thanksgiving everybodies! which reminds me, I need to bump that $10 Leica thread....

 

[miha]

Recently I got DR Summicron, and shooting most of the time @f4 - f8. Sometimes I think that I don't need anything more than Elmar 5cm f3.5 and Leica M1 or M3.
We are all different, and that is ok.

You don't. A responsive camera with a standard lens is all you need.

 

[miha]

BIG SNIP

Suuuure, boke is a magnificient tool to add some ohlala to a woman’s portrait, but it should be used strictly as an Utilitarian tool for street and reportage: where it will look natural in a low light setting, but absolutely unnatural in a well lit scene.

hear! hear!

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Cracks me up when people get butt hurt over opinions that differ from theirs in the Leica crowd. It is as predictable as night....

Leica of course are brilliant at creating "desire" for their products. It is almost laughable when they get the "influencers" to gush about how a camera that barely differs from the other camera they based it on will "change everything." Cracks me up.

I've got nothing against Leicas. I own one. I could do without all the hagiography though. Gets old.

I use my Hexar RF far more than I use my Leica M3. The Hexar is just a better photographic tool. For making images, you know- what we are supposed to do with a camera? I guess if I want to peacock I could carry the Leica around so one in the ten thousand people who know what a Leica is will think I am a real photographer. Or I guess I could start a youtube channel and put the Leica on my desk so the plebs know I am serious. Lol. The longer I do this photography thing the lower on the list the Leica goes sad to say. Now if Leica made the camera they should be making, like an M7 with higher shutter speeds and a metal shutter it would be right up on top. The most interesting Leica made today is the M11. Too bad I am not that into digital....

 

[Arthurwg]

Recently I got DR Summicron, and shooting most of the time @f4 - f8. Sometimes I think that I don't need anything more than Elmar 5cm f3.5 and Leica M1 or M3.
We are all different, and that is ok.

I wish I still had my DR. I remember using it in 1974 at Djanat, in the Algerian Sahara, to photograph the prehistoric cave paintings in the Tassili mountains. Ah for the good old days!

 

[Arthurwg]

I'm going to suggest that all cameras will produce unique deep grey tones with an almost silvery/metallic look. The trick is to photograph something that is deep grey, almost silvery metallic colored.

Moose22 tells it like it is.

 

[mshchem]

I've got the lovely Leicas. They're wonderful precision beasties. I have to confess that I'm more likely to use my Fuji 6x9s, same aspect ratio, more real estate, if people look at you funny with a Leica, they really think you're nuts with a Fuji.

 

[MattKing]

Moose22 tells it like it is.

But did he whistle like I did when he told it like it is?

 

[abruzzi]

I'm going to suggest that all cameras will produce unique deep grey tones with an almost silvery/metallic look. The trick is to photograph something that is deep grey, almost silvery metallic colored.

or shoot B&W film. Then everything is silvery metallic.

 

[bags27]

I've got the lovely Leicas. They're wonderful precision beasties. I have to confess that I'm more likely to use my Fuji 6x9s, same aspect ratio, more real estate, if people look at you funny with a Leica, they really think you're nuts with a Fuji.

With the spiking cost of film, I'm using my Fuji 6x9 less and less. At these prices, only 8 shots to a roll makes me pause a bit. And I'm even using my 6x7 and 6x6 cameras a bit less. Investing more in 35mm. Leica, sure. But Zeiss glass on my Nikon is also pretty impressive.

 

[Film-Niko]

After two years of rumors, wild speculation and intense market buzz, It is finally here.

https://leica-camera.com/en-US/photography/cameras/m/m6

I like it. It reminds me of my first M6....looks just like it without the quirks.

Nice work Leica!

After all the bickering, back to topic :
No matter whether you are using Leica and like the brand, or not. And even if you hate Leica, but love shooting film:
This is definitely a very positive signal for our film photo and camera market. Like the introduction of the Leica M-A was in 2014.
I visited the Photokina fair 2018 and talked to the Leica staff at their booth. And they explained that they have increasing demand for their film based Leica models for many years. That was the reason for the introduction of the M-A, which has been successful over the years.
That Leica is now even adding an improved M6 to their line, stating that demand for their film cameras is further increasing, is clearly demonstrating that this increasing demand is sustainable, as it is the second new addition to the line after 8 years. So now increasing demand for their film M models for about at least 10 years.
Leica is now producing 3 different film Leica M models at the same time.
The Leica experts may know it better than me, but AFAIK it is even the first time in Leica's history that they are producing 3 different film based Leica M rangefinder cameras parallel at the same time.

I don't own a Leica M. But I am quite happy about these news .

 

[darkosaric]

You don't. A responsive camera with a standard lens is all you need.

I know. My first 2 cameras were Nikon F801s and Minolta Hi Matic F. Those 2 are enough. Other cameras I got because I can and I enjoy using different cameras, but on the end - Leica, or Minolta, or Nikon, or xyz -- difference is minor.

 

[mshchem]

With the spiking cost of film, I'm using my Fuji 6x9 less and less. At these prices, only 8 shots to a roll makes me pause a bit. And I'm even using my 6x7 and 6x6 cameras a bit less. Investing more in 35mm. Leica, sure. But Zeiss glass on my Nikon is also pretty impressive.

I have several Zeiss Cosina M lenses, really nice!

 

[Huss]

After all the bickering, back to topic :
No matter whether you are using Leica and like the brand, or not. And even if you hate Leica, but love shooting film:
This is definitely a very positive signal for our film photo and camera market. Like the introduction of the Leica M-A was in 2014.
I visited the Photokina fair 2018 and talked to the Leica staff at their booth. And they explained that they have increasing demand for their film based Leica models for many years. That was the reason for the introduction of the M-A, which has been successful over the years.
That Leica is now even adding an improved M6 to their line, stating that demand for their film cameras is further increasing, is clearly demonstrating that this increasing demand is sustainable, as it is the second new addition to the line after 8 years. So now increasing demand for their film M models for about at least 10 years.
Leica is now producing 3 different film Leica M models at the same time.
The Leica experts may know it better than me, but AFAIK it is even the first time in Leica's history that they are producing 3 different film based Leica M rangefinder cameras parallel at the same time.

I don't own a Leica M. But I am quite happy about these news .

While Leica has added the M6 to their line up, it does not seem that they have actually increased the total volume of M film cameras produced. They build them in batches - first M6, then MP, then M-A.
Right now there is a 3 month wait for M6, and a 6 month wait for an MP. Why 6 months for the MPs? Because they are building the M6 at the moment.

Leica does not release the actual numbers of film Ms built or sold. Just says they sell all they make.

 

[Film-Niko]

While Leica has added the M6 to their line up, it does not seem that they have actually increased the total volume of M film cameras produced. They build them in batches - first M6, then MP, then M-A.
Right now there is a 3 month wait for M6, and a 6 month wait for an MP. Why 6 months for the MPs? Because they are building the M6 at the moment.

Leica does not release the actual numbers of film Ms built or sold. Just says they sell all they make.

There has been some Leica statements over here in Europe that they are working on increasing their production capacity for the film M models. It will probably take some time because in Germany it is currently quite difficult to get (enough) high qualified workforce. The unemployment rate is extremely low.

 

[Huss]

There has been some Leica statements over here in Europe that they are working on increasing their production capacity for the film M models. It will probably take some time because in Germany it is currently quite difficult to get (enough) high qualified workforce. The unemployment rate is extremely low.

That would make sense except most of the work is done in Portugal. It goes to Germany for 'final assembly'.

 

[Film-Niko]

That would make sense except most of the work is done in Portugal. It goes to Germany for 'final assembly'.

The situation concerning available highly qualified workers in Portugal is currently very similar to Germany.
And in Germany there is more work done as the final assembly and QC. Certain parts production including some from external suppliers (some are located in Wetzlar) is also done there.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

The Leica experts may know it better than me, but AFAIK it is even the first time in Leica's history that they are producing 3 different film based Leica M rangefinder cameras parallel at the same time.

It's possible that E. Leitz made 3 versions in the 1974-'75 period:
M5, M4-2, and MDa (or MD 2?). I am not sure if M5 and M4-2 production overlapped. Also, they sold the CL, which was from Minolta.

 

[GregY]

M4-2 was produced in 1977. 1975 was the 50th anniversary.... M4, M5, CL

 

[DF]

Another newold toy for the investor class - goes together perfectly with a $35 roll of Velvia.

 

[Huss]

Another newold toy for the investor class - goes together perfectly with a $35 roll of Velvia.

I was going to use it w Kentmere 400…

 

[Sirius Glass]

Another newold toy for the investor class - goes together perfectly with a $35 roll of Velvia.

Just dripping green with envy.

 

[Radost]

Cracks me up when people get butt hurt over opinions that differ from theirs in the Leica crowd. It is as predictable as night....

Leica of course are brilliant at creating "desire" for their products. It is almost laughable when they get the "influencers" to gush about how a camera that barely differs from the other camera they based it on will "change everything." Cracks me up.

I've got nothing against Leicas. I own one. I could do without all the hagiography though. Gets old.

I use my Hexar RF far more than I use my Leica M3. The Hexar is just a better photographic tool. For making images, you know- what we are supposed to do with a camera? I guess if I want to peacock I could carry the Leica around so one in the ten thousand people who know what a Leica is will think I am a real photographer. Or I guess I could start a youtube channel and put the Leica on my desk so the plebs know I am serious. Lol. The longer I do this photography thing the lower on the list the Leica goes sad to say. Now if Leica made the camera they should be making, like an M7 with higher shutter speeds and a metal shutter it would be right up on top. The most interesting Leica made today is the M11. Too bad I am not that into digital....

Exactly what I was saying. Electronic fast shutter on a new Leica film camera would be amazing.
But I guess Leica has never been about a good flexible cameras…
I really liked Hexar RF while I owned it. It had an amazing meter. But it was too big and bulky. Not really a pocket camera. To be honest I have never held anything else but Leica CL but I can not imagine they are as big and bulky as Hexar RF