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

So long my M7 works I'm not interested in buying a new film camera.

But I find good Leica works on it.

But for those with older M6 Classic & TTL, those meters are no longer repairable and 25-40 years old. As those drop out, this new 'thing' along with the MP/MA for "purists" will be the only options going forward.
 

Surprised they didn't include rear swing-back door film loading. The M11 did away with the removable base plate. It would be nice for a film M to catch up to everyone else, even if they're 50-odd years behind. Who do they have left to please? All the Leica purists are either dead or a decade from it at most.
 
Since there seems to be a demand for a less expensive rangefinder film camera that can accept Leica lenses, perhaps a respected manufacturer, such as Cosina, could make an affordable rangefinder film camera. It could be a series: one set accepts LTM lenses, another M-mount; one set is fully manual, another offers autoexposure. They could even sell it under the name of an old respected German company. Total win.
 
Since there seems to be a demand for a less expensive rangefinder film camera that can accept Leica lenses, perhaps a respected manufacturer, such as Cosina, could make an affordable rangefinder film camera. It could be a series: one set accepts LTM lenses, another M-mount; one set is fully manual, another offers autoexposure. They could even sell it under the name of an old respected German company. Total win.

Madness!!! Where did you ever get such a notion?
 
Since there seems to be a demand for a less expensive rangefinder film camera that can accept Leica lenses, perhaps a respected manufacturer, such as Cosina, could make an affordable rangefinder film camera. It could be a series: one set accepts LTM lenses, another M-mount; one set is fully manual, another offers autoexposure. They could even sell it under the name of an old respected German company. Total win.

Madness!!! Where did you ever get such a notion?

Imagine that....🙄​​​​​​​
 
Leica doesn’t seem to grasp what would make a desirable variation on an existing camera. Consider all those silly M6 commemoratives - M6 Royal Danish Wedding? What? If I ran Leica, I know exactly what would sell cameras, what would be hot. This: Leica M Commemorative Cat Series. Each breed gets its own camera. Abyssinian, Bengal, Caracal, … Sphynx!…York Chocolate. Each camera would have markings similar to the breed it represents. Spots. Stripes. Blue Point Siamese? No problem! Don’t buy just one - collect them all!


Click image for larger version  Name:	C2F8F06B-4212-4008-976A-EA14BDCDE7B1.jpg Views:	0 Size:	80.9 KB ID:	4800765
 
Leica doesn’t seem to grasp what would make a desirable variation on an existing camera. Consider all those silly M6 commemoratives - M6 Royal Danish Wedding? What? If I ran Leica, I know exactly what would sell cameras, what would be hot. This: Leica M Commemorative Cat Series. Each breed gets its own camera. Abyssinian, Bengal, Caracal, … Sphynx!…York Chocolate. Each camera would have markings similar to the breed it represents. Spots. Stripes. Blue Point Siamese? No problem! Don’t buy just one - collect them all!

I think you've hit on it.
 
While I do not like them, are you trying to say Leica made the same mistake twice even though it could not sell the first ones?

I am saying it's weird. My understanding (I have no proof) it that a lot of these sets are "designed" by a personality and in some cases even funded by that person. If that is true, that mitigates risk for leica, but I would argue cheapens the brand.
 
My understanding (I have no proof) it that a lot of these sets are "designed" by a personality and in some cases even funded by that person. If that is true, that mitigates risk for leica, but I would argue cheapens the brand.

Wow, I have never heard that. Basically a vanity project for these guys. Could be. However, if true, it makes me a little uncomfortable. 🙂
 
Wow, I have never heard that. Basically a vanity project for these guys. Could be. However, if true, it makes me a little uncomfortable. 🙂

Can't remember where I read that tidbit so it might not be true. But it makes sense, there have been a lot of very niche "collectors" units I can't see having any real appeal. Let us not forget that the only reason Leica is alive today is because the Hermes high-end fashion brand bought a huge stake in the company (30%=10M Pound Sterling) around 2000 and held until 2006. Despite the sale, they still seem to hold a lot of influence over the company and may still have financial ties and definitely have personal ties as special Hermes cameras were released in 2009 and again in 2012 with another failed release planned around 2016.
 
I don't think any special or limited edition Leicas were paid for by a single individual. They're commissioned by Leica Stores or national headquarters, distributors, corporations, and organizations.
 
Leica doesn’t seem to grasp what would make a desirable variation on an existing camera. Consider all those silly M6 commemoratives - M6 Royal Danish Wedding? What? If I ran Leica, I know exactly what would sell cameras, what would be hot. This: Leica M Commemorative Cat Series. Each breed gets its own camera. Abyssinian, Bengal, Caracal, … Sphynx!…York Chocolate. Each camera would have markings similar to the breed it represents. Spots. Stripes. Blue Point Siamese? No problem! Don’t buy just one - collect them all!


filedata/fetch?id=4800765&d=1662410908

Sign me up for the Alley Cat model.
 
Y’all missing the point. Last new film cameras were the Bessas (135 and 120). It seemed that they’d be the last of their kind, like the dodo or the Tasmanian tiger.

It could be painted like a candy cane for all we should care. An important player now believes film remains financially viable. That alone is great news
 
Y’all missing the point. Last new film cameras were the Bessas (135 and 120). It seemed that they’d be the last of their kind, like the dodo or the Tasmanian tiger.

It could be painted like a candy cane for all we should care. An important player now believes film remains financially viable. That alone is great news

Good points and I hope Bessas come back next! The fact that you can barely buy 35mm color film right now and ColorPlus 200 is $17 a roll should be telling camera makers something specific (I’m assuming this is demand, not just supply issues).
 
Good points and I hope Bessas come back next! The fact that you can barely buy 35mm color film right now and ColorPlus 200 is $17 a roll should be telling camera makers something specific (I’m assuming this is demand, not just supply issues).

you can buy kodak gold (fuji 200) for $6-7 and superia for 7
 
Back
Top Bottom