M6 Titanium Classic

[pismo923]

Thanks to this forum I am now looking at getting a rangefinder. I have located a mint M6 with the titanium and ostrich covering. Is this model in fact quite rare and more valuable due to collector market? I have seen very nice M6's sell on here for about$1200. What is a fair price to pay for a titanium model in collector condition?

 

[Vickko]

ummm, I can't really recommend a "collector Leica" for a first Leica purchase.

Mind if I ask some basic questions:
- what is your shooting style? Metered? Meterless? Modern? Classical?
- film or digital?
- what lenses do you want to use?
- what lenses do you intend to buy in the future?

I did a scan of ebay M6 titaniums - not selling at even $1500. Sounds like the collectors don't want this model.

The M6 is a good basic Leica to begin with, nice and modern, and still a very solid camera. Maybe some concern with RF flare, but not a major concern.

If I were your "camera salesman", I would like to find out more, before trying to sell you a titanium ostrich.

....Vick

 

[Tom A]

The M6 Titanium is not titanium. It is a titanium nitrite coating on top of the brass. As a collectible it was a bit of a flop. The early ones also suffered from the dreaded plastic spring return on the film-counter. Some accountant at Leica figured out that they could save several cents by replacing the "kick-back" spring with a plastic one. Probably cost them more in warranty repairs than what they saved.
The Ostrich covering on the titanium is ugly - looks like some kind of "social" disease!!!!
Otherwise it is just a M6 in a different wrapping. They did make some lenses in matching finish too. In my opinion not a collectible, just a different looking M6 - and a good user. If you like the look, buy it - but dont pay a premium for it. A "plain jane" M6 will do just as well - and the film-counter will probably work too.

 

[bobby_novatron]

Pismo -- I'd strongly take Vickko & Tom's advice, especially if you're new to rangefinders.

If you're looking to enjoy RF photography and use your camera regularly, a collector camera is not the way to go, even if it's an unusual M6 like the one you're describing.

 

[Vickko]

Tom, anyone

Do you know if the 2000 Millenium M6 had the "plastic return spring" in the film counter?

Vick

... The early ones also suffered from the dreaded plastic spring return on the film-counter..... - and the film-counter will probably work too.

 

[fbf]

I can't believe it is even considered "collectible". There is nothing special about the body. The ostrich leather is very slippery to use. Just like the Ti lenses, the Ti body wears super fugly. I can keep going...

 

[Tom A]

Tom, anyone

Do you know if the 2000 Millenium M6 had the "plastic return spring" in the film counter?

Vick

Vick, I have the 2000 Millennium and so far no problems with the return spring. Dont know if it is the plastic or steel one though. I had DAG replace the regular 0.72 finder with a 0.58 when i bought it - so flare is no issue at all.
Tom

 

[Debusti Paolo]

Vick, I have the 2000 Millennium and so far no problems with the return spring. Dont know if it is the plastic or steel one though. I had DAG replace the regular 0.72 finder with a 0.58 when i bought it - so flare is no issue at all.
Tom

and the replaicement was very expensive??

 

[PMCC]

It's not a collector model, just a finish variation. The plastic frame counter spring was not unique to the titanium M6, but was installed in all contemporary M6 models, and likewise it was changed back to the steel spring across all models. So it's in no way a rap on the titanium finish M6 model in particular. The titanium finish is more scratch resistant than the others, and certainly ages better than the black chrome, which gradually wears away to reveal the underlying dull gray zinc top plate. The titanium finished top plate is brass, just like today's MP. The faux ostrich leather covering is genuine (calf) leather, embossed with the ostrich hide design for texture. There are some who consider it a handsome improvement over the synthetic leatherette that was standard issue for other M6 models.

 

[pismo923]

Thanks for all your responses. I want to buy a camera to use not collect so I can appreciate your comments. I was curious about the titanium model since I have not seen any like it. As far as what type of shooting I do it's film only for me at this time. I would want to start with either a 50mm or 35mm lens. I am looking at the M6 for it's built in metering (since that is what I am used to) but in the back of my mind a nice M2 with a 35mm lens seems to be a very good way to get "back to basics". Also the cost saving on the M2 body could be put towards a lens. I wear glasses- does the M6 have any advantage over an M2 or vise versa in this regard?

 

[Roger Hicks]

What puzzles me is that there are always people saying that people should USE these funny-finish Leicas, and then, when someone suggests doing just that, they tell him not to...

I'd be perfectly happy to use it. I might even pay a slight premium for novelty value -- and it looks as if it would be pretty slight. What's the problem?

To pismo923: I have, or have had, M2, M3, M4P, MP, and have borrowed others. To me, a meter outweighs the superior finder of the M2, and my ideal lens combination is 35/75, so I'd go for the M6. But if you're a purist, go for an M2. Especially with a Rapidwinder, as I have on mine.

Cheers,

R.

 

[maddoc]

The M6 Titanium is not titanium. It is a titanium nitrite coating on top of the brass.

Very interesting since all M bodies after the M4-P and until the M7 had zinc dye-cast top plates (except for the M6TTL Millennium perhaps ?), so Leica switched back to a brass top plate only for the M6 titanium ?

 

[Calzone]

I own a Titanium M6, and I agree that the Ostritch covering is garishly ugly.

I bought my Ti M6 because its a bit of a freak. Its an early M6 that enjoys all the Wetzlar features like the top engraved top plate, Made In Germany embosed in the leatherette, knurled metal rewind knob, Leitz instead of Leica on the Red Dot... that makes it special. (Leatherette covering: No Ostritch) The serial number suggests that it pre-dates the introduction of the Classic Titanium M6 by five years.

I love that the top plate is brass like the earlier Leicas, otherwise its just a chrome Wetzlar M6. I enjoy the novelty, but no great premium, just a cool conversation piece that I shoot. Looks really cool with either the CV50/3.5 or CV50/2.0 Nickel Heliars and even a 50 Rigid Cron for contrast.

I often ask Leica nerds, "What's wrong with this M6." It doesn't take long for them to notice not only all the subtle Wetzlar features that distinguish my M6 from a regular Classic, but the Ti finish on the top plate only is the biggest giveaway.

Cal

 

[Vickko]

M6 vs M2

M6 vs M2

I wear glasses too.

The M6 has the 28mm framelines, that might be hard to see with glasses. The M2 had 35mm lines (along with 50 & 90). I recall that it was easy to see the 35mm lines, even with glasses.

The M6 had the flare issue, but I don't know if the titanium model was late enough such that the flare issue was resolved.

....Vick

.... I wear glasses- does the M6 have any advantage over an M2 or vise versa in this regard?

 

[Vickko]

You know, there are a couple really good M6 non-TTL cameras here for sale? At good prices too!

 

[dreamsandart]

...The titanium finish is more scratch resistant than the others, and certainly ages better than the black chrome, which gradually wears away to reveal the underlying dull gray zinc top plate. The titanium finished top plate is brass, just like today's MP...

The superior wear of the 'titanium' M6 is more of a myth than reality. Just the word 'titanium' makes you think its tough, but its just a coating in this case as pointed out, and gets pretty shabby looking over time. I've seen M6 titaniums in collections without use and they even just have an aged look that's not attractive. Chrome is still the best for wear. Although the black chrome finish does get a bit gray on the edges with use, its not getting down to the zinc, there is an undercoating applied to the camera as part of the Black Chrome process, it would take a lot of use to actually get down to the zinc top plate.

 

[Vickko]

I have a titanium Nikon F2, and I am looking forward to seeing how long it lasts. I'm 50. I intend to pass it onto my son.

I bet the titanium will still looking beautiful at my funeral ............. 🙂

As for the titanium coated M6, I side with dreamsandart.

....Vick

The superior wear of the titanium is more of a myth than reality.....