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

[JeffS7444]

That is the point, the second hand market has went up a lot. M6 ttl for $4500? I am thinking Leica thinks they can capitalize on those prices by offering something new. They obviously think there is a market if they are making another film camera.

You may think that you want a more-affordable new Leica M camera, but the painfully high prices, operational oddities, and wait times, are key ingredients of the secret sauce! 😛 This is an emotional buy, not a pragmatic one, and Leica is very good at playing the game. Fujifilm sort of got it with the X-Pro 3 and it's deliberately odd LCD arrangement. But it's too readily obtainable to have the same cachet, and they didn't put the same amount of effort into convincing you that it's features are exactly as they need to be, and that it's oddities are actually unique virtues.

For me, Leica's most efficient (film) M-system picture-takers are also the least soulful: M6, M6TTL and M7.

 

[R_a_feldman]

I’d like to see a new fully mechanical Leica M with a built-in light meter where, if you took out the battery, the only thing that would not work would be the light meter.

 

[oldwino]

I would like a Nikon FM3a with a rangefinder that used M mount lenses.

 

[PRJ]

I kind of figured when they originally floated this idea that they would introduce it at the same price as the current models so they could jack up the price on those, making the new one the "affordable" one. Lol.

 

[luuca]

I’d like to see a new fully mechanical Leica M with a built-in light meter where, if you took out the battery, the only thing that would not work would be the light meter.

you described the MP,
it doesn't make sense.
maybe an MP made outside europe...

 

[intangiblethings]

Positionally speaking this camera needs to fall outside of the MP/M6 and older body crowd.

1. Maintain the legacy of the existing film bodies (can't be better or the same)
2. Don't compete with the MP/M-A

I like the arguments for a CL/CLE-style camera that won't encroach on the legacy/luxury of the aforementioned. Whether the enthusiast community here agrees, is doubtful. I don't see this as a product for die hards but for those who are priced out of Leica M film bodies and/or have disposable income for a brand-new and unique M film body (I would likely entertain a CLE-style Leica film body).

 

[Mooshoepork]

They should take all of that R&D money and put it into QC instead

worry about launching new cameras when they’ve fixed their current issues

 

[jsrockit]

They should take all of that R&D money and put it into QC instead

worry about launching new cameras when they’ve fixed their current issues

Which huge issues?

 

[jsrockit]

Positionally speaking this camera needs to fall outside of the MP/M6 and older body crowd.

1. Maintain the legacy of the existing film bodies (can't be better or the same)
2. Don't compete with the MP/M-A

I like the arguments for a CL/CLE-style camera that won't encroach on the legacy/luxury of the aforementioned. Whether the enthusiast community here agrees, is doubtful. I don't see this as a product for die hards but for those who are priced out of Leica M film bodies and/or have disposable income for a brand-new and unique M film body (I would likely entertain a CLE-style Leica film body).

Unfortunately, the rumor says it will not be cheap and it will be a replacement model. One of our posters said he has good info that it will be a cheaper model. It seems no one knows.

 

[Mooshoepork]

Which huge issues?

Tried to buy an MP. 3 brand new in box units had problems. I didn’t want to try for a 4th.

A friend purchased from elsewhere at the same time and his first unit had the shutter button stuck down. Needed repair straight out of the box

The MAs have also had issues

 

[ptpdprinter]

Maybe the new model will come with a bigger red dot. That would fulfill a lot of fantasies. Here is an idea: an illuminated red dot. Not to mention that if the new model is cheaper, it won't be be a real Leica. Who wants to be a junior member of the club? Imagine the ignominy of having to sit at the kiddie table at LHSA meetings. And the derision: my rangefinder base is longer than yours.

 

[Dogman]

Speculation journalism. What to fill the empty space when there's nothing to report.

 

[Disappointed_Horse]

I would like a Nikon FM3a with a rangefinder that used M mount lenses.

I think you just described my idea of a perfect camera. Match needles FTW!

 

[JohnWolf]

One of the nice things about shooting film with old cameras is being spared the brouhaha of incessant new camera releases.

Yet here we are. Who would have thought in 2022 it would be over film gear?

 

[d_c]

I know this is going to wind some up, but I think there's probably a market for an analogue camera that is more of a workhorse. Some of the changes that were introduced for the M11 seem to me to suggest a move towards digital cameras that think about the practical concerns of pro-shooters, i.e. no baseplate to lose, an externally accessible battery, internal memory, multi-resolution, etc. At the same time the analogue line seems to have been stuck in a bit of 'fashion accessory' rut. Take for example the issue of film loading - while the current analogue cameras still have the 'rapid load' spool, they have also all reverted to only offering a knob rewind (which I always hated). Some above have mentioned a CLE type camera, but the other thing that might be on the cards is an updated M6, i.e. aluminium alloy body (lighter), a return to a crank rewind, robust metering, better moisture resistance, maybe an extra camera lug (as M5/CL), better viewfinder eye relief, and a slightly cheaper price than the current M-A/MP

 

[ptpdprinter]

At the same time the analogue line seems to have been stuck in a bit of 'fashion accessory' rut.

Since 1954. With good reason. The only fashion accessory M mount cameras are the special editions. Which reminds me: Leica hasn't issued a special edition camera recently. I remember reading that scientists may be able to resurrect woolly mammoths. Wouldn't that be a cool exotic leather.

 

[das]

If digital cameras had not captured nearly the entire market by 2005, it would seem that if Leica were going to move forward from the M7, the next logical step would have been to redesign the shutter to accommodate speeds up to 1/4000, which would have necessitated using a electronically-controlled metal shutter or some kind of "hybrid" electronic/mechanical shutter system like used on the FM3a, or just use the shutter from the R8/R9. Of course, the Hexar RF checked many of these boxes (and more), but the Leica diehards were not ready for it. They weren't even ready for the M7 (and some people are still not).

The number one limitation for all Leica Ms is the top shutter speed of 1/1000, prompting the necessity to use neutral density filters if you want to shoot wide open in daylight. Today, 400 speed film is popular because it allows you to shoot in different lighting conditions on the same roll and works well for the enthusiast or advanced amateur. This was not an issue in the 1950s when these cameras were designed -- as good luck finding 35mm film with a speed over 100. Pros are definitely not going back to 35mm film when they can use the SL2 and photoshop the hell out of the RAW file to produce the desired effect.

 

[jsrockit]

Tried to buy an MP. 3 brand new in box units had problems. I didn’t want to try for a 4th.

A friend purchased from elsewhere at the same time and his first unit had the shutter button stuck down. Needed repair straight out of the box

The MAs have also had issues

Wow, first I have heard of this issue.

 

[jsrockit]

I know this is going to wind some up, but I think there's probably a market for an analogue camera that is more of a workhorse. Some of the changes that were introduced for the M11 seem to me to suggest a move towards digital cameras that think about the practical concerns of pro-shooters, i.e. no baseplate to lose, an externally accessible battery, internal memory, multi-resolution, etc. At the same time the analogue line seems to have been stuck in a bit of 'fashion accessory' rut. Take for example the issue of film loading - while the current analogue cameras still have the 'rapid load' spool, they have also all reverted to only offering a knob rewind (which I always hated). Some above have mentioned a CLE type camera, but the other thing that might be on the cards is an updated M6, i.e. aluminium alloy body (lighter), a return to a crank rewind, robust metering, better moisture resistance, maybe an extra camera lug (as M5/CL), better viewfinder eye relief, and a slightly cheaper price than the current M-A/MP

Seems very likely based on current M6 prices used.

 

[Miles.]

Since 1954. With good reason. The only fashion accessory M mount cameras are the special editions. Which reminds me: Leica hasn't issued a special edition camera recently. I remember reading that scientists may be able to resurrect woolly mammoths. Wouldn't that be a cool exotic leather.

The M-A Titan was just released. Leica Historica MP was released a year ago.