Leica to announce a new M-mount M6 film camera in Oct 2022

[Ko.Fe.]

I have an idea for the new M.

From reading another thread, about print borders, there are people who enjoy making or enjoy seeing prints where distinctive notches in the film frame appear in the print.

Negatives from a Hasselblad, for example, have a distinctive notch. Seeing this in the print, you know the image was made with a Hasselblad. Another example, which I’m going to employ with my Pacemaker Speed Graphic, is the appearance of septum numbers in the image when a six-sheet Grafmatic film holder is used (These are the digits 1 to 6 corresponding to the septum the film sheet was in. Some photographers remove the number disk from their Grafmatic, however).

So rather than make yet another trivial variation on M6, then what better way for owners to subtly display their Leica ownership than by having the film gate contain special notches that only this new M6 has. Indeed, the notches could even be something like /\/\ signifying the Leica M.

I was at Momento exhibition of George Zimbel in Montreal. Large prints under Focomat.
It was obviously not his priority. Some prints were not perfectly aligned.

Zimbel is one of the few real Leica photogs left. Simply because Leica and film were much more common among photographers during film only times.


By now it is obvious what newer Leicas are not priced for someone like Winograd (maybe M3/2 used).
And so is film.

I'm sure some "price back then and now wisdom" will show up, but to me it is clueless water under the bridge.

I have started to use film for real in 2012. Kodak BW in bulks was something like 40 USD. And M4-2 in 2015 costed me around 700 with shipping. With this prices I was able to do hundreds of meters every year with thinking what is in the content, not how borders looks like.

No more. Too expensive.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I was at Momento exhibition of George Zimbel in Montreal. Large prints under Focomat.
It was obviously not his priority. Some prints were not perfectly aligned.

Zimbel is one of the few real Leica photogs left. Simply because Leica and film were much more common among photographers during film only times.


By now it is obvious what newer Leicas are not priced for someone like Winograd (maybe M3/2 used).
And so is film.

I'm sure some "price back then and now wisdom" will show up, but to me it is clueless water under the bridge.

I have started to use film for real in 2012. Kodak BW in bulks was something like 40 USD. And M4-2 in 2015 costed me around 700 with shipping. With this prices I was able to do hundreds of meters every year with thinking what is in the content, not how borders looks like.

No more. Too expensive.

I'm not advocating for the notion of the starving artist in the garret, but if your work is important to you, and you think it may be important to others, then you will find a way to get it done. I don't shoot as much, I'm more careful about those "marginal" choices, but I find the money. And I'm retired and on a tight budget.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm not advocating for the notion of the starving artist in the garret, but if your work is important to you, and you think it may be important to others, then you will find a way to get it done. I don't shoot as much, I'm more careful about those "marginal" choices, but I find the money. And I'm retired and on a tight budget.

Artist... I'm finding it is nothing but self illusion for some to call themselves as "artists" just because they are using film.
Meanwhile Leica never been an artist tool. It was well made camera to take pictures showing life. Some photogs I care for did some art education, HCB and GW included. They were using Leica film cameras to show the life, but their artist gift served them to get images looking better. Yet it is nothing to do with art.

If I want to look at art, I go to museums, galleries. Most of the art is still in paintings. Many galleries have small photography display and I have grown to realize what those installations could be served as some artistic impression, but film, polaroid or digital it doesn't matter anymore.

You could print phone images on tiny instax media and 90% of viewers won't even care or notice if it is digital. Masses are totally clueless about media.

Late Fred Herzog went digital. Because it was not stopping him from taking pictures even on Canadian pension.
Digital is dirt cheap these days.

 

[mnutzer]

Without Kodachrome film material, my analog Leicas experience a very quiet retirement.
And how long will my Nikon scanner continue to process old negatives and slides?
If there were digital connections on my analog Leicas, I would waste even less thoughts on the fewer and fewer types of film available.
Actually, I'm just wondering if a new analog Leica M should really be made, whether the used market will cool down a bit?

 

[gavinlg]

A resurrected Cosina bessa iii or fujifilm GF670.. But neg size selection 69, 67 and 66 in the same camera with a 80-90 f2.8 lens. I would snap one up. Rolleiflexs and Makina 67 sell because of the fast f2.8 lens. Osina could easily do this. Second hand prices for GF670 are nearly £3k. I am sure they ciuld price it to make a orofit and fir it to sell.
I am watching this Leica release with interest.

Count me in on that - I want a new GF670. I'll probably get this M6 reissue too if it's half reasonably priced.

 

[jsrockit]

More rumors:

https://leicarumors.com/2022/09/22/...e-upcoming-leitz-m6-film-camera-reissue.aspx/

 

[ptpdprinter]

More rumors:

https://leicarumors.com/2022/09/22/...e-upcoming-leitz-m6-film-camera-reissue.aspx/

Is a red dot a selling point? I would think no red dot would be a bigger selling point.

 

[Dogman]

I used two M6 bodies for several years and honestly don't recall if the red dot said "Leitz" or "Leica".

 

[jsrockit]

Is a red dot a selling point? I would think no red dot would be a bigger selling point.

It depends if you want to show off to other Leica fans or if you want to photograph I would think. I honestly do not care either way. Both are ok for me.

 

[raydm6]

I used two M6 bodies for several years and honestly don't recall if the red dot said "Leitz" or "Leica".

For those who are curious, early production Wetzlar M6’s had the “Leitz” dot. Then the “Leica” red dot for Solms production. Then the “Big M6” versions also were produced sans “Leica” branding in front to avoid redundancy I guess? I kid you not. Then there’s the Leica “Black Dot”. You can’t make this stuff up 🙂

Stephen offers a good analysis:

 

[mnutzer]

If 'Leitz' were to be reborn, most non-photographing Germans would only shake their heads and ask whether this factory for file folders and loose-leaf binders now also produces cameras and whether these are also made of carton and cardboard.

 

[ptpdprinter]

For those who are curious, early production Wetzlar M6’s had the Leitz dot. Then the “Leica” red dot for Solms production. Then the “Big M6” versions also were produced sans “Leica” branding in front to avoid redundancy I guess? I kid you not. Then there’s the Leica “Black Dot”. You can’t make this stuff up 🙂

The Leica name on the front and the red dot is clearly overkill. A real design error.

 

[aizan]

Ten dollars says the price is not going to be reduced compared to a regular MP.

 

[jsrockit]

Ten dollars says the price is not going to be reduced compared to a regular MP.

Especially if only 500 units. If anything g maybe $500 less.

 

[d_c]

Especially if only 500 units.

I noticed that as well... it's would be disappointing if true. It suggests this could be a gesture to mark Leica's exit from the film camera business, rather than a demonstration of their faith in film as a medium, or an offering to entice new film users to the Leica system.

 

[Pál_K]

For a while I thought the new M might be an update to the M7. I never see mention of the M7 these days. M6 has captured the glory.

I’ve wondered whether Leica ever considered partnering with Fuji. They could make a film equivalent of the X-Pro cameras, with Leica providing the body, rangefinder, and film transport aspects and Fuji providing the electronics for the exposure modes. Or Fuji could provide essentially the X-Pro digital body and electronics while Leica provided the rangefinder mechanism.

 

[jsrockit]

For a while I thought the new M might be an update to the M7. I never see mention of the M7 these days. M6 has captured the glory.

I’ve wondered whether Leica ever considered partnering with Fuji. They could make a film equivalent of the X-Pro cameras, with Leica providing the body, rangefinder, and film transport aspects and Fuji providing the electronics for the exposure modes. Or Fuji could provide essentially the X-Pro digital body and electronics while Leica provided the rangefinder mechanism.

Fuji has made plenty of their own rangefinders in the past.

 

[das]

Hype around the M6 seems to be due to a combination of social media influencers and the bizarre philosophy that favors only mechanical shutter cameras. In no way is the M6 a better camera than the M7. I think there are many M7 people who have held onto their cameras knowing that it will never be able to be replaced. And smart M6 owners are unloading and have unloaded their cameras for 2k more than they paid for them used 10-20 years ago.

The world doesn't need another MP or M6, as the MP is already the successor to the M6. Electronic shutter, AE, TTL, and 1/4000 will get people to buy a new film Leica.

 

[astrosecret]

Hype around the M6 seems to be due to a combination of social media influencers and the bizarre philosophy that favors only mechanical shutter cameras. In no way is the M6 a better camera than the M7. I think there are many M7 people who have held onto their cameras knowing that it will never be able to be replaced. And smart M6 owners are unloading and have unloaded their cameras for 2k more than they paid for them used 10-20 years ago.

The world doesn't need another MP or M6, as the MP is already the successor to the M6. Electronic shutter, AE, TTL, and 1/4000 will get people to buy a new film Leica.

ding ding ding we have a winner

very stupid to forgo an mp for an m6… essentially the same camera

 

[jsrockit]

The world doesn't need another MP or M6, as the MP is already the successor to the M6. Electronic shutter, AE, TTL, and 1/4000 will get people to buy a new film Leica.

Uhm, people are buying every type of Leica already. I like what you propose, but it seems many people love what's already out there and want more of it. If the M6 is reissued, it will sell. Hype is reality for camera companies and they would be foolish not to capitalize off of it. We are in a time of self proclaimed experts with enough dummies to follow them into buying expensive things. Strange times.