Hello Folks. It was this particular thread that has brought me to be a new member here, it is so great to see someone talking about this great version of the wonderful M6 TTL. In 1999 I fell for the presentation and, at that time wanting a camera, took advantage of the offering. I hope I am not making the rudimentary error of not checking a thread completely enough or that it is just such a common knowledge that it never be spoken of, but I have been dazzled that no one is mentioning the lenses for this model. At the time the offering was the body and the choice of 2/35mm and, I think, 1.4/50mm. I only wanted a camera, of course; and only the 35mm makes sense to me on this incredible rangefinder; a 1.4/50 sitting astride my R6.2 at the time and the 50mm making so much sense to me on the R platform. So I took just the 2/35mm. Of course the extra layer to this offering was that the lenses themselves were black painted and the last four numbers of the lenses' serial numbers would match the body's last four digits. I may have been in error NOT to take a full kit with the 50mm but I was not and am not a collector-head and was looking for a functioning daily camera and the black painted gem offered me quite an example.
I am currently based in Poland after having returned again for another stint in Europe from Australia. With Europe not exactly working out for me the Aussie household has not traveled up here since and remains packed in a shipping container in Blacktown in Sydney, one of my two R6.2's having been my immediate choice for travel instead of the M6 as I wished to cart my 15, 50 and 180 with me. Sadly the M6 remains in the household contents in a shipping container in Blacktown these past too many years. I am kicking myself. I should have found space for both the bodies, I miss the rangefinder interface.
So I just wanted to highlight this lens serial number detail, it didn't seem to get a mention. I don't know what happened to the 50mm lens with my matching serial number, maybe they only made them on order at the time for the bodies that were actually ordered and it simply doesn't exist.
And from what I can see, four on offer by that crowd called bestcameraseller in Hong Kong and another couple available for sale right now in Europe, all are body-only sales. What a shame. The matching painted lens with matching serial number is VERY spunky.
I bought mine in 2000 while working in Holland from a vendor on the shores of Holland somewhere. A young bloke, he was chuffed at the sale, his best single sale ever, at that time. I am bereft to remember the serial number.
It was a working unit and the delicate patina of exposed brass where the paint has worn away on the pointed edges, rewind crank or strap eyelets proffers my M6 that workhorse esteem, even though it is never used outside of its Leica Eveready case. What a beautiful mix this camera offered. The revised shutter speed dial to hang over the edge a little for easier finger control and even reversing its direction to be in line with the f-stop ring turn direction so that a viewfinder gazing eye didn't need to change the direction of the brain from one dial to the other, smaller numbers in one direction, bigger numbers in the other consistent on both dials unlike ever before. The old-style knurled rewind crank, the chromed finish to the shutter release, the silvering of the viewfinder to reduce glare inside there. TTL. A real mixed bag of retrospective and modern concepts, it simply instantly won me over.
And it was painted! "Sold", I said at the time.
Even the lens hood is painted.
So a Millenium black painted M6 TTL with matched serial number 2/35mm black painted lens resides in a large steel box in Sydney, Australia. Serial number not remembered.
I think the number 767 above here somewhere with the 50mm mounted may be a matching pair too. I'd be interested to know. But that shot seems to show an anodised finish rather than gloss paint. I've been wondering, therefore, with this thread if I was one of a rare few that took the matching serial numbered lens with the body.
Best regards, keep it going. Great thread, I thought the Millenium was a forgotten child.
Post Note: Following the link from earlier on page 1 by user Akiralx,
http://www.cameraquest.com/m62000.htm, does seem to elude to a 'special issue' lens. This may refer to the matched serial numbered lenses on offer in 1999/2000. But this link a little more clearly details the lenses, albeit without mentioning the matching serial numbers AND, can you believe it, under the heading title "LEICA M6 Embarrassing Versions" about a third of the way down. What?
http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m6.htm
Post Note 2: How things have changed since even 2009! check out the four listings on this website for the full Millenium kits, body, 35 AND 50. 2,000 quid a piece!
http://sale.donkiz.co.uk/sales/leica_m6_ttl.htm
Post Note 3: These might provide a few more serial numbers, though once they are sold there's no guarantee the list will be able to follow them to their new homes:-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-new-L...a-Millennium-Black-Paint-hk3524-/280941617052
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M6-0-...874080682?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2a1cef71aa
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M6-TT...857206703?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item20cbbe67af
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M6-TT...798617128?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2570582e28
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M6-0-...874079839?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2a1cef6e5f
