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

[JeffS7444]

A word to the wise: If this is indeed a limited edition, or you simply wish to have your camera in hand in time for 2023 spring holidays, the time to get your name into the queue is now: Find a dealer who will accept reservations for this unannounced product, because you can always remove yourself from the queue once details become available, but if you wait until the official announcement, it may be too late. This might sound crazy, but the folks at Leica are masters at this sort of game,

 

[raydm6]

A trip down memory lane... ...came across this c. 1999 60pp. PDF Leica M6 Brochure - "LEICA M - How revolutionary should your camera be?" Some good details of the rangefinder and camera internals. Be interesting to see what the marketing copy will look like if a "new" M6 reappears.

 

[scautez]

Anyone out there testing this unannounced camera? An M6A similar to an FM3A would be cool, best of both worlds.

 

[Godfrey]

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

I had to pull out my M4-2 to check and remember that it has no red dot, just says LEICA and M4-2 on the front plate. I don't really understand what the big deal about the red dot (or black dot) is at all.

G

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I had to pull out my M4-2 to check and remember that it has no red dot, just says LEICA and M4-2 on the front plate. I don't really understand what the big deal about the red dot (or black dot) is at all.

G

I have an M4-2 also, and it likewise has no dot. The red dot was first used on the M4-P, where it was on the front of the body where the battery cover is on an M6 (or the timer on an M3, M2, or M4). The M6 moved the red dot to the front of the top plate, where it was very eye-catching since the M6 was originally only made in black chrome (regular chrome was an option later). Some people didn't like the eye-catching dot and covered it in black tape. Leica later sold some cameras with black dots, and people wanted those for their M6 to replace the red one. Leica was for a time refusing to sell the dots to anyone who didn't own the camera it originally came with!

 

[d_c]

Hopefully they'll also re-issue the 14312 strap at the same time... just to be consistent.

 

[ptpdprinter]

I don't really understand what the big deal about the red dot (or black dot) is at all.G

It's tacky. A completely unnecessary brand klaxon. I was thinking maybe instead of a red dot, Leica could put a little speaker there, and every time you pressed the shutter release, it could blare out "It's a Leica". Or maybe some little articulated wooden elves could pop out of the rangefinder window and do a little dance while singing the Leica theme song. There is a Leica theme song, isn't there? If not, someone needs to get cracking. I'm guessing it would be a polka.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

It's tacky. A completely unnecessary brand klaxon. I was thinking maybe instead of a red dot, Leica could put a little speaker there instead, and every time you pressed the shutter release, it could blare out "It's Leica". Maybe with a German accent. Or maybe some little wooden elves could pop out of the rangefinder window and do a little dance while singing the Leica theme song. There is a Leica theme song, isn't there? If not, someone needs to get cracking. I'm guessing it would be a polka.

No polka, that would be too plebeian. I would think the Finale from Beethoven's Ninth would be nice. Full orchestra and chorus, of course, and so very German. Go big or go home!

 

[Pál_K]

This. Because German.

https://youtu.be/vQhqikWnQCU

 

[Retro-Grouch]

This. Because German.

https://youtu.be/vQhqikWnQCU

That is without a doubt the most frightening thing I've ever seen on YouTube, worse than the giant centipede devouring a live mouse. I'll have nightmares for weeks. Thanks.

 

[Harry the K]

This. Because German.

https://youtu.be/vQhqikWnQCU

Wrong. It´s Bavarian. That little tribe living along the Alps. Not much to do with Germany.

 

[JeffS7444]

Anyone out there testing this unannounced camera?

I'm pretty sure we can figure out who some likely beta testers are, but we can also be sure that they know what a "Non-Disclosure Agreement" is 😀

 

[ptpdprinter]

Wrong. It´s Bavarian. That little tribe living along the Alps. Not much to do with Germany.

A little research reveals that Munich is within Bavaria. So not much to do with Germany.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Going with the flow, I warmly recommend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSbYSNzyiOg Cheers, OtL

 

[boojum]

Wetzlar is about the same latitude as Brussels and a far, far distance from the area and culture for some reason you feel good about ridiculing. Do you feel better for doing it?

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Going with the flow, I warmly recommend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSbYSNzyiOg Cheers, OtL

Wow, Busby Berkely with a testosterone overdose.

 

[Harry the K]

Wetzlar is about the same latitude as Brussels and a far, far distance from the area and culture for some reason you feel good about ridiculing. Do you feel better for doing it?

Relax. I´m from Bavaria, I´m proud of it, but have, like most of my countrymen, no problem with ridiculing THAT part of our culture.
It´s hard to believe that the Wetzlar people would appreciate that horrible sound.
There are other Bavarian musicians, too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amsSRlRVSOI

 

[Godfrey]

It's tacky. A completely unnecessary brand klaxon. I was thinking maybe instead of a red dot, Leica could put a little speaker there, and every time you pressed the shutter release, it could blare out "It's a Leica". Or maybe some little articulated wooden elves could pop out of the rangefinder window and do a little dance while singing the Leica theme song. There is a Leica theme song, isn't there? If not, someone needs to get cracking. I'm guessing it would be a polka.

Absurd. I've never even noticed the "klaxon" dot. Seems a case of getting overly worked up over something truly insignificant. Personally, I don't spend a lot of time looking at a camera, I spend my time looking through cameras.

G

 

[Pál_K]

Looking at the Barnack Leica’s, the pre-M6 M’s, and even the Leicaflex SLRs, the discreet engraved Leica script or Leitz Wetzlar logo on those cameras reflects pride of workmanship and an appropriate badge for a fine precision instrument - which is what they are. For me, the red dot does appear to be an unnecessary ostentatious klaxon (love the term). I won’t go so far as to say it symbolizes the point where marketing took precedence over engineering, but it is too much lipstick.

Also, although I’m Hungarian, half my family comes from southern Germany. We don’t ridicule them despite our obvious superiority. ( <— that’s a friendly joke)

 

[ptpdprinter]

Wetzlar is about the same latitude as Brussels and a far, far distance from the area and culture for some reason you feel good about ridiculing. Do you feel better for doing it?

Certainly we in the US have plenty to be embarrassed about too. My PBS station runs The Lawrence Welk Show every Saturday night. They frequently do polkas, which are frankly a relief after some of the American show tunes they feature. I mean when you are performing 76 Trombones and there are only six trombones, it is a little bit of a letdown. On the plus side, you can pick up some pretty good fashion tips. Not that I’ve ever actually watched the show. Really. And a one and a two…