Lots of people are unloading M6's. Why?

[umcelinho]

I've been seeing some M7s go for less than $2000 also.

I've ditched my mint chrome M6 when I realised I could get away with guesstimating exposure by eye, so I got myself a beater M4 and have been using it for 2 years now. Maybe an increase of used M6s on the market is a sign that people are going digital?

 

[gilpen123]

MP is still my dream camera, I've had several M6s; TTL 0.85, LHSA TTL, Classic M6 and now the Classic Big M6 logo but when the opportunity comes, I'll get a black paint MP. Had an M2 and M3 as well.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

Whats the difference with an M6 that has a MP viewfinder?

 

[.... _]

Being a chronic peruser of the classifieds, I think I've noticed a dramatic upswing in offers of M6's. And the dropping price of same. Is there a trend? Are people getting away from film, or back to the classic meterless M2, M3, M4?

Me, I think real men don't need no steenking meters!

If lots of people are selling them then lots of people must be buying them. Only the price varies. A glut means lower prices and we all like lower prices.

 

[gilpen123]

Black paint that brass beautifully, discreet as it doesn't have a logo, love the classic rewind maybe I'm different, brighter VF, sleeker than a TTL and it makes me feel good too to have one. Also, may be the last film camera Leica will produce.

 

[anjoca76]

I just bought an M6 a couple months ago, beautiful condition, and for a nice price. If folks want to keep unloading such lovely gear, fine with me!

We film users I think have a weird paranoia about digital. Yes, of course digital has something to do with the recent trend in film gear for sale, but I would bet not much. I tend to agree with Keith, though--the M6 had nearly a 20-year production run, so there are a ton of them out there. In fact, M6s have always been well represented in the classifieds. Prices are a little lower than usual, but that likely has more to do with crappy economy than anything else.

 

[filmfan]

I sold my Leica M6 due to medical bills. Thankfully, I'm 92% healthy but have 0% Leica.

 

[gilpen123]

Sold it for a good reason and glad your health is better. You can always buy again, priorities set well.

 

[KoNickon]

checked 35mm Cameras section in classifieds and out of 75 items (in first page), 2 M6 and 1 M6TTL were found. prices were 1000$+.

No bargain prices there, I'd say.

 

[filmfan]

Sold it for a good reason and glad your health is better. You can always buy again, priorities set well.

I agree! Cheers mate. One day, I will get another...

 

[sanmich]

I have been in the market for an m6ttl .72 (preferably black) in used condition for awhile but I have had no such luck in finding one.......There are some out there that are mint and priced well, but I am looking for a back up (user) to my chrome m6ttl......I love my m2 and m3, but to be honest, they slow me down when I am working......I talked to Sherry K. today and all she had was a .58 chrome.......I am in the states for another 6 weeks so I am hoping something pops up here in the classifieds or I get lucky and find one in one of the many cities that I will be visiting.....

I agree, prices for the m6 classic are very good at the moment, but it's just not the camera that I am looking for.....

cheers, michael

Michael,

do you plan to use TTL flash?
if not, why the M6TTL over the classic?

 

[loquax ludens]

Black paint that brass beautifully, discreet as it doesn't have a logo, love the classic rewind maybe I'm different, brighter VF, sleeker than a TTL and it makes me feel good too to have one. Also, may be the last film camera Leica will produce.

But the M6 wasn't the last film camera that Leica produced, and it's not in current production. Both the M7 and the MP were produced after the M6, and are in current production.

M6 production ended in 2002. M7 production began in the same year. MP production began in 2003.

 

[loquax ludens]

Whats the difference with an M6 that has a MP viewfinder?

Many people experienced bad flare problems with the original M6 viewfinder. I believe it is actually a problem in every M since the M3. Leica improved the finder for the M7 and MP to reduce or prevent flare. The finder from the MP can be installed into an M6. This is called the MP finder mod.

More here:

http://www.nemeng.com/leica/020b.shtml
http://leica-users.org/v24/msg12085.html

 

[cosmonaut]

Being a chronic peruser of the classifieds, I think I've noticed a dramatic upswing in offers of M6's. And the dropping price of same. Is there a trend? Are people getting away from film, or back to the classic meterless M2, M3, M4?

Me, I think real men don't need no steenking meters!

I must admit I have cut way back on my film shooting. Due to health issues I am restricted from walking extended distance that coupled with doing portrait work on the side.
Plus with Lightroom 4 almost any film can be duplicated.

 

[gilpen123]

That's what I'm saying, this was a response to the question of another poster.

But the M6 wasn't the last film camera that Leica produced, and it's not in current production. Both the M7 and the MP were produced after the M6, and are in current production.

M6 production ended in 2002. M7 production began in the same year. MP production began in 2003.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Recently I have sold several cameras with electronic shutters.
Never owned a Leica, but aging electronics make me nervous.

Chris

 

[Speedfreak]

Is there a trend? Are people getting away from film (...) ?

The obvious is obvious.

 

[jordanstarr]

...thanks...this just reminded me I need to buy another bulk pack of batteries for my m6.

 

[Dirk]

Prices are a little lower than usual, but that likely has more to do with crappy economy than anything else.

My belief, also. In fact, if you look at KEH, they have a lot of Leica gear, not juts M6s, on sale (i.e 10% off). Also on Ebay M lenses seem to be 10-15% cheaper than just a few months ago. Read here or at some other forum that Leica has recently started shipping new gear again, after a lot of that was unavailable for some time. That may have something to do with it, as well.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

Recently I have sold several cameras with electronic shutters.
Never owned a Leica, but aging electronics make me nervous.

Chris

I usually like the ease an electronic shutter gives, but man i hate it when they just stop working or you get that annoying electronic sound and you just now that the camera is going to die on you. Thats why i Love mechanical shutters and cameras. The OM1 and currently 2 M-Leicas is great as well as my Holga (just a spring as a shutter actually) and Pinhole wooden camera is so relieving to use as well as the Rolleicord V.