Who has a Leica M6 TTL Millenium

Nice, a low number Millennium. I wonder how the paint finish is.

Interesting that he won't ship to Middle East, Africa and...Italy. Still a very nice set.
 
Hello Folks. It was this particular thread that has brought me to be a new member here, it is so great to see someone talking about this great version of the wonderful M6 TTL. In 1999 I fell for the presentation and, at that time wanting a camera, took advantage of the offering. I hope I am not making the rudimentary error of not checking a thread completely enough or that it is just such a common knowledge that it never be spoken of, but I have been dazzled that no one is mentioning the lenses for this model. At the time the offering was the body and the choice of 2/35mm and, I think, 1.4/50mm. I only wanted a camera, of course; and only the 35mm makes sense to me on this incredible rangefinder; a 1.4/50 sitting astride my R6.2 at the time and the 50mm making so much sense to me on the R platform. So I took just the 2/35mm. Of course the extra layer to this offering was that the lenses themselves were black painted and the last four numbers of the lenses' serial numbers would match the body's last four digits. I may have been in error NOT to take a full kit with the 50mm but I was not and am not a collector-head and was looking for a functioning daily camera and the black painted gem offered me quite an example.

I am currently based in Poland after having returned again for another stint in Europe from Australia. With Europe not exactly working out for me the Aussie household has not traveled up here since and remains packed in a shipping container in Blacktown in Sydney, one of my two R6.2's having been my immediate choice for travel instead of the M6 as I wished to cart my 15, 50 and 180 with me. Sadly the M6 remains in the household contents in a shipping container in Blacktown these past too many years. I am kicking myself. I should have found space for both the bodies, I miss the rangefinder interface.

So I just wanted to highlight this lens serial number detail, it didn't seem to get a mention. I don't know what happened to the 50mm lens with my matching serial number, maybe they only made them on order at the time for the bodies that were actually ordered and it simply doesn't exist.

And from what I can see, four on offer by that crowd called bestcameraseller in Hong Kong and another couple available for sale right now in Europe, all are body-only sales. What a shame. The matching painted lens with matching serial number is VERY spunky.

I bought mine in 2000 while working in Holland from a vendor on the shores of Holland somewhere. A young bloke, he was chuffed at the sale, his best single sale ever, at that time. I am bereft to remember the serial number.

It was a working unit and the delicate patina of exposed brass where the paint has worn away on the pointed edges, rewind crank or strap eyelets proffers my M6 that workhorse esteem, even though it is never used outside of its Leica Eveready case. What a beautiful mix this camera offered. The revised shutter speed dial to hang over the edge a little for easier finger control and even reversing its direction to be in line with the f-stop ring turn direction so that a viewfinder gazing eye didn't need to change the direction of the brain from one dial to the other, smaller numbers in one direction, bigger numbers in the other consistent on both dials unlike ever before. The old-style knurled rewind crank, the chromed finish to the shutter release, the silvering of the viewfinder to reduce glare inside there. TTL. A real mixed bag of retrospective and modern concepts, it simply instantly won me over.

And it was painted! "Sold", I said at the time.

Even the lens hood is painted.

So a Millenium black painted M6 TTL with matched serial number 2/35mm black painted lens resides in a large steel box in Sydney, Australia. Serial number not remembered.

I think the number 767 above here somewhere with the 50mm mounted may be a matching pair too. I'd be interested to know. But that shot seems to show an anodised finish rather than gloss paint. I've been wondering, therefore, with this thread if I was one of a rare few that took the matching serial numbered lens with the body.

Best regards, keep it going. Great thread, I thought the Millenium was a forgotten child.

Post Note: Following the link from earlier on page 1 by user Akiralx, http://www.cameraquest.com/m62000.htm, does seem to elude to a 'special issue' lens. This may refer to the matched serial numbered lenses on offer in 1999/2000. But this link a little more clearly details the lenses, albeit without mentioning the matching serial numbers AND, can you believe it, under the heading title "LEICA M6 Embarrassing Versions" about a third of the way down. What? http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m6.htm

Post Note 2: How things have changed since even 2009! check out the four listings on this website for the full Millenium kits, body, 35 AND 50. 2,000 quid a piece! http://sale.donkiz.co.uk/sales/leica_m6_ttl.htm

Post Note 3: These might provide a few more serial numbers, though once they are sold there's no guarantee the list will be able to follow them to their new homes:-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-new-L...a-Millennium-Black-Paint-hk3524-/280941617052
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M6-0-...874080682?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2a1cef71aa
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M6-TT...857206703?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item20cbbe67af
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M6-TT...798617128?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2570582e28
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M6-0-...874079839?pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item2a1cef6e5f
 
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Thanks for sharing your story Davros. I believe that the 50mm lens that was part of the kit was a Summilux with the knurled focusing ring. This image is from mir.com.my.

millenium2000.jpg


I once asked about this over at LUF.

About those prices for such kits, they are likely (actually quite certainly) scams. They pop up quite often on sites like Craig's List over the globe.
 
Yeah, looking at your image I should have ...

Yeah, looking at your image I should have ...

... I do like the 50 and 35 in f1.4. That 50mm looks real darling. Although I don't remember the finger positioned knurling or I remember correctly it was a regular looking 50mm in black paint, not that retro look.

I didn't take that Donkiz entry too seriously, by the way. Beside being 2009 entries I am simply just not here looking. I was just keen to help out with this registry list.

Good luck getting a 1,000 if not the whole 2k.

Dave Clarke.
 
Davros said:
... I do like the 50 and 35 in f1.4. That 50mm looks real darling. Although I don't remember the finger positioned knurling or I remember correctly it was a regular looking 50mm in black paint, not that retro look.

I didn't take that Donkiz entry too seriously, by the way. Beside being 2009 entries I am simply just not here looking. I was just keen to help out with this registry list.

Good luck getting a 1,000 if not the whole 2k.

Dave Clarke.
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Many thanks Dave for your contributions and the nice story about your find. when I started the list I was just curious who of our members had a Millennium. Lateron I made the list a little longer with the camera's I saw in other forums or some advertisements....still puzzled and realizing we won't be able to make a complete list of course..
btw I guess Leitz produced the complete series of lenses with the matching millennium serials, I made a list (not shown here) with the ones I saw on offer realizing it would be hard to find one matching my own camera serial. So the 35mm cron black paint is still on my wish list, realizing that they fetch very high prizes these days it will be long shot (especially since I already have two of those asph, in regular black and the one in chromium)
take care in Downunder
 
I just bought #312 from Map Camera in Shinjuku and they have 4 more Millenniums on the shelves right now ranging from aprox $2k to $3K. If anyone one wants one, that's a great price and option right now.
 
Map Camera is a great shop and those are good prices.

Ron, you wouldn't happen to have seen the no. 1381 lenses when you compiled your other list?

And thanks again Dave for sharing your story. I hope you are able to use your Millennium soon again.

Cheers
Philip
 
seanbonner said:
I just bought #312 from Map Camera in Shinjuku and they have 4 more Millenniums on the shelves right now ranging from aprox $2k to $3K. If anyone one wants one, that's a great price and option right now.
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Personally for that amount of yen I'd take an MP, but yep four currently on the shelves > link
There's also three of the very similar looking NSH model > link
And also five MPs > link
 
FYI: #143 is no longer owned by an RFF member. It is now owned by an (undisclosed) Fashion Designer in NYC.
 
jonmanjiro said:
Personally for that amount of yen I'd take an MP, but yep four currently on the shelves > link
There's also three of the very similar looking NSH model > link
And also five MPs > link
Click to expand...

Yes the NSH model has a .85 rather than .72 viewfinder, and is limited to 400 rather than 2000 but otherwise looks almost identical. I don't know the internal specs on it if anything is different.

The MPs are nice of course, but if you want a black paint millennium then a black chrome MP just won't do. ;)

That said, seeing a bunch of used MPs going for under $3K is very interesting for sure.
 
seanbonner said:
The MPs are nice of course, but if you want a black paint millennium then a black chrome MP just won't do. ;)
Click to expand...

No argument there. A man's gotta have what a man's gotta have ;)

I'll be in Shinjuku myself in a couple of hours. Just might swing by MAP and take a close up look at these beauties.
 
My Japanese is rusty - are those MPs chrome, then?

In terms of build quality, the one thing I don't like about the Millennium is that the rear door - at least on mine, though someone else wrote last year that he had the same problem - "gives" a bit in the top right corner. I've never used an MP but I take it they are as well built like the M3 and M4? If only there were MPs with big shutter dials.
 
philipus said:
My Japanese is rusty - are those MPs chrome, then?

In terms of build quality, the one thing I don't like about the Millennium is that the rear door - at least on mine, though someone else wrote last year that he had the same problem - "gives" a bit in the top right corner. I've never used an MP but I take it they are as well built like the M3 and M4? If only there were MPs with big shutter dials.
Click to expand...

The cameras for sale are the actual cameras pictured - all black paint at the moment.

I haven't noticed any "give" on the rear door of my MP. It seems as well built as an M3 I used to own.
 
Ron (Netherlands) said:
Many thanks Dave for your contributions and the nice story about your find ...
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No problems. truly, I'm chuffed to see this camera being appreciated. I have enjoyed every single sojourn with it and I do look forward to getting it back in my hands.

{This bloody R6.2 and its big lenses gets heavy.}

Ron (Netherlands) said:
... btw I guess Leitz produced the complete series of lenses with the matching millennium serials, I made a list (not shown here) with the ones I saw on offer realizing it would be hard to find one matching my own camera serial. So the 35mm cron black paint is still on my wish list, realizing that they fetch very high prizes these days it will be long shot (especially since I already have two of those asph, in regular black and the one in chromium)
take care in Downunder
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not. Like I mentioned I am not certain and cannot recollect whether there was a waiting period for my unit once I'd ordered it, a waiting period that might point to an idea that Leica engraved and painted up the specific lenses only when they were purchased with the body. So like I say, the 50mm matching my body may not even exist or was simply finally released into the 'bucket' of serial numbers and was shipped as a regular anodised version eventually.

Hey!, the way Leica keeps us all guessing and talking. No wonder they built a legend from their mark. Oh, and of course also because no other glassware on the planet has a hope in hell of ever coming close to Leica's glazier brilliance. That might also be a factor.
 
Oh yeah, and don't forget to put mine as a new unknown onto your list. I thought it might read something like this:-
250???? leica forum member, shipping container in Blacktown, Sydney, nr. not revealed

You might put something like a tear drop icon at the end of that sentence!

Heh.
 
Hey gents, that's a lot of post in a short time,
since I'm very busy right now replacing the half mirror aka beamsplitter in a IIIa sync for a fellow member, I'll read the post tomorrow and will make the appropriate changes to the list
 
Aperture UK has no. 896 for sale in "User" condition (see the list of items; the page I link to says "Mint-" which must be a mistake). Rather expensive for the condition it is in, methinks.
 
philipus said:
Aperture UK has no. 896 for sale in "User" condition (see the list of items; the page I link to says "Mint-" which must be a mistake). Rather expensive for the condition it is in, methinks.
Click to expand...

The page you link to shows photo's of the M6 but has the following heading

"Leica M9 Black (boxed) 13500 Actuations , Mint- £2990"

So therein lies the mistake :D
 
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