Historical Prices on Leica M6

[thonline]

I've been searching a while but haven't found this. I'd like to find the average (or just a sample) price that a used M6 was being sold for in the early 2000s (2002ish). To be exact, body only, black but I would be happy with any info.

 

[maddoc]

I paid about $1000 for a silver M6 in 2006 and $900 for one in 2008. Prices converted from JPY.

 

[splitimageview]

Anecdotally, used M6 in decent condition were +/-$1000 for many years, including during the early 2000s. Those in lesser condition were less, and rarer ones (say the M6 with greater vf magnification introduced in the late 90s) would sell for more. This is the M6 classic, not the TTL.

I ran the used dept of a camera store in 2009-2011 time frame, and they were about the same price at that time, too. Some dealers would sell premium condition units for say $1295 or so, but many were sold by individuals on ebay, and websites like this one, for roughly $1000. I bought and sold many.

 

[f.hayek]

Can't speak for turn-of-the-century but an M6 Classic 0.85 (converted later in its life to that magnification) set me back US$1300 way back in 2013. The 0.72 versions were all going for $1000 at the time.

 

[Guth]

I would suggest a visit to the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine: https://archive.org/web

The Wayback Machine is useful for researching all sorts of historical web-based information, not just prices of used Leica M6 cameras. However, it does appear capable of providing the sort of information that you are looking for.

Once at the Internet Archive's site mentioned above, enter the primary URL of a Leica reseller (such as tamarkin.com), and then click on browse history. This will result in a calendar listing all of the archived content available. In the case of Tamarkin, this stretches back to 1998. Select the year you wish to explore and this will bring up a detailed calendar view of all the times the Tamarkin site was crawled by the Internet Archive. Click on one of the highlighted dates and this will bring up the times that the site was crawled for content. Clicking on one of those links will bring up the respective site contents. From there you can look through the archived site contents in order to find the used camera listings.

A place like Tamarkin likely only sticks to gear in top condition, so their prices tend to be on the high side. Were you to come up with URL's for some other camera resellers, you will likely find less expensive listings. Still, this is a start.

Looking at the results from June 4, 2002, I see that Tamarkin had a total of five used Leica M6 cameras available for sale:

Leica M6 TTL .58 Chrome #259xxxx, 2-yr wrnty, near Mint	$1699
Leica M6 TTL .85 Black #254xxxx, Ex++	$1465
Leica M6 TTL .85 Black, near Mint	$1499
Leica M6 TTL .85 Black #247xxxx, Ex+	$1549
Leica M6 Black #174xxxx Wetzlar, near Mint	$1545

 

[splitimageview]

TTL going for more than the classic, Tamarkin as an established dealer who could command a premium.

 

[Calzone]

I bought my M6 in 2008 during the Credit Crisis for $1100.00 from a big dealer.

It is an early M6 with the Wetzler engravings on the top plate and Leitz in the Red Dot, but what is unusual about this camera is that it pre-dates the Ti M6 that was released as a special edition by 5 years. Another outstanding feature is that the top plate is die cast zinc.

Know that Ti M6’s had brass top plates that were Titanium plated, so my top plate is unusual being zinc and also having the Wetzlar engravings.

Evidently I have a Leica prototype. It came with a broken frame counter, not uncommon because the M6 spring was made of plastic according to Sherry. When the rangefinder went south after a year of shooting, I sent it to Sherry for an overhaul. Sherry repaired the frame counter, I had the MP finder upgrade performed, and had Sherry remove some frame lines.

In 2007 I had purchased a 35 Cron V4 and a 75 Lux V2, both made in Germany in mint condition. I owned this glass for about a year without a M-body for a year before buying the M6.

Understand that during the Credit Crisis many people were selling their best treasures. I paid little money for the glass and ended up doubling my money.

This Wetzlar M6 has seen very heavy use from me. Recently I had to have it overhauled again. Know that I use it with a TA Rapidwinder and TA Rapidgrip.

Cal

 

[trisberg]

I sold a clean silver chrome M6 for $1000 somewhere around 2006 and bought a nice black chrome one for $1500 in 2017.

-Thomas

 

[filmtwit]

I picked up my first M (and M6) 2010-2011 from KEH for $900.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I bought a clean black chrome M6 0.85 Classic for about $935 (converted from Japanese yen) on Christmas Day 2014. Crazy how much prices have risen since then.

 

[raid]

Can't speak for turn-of-the-century but an M6 Classic 0.85 (converted later in its life to that magnification) set me back US$1300 way back in 2013. The 0.72 versions were all going for $1000 at the time.

I have such an M6 0.85. It is a great film camera.

 

[farlymac]

I do recall there was a period of about two years where good condition M6 cameras dipped below $1000. It was right before the resurgence of film started in the 20teens. But once the pandemic hit and everybody was sitting around with nothing to do but shop online the prices really took off. I missed hitting the bottom of the bell curve by about six months too late when I started looking for an M. Still got a decent price on an M4-P because it had one little ding in the top cover that was barely noticeable. It's now worth twice what I paid for it.

PF

 

[maigo]

Tokyo Camera Style: Bank of M6 in shop window in 2013.

 

[raydm6]

Unfortunately, the big auction site only keeps sold listings records for ~90 days.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

In the mid 1990s I paid £1,200 for one with the now prized E Leitz Wetzlar engraving on the top plate and wrinkle-finish paint on the internal metalwork. It fell in value through the late 1990s and early 2000s, maybe bottoming out at £800 - but today... well, it's certainly over-valued next to the bargain-basement M5. Yes; the M5 is big, heavy and none too pretty but the viewfinder is better, the swinging arm meter is in my experience more accurate than the M6's white-spot-on-the-shutter-curtain job and it's both better made and more durable (no bubbling chrome on M5s). I commend this overlooked classic to anyone looking for an affordable Leica M they plan to use.

 

[steveyork]

$1995 US new w/ rebate in circa 1997-98. General rule of thumb back then sell EX+-Mint stuff at 60% of new. Think I sold my initial M6 in circa 2004 for $1200 or so.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I have such an M6 0.85. It is a great film camera.

IIRC you bought mine via the RFF classifieds, Raid 🙂

 

[raid]

Thanks for reminding me of it! I love this camera.

 

[HuubL]

Early (1986, "Leitz logo") chrome M6 with cassette, box and strap. Unused, like new, 100% functional. Bought in 2008 for €750.

 

[Duofold RF]

M6 bought from KEH for $1200 in 2009, M6 TTL 0.85 for $1470 2018, both upgraded to MP finder cost $300 each