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A
visual Introduction on various Leica M6 Series rangefinder camera models - Index
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SITE PREVIEW
The Leica M6 was introduced in 1984 under
interesting circumstances. Its direct predecessor, the Leica M5, was the first Leica
rangefinder to offer TTL metering. However, it was discontinued almost a decade before
the M6's introduction. The gap was filled by several other models. The untimely Leica
M5 was introduced in 1971 and its production was cut short in 1975. Rising manufacturing
cost and poor domestic sales were major contributing factors in the untimely demise
of the M5 less than 5 years after it's inception. After its abandonment, its place
was replaced by the revived and revised M4-2, produced in the Midland plant in Canada.
The M4-P followed the M4-2 in 1980, offering frame lines for 28mm and 75mm focal
lengths. These two models re-established confidence in the Leica brand among photographers.
In the first few years of the 1980's, the photography mainstream became dominated
by electronic SLRs. This was aggressively driven by the top five Japanese manufacturers:
Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Minolta. Leica itself countered with their more
conservative R3, R4 and R4s. This was a period during which heavy emphasis was placed
on full automation and it resulted in confusing multi-mode models that actually slowed
SLR sales. Furthermore, the emergence of point and shoot portable cameras also eroded
SLR sales. For purists, the choices offered by the oriental manufactures had became
over-complex and unappealing, and there was a tendency among serious photographers
to revert back to simpler equipment. At the time, the M4-P offered a rugged and ultra-reliable
body, passive, manual controlled functions, near silent operation and a fast and
accurate rangefinder focusing system. Its existence was well appreciated by serious
photographers and Leica found its way back into the mainstream. However, the M4-P
did suffer a major handicap in its off-camera metering system. |
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In 1983, a breakthrough in SLR metering
system was made with the introduction of the Nikon FA's
innovative multi-segment meter. Regardless of how good a rangefinder's off-camera
reflective meter was, it has been left behind by the mainstream TTL meters. If not
rectified, this threatened to cancel the advantage gained for Leica by the M4-2 and
M4-P. The M6's introduction was therefore well timed to provide the photographers
with a dependable TTL metering solution for their rangefinder system.
Even then, its creators did not realize that they have given the community a modern
classic. Unlike it's predecessor, the Leica M6 remained in production for over 20
years. |
| This site can be very different from
other sites that I have previously created. I don't intend on labeling it as a review
of any form. The M6 has had two decades of production behind it. I assumed that there
are sufficient online resources relating to the Leica M6 system and I have no intention
of replicating those. Instead, I will use a leisurely approach to present visitors
with a visual library featuring the M6 together with some of its variations. I do
believe this kind of reference would be unique. As far as I know, with the exception
of some post 2000 models, all M6 models feature the same body, but have varying viewfinder
magnifications, colours, shapes and appearances. As far as the Limited Edition M6
series are concerned, the number of special releases have increased toward the releases
of the Leica MP-reissued model as well as the next generation electronic Leica M7.
It was probable that both Leica AG and enthusiasts were equally sentimental, and
wanted more collectable special editions to mark the end of the production run of
a great rangefinder. |
A visual library
on Leica M6 Series bodies:
- a glimpse of parts (top plate & a picture from external source) M6
Prototype,
1981;
Leica
M6 Silver Chrome
/ Black
regular production Classic models:-
1984/5, 1986/7 | 1988, 1992/4/5 &
1996
models (4 parts)
Leica M6 Classic 0.85x w/Black logo 800 units Special Edition
Leica
M6
Titanium Finish (M6/T),
1992 (3 parts) | Leica M6G Titanium Finish, 1992; Leica M6 TTL 0.72x Titanium Finish, 1,000 units 2001 edition w/info
on Leica Titanium finish lenses
Leica M6
TTL regular production models: M6 TTL Chrome 0.72X, 1998 | M6 TTL Black 0.72,
1998; 1999, 2000 | M6 TTL 0.58X 2001
| M6 TTL Chrome/Black
0.85X, 1997, 2000
Variants:- Leica M6 "Electronic"
Prototype Camera,
1981; Leica
M6 'Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule' ETH.Z 3-Units Special Edtion, 1987; Leica
M6 Silver chrome / Black w/M6 Bigger logo; Leica M6 Classic Black w/0.85x
Pre-M6 TTL
model
Leica M6 Cutaway
Display units:
1986/88; 1992, 1995; Leica M6 Platinum Dummy Set, 1989; Leica M6 Bundeseigentum, 1985
Special
Edition/Commemorative Models:-
For M6 model(s) or special edition(s) not being mentioned below herein this listing;
please use the ||
Message
Board
|| to update me
and/or mail to my web buddy, Mr. Rick Oleson <rick_oleson@yahoo.com>. Thank
You.
Leica M6 QE, One unit Special Model (1986)*
| Leica LHSA (1968~1988) 20th Anniv. Special Edition, 1988 (assistance required) |
Leica
M6 Platinum '150 Jahre/Leica 75 Jahre',
1,250 Units Edition, 1989 (3+1 parts) |
Leica M6 w/unclear info, 125 units, 1989 #
| Leica M6G Chrome/Black/Titanium, Foto GANZ, Zurich, 1990/2 | Leica M6 Colombo (1492~1992)
500th Anniv.
200 units Edition, 1992 (4 parts) | Leica M6 25th. Golden Jubilee Year
celebration in accession of Throne of Sultan of Brunei, 24ct-Gold 350 units Edition/Leica
M6 Platinum Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Edition, 1992 |
Various Leica
M6 chrome "PANDA" models,
1989/94 | Leica M6 Year of Rooster 300 units Edition,
1993 (3 parts) | Leica M6 FACHFOTO ROYAL 25th Anniv.
Model 1968~1993
black/chrome 101 units Edition**, 1993 (assistance required) |
Leica
M6 Chrome LHSA (1968~1993) 25th Anniv. 151 units/Kit, 1993/6 (3 parts) | Leica M6J (40 Jahre Leica
1954~1994)
1,640 units Edition, 1994 | Leica M6 Traveler Kit Edition, 1994 | European Publisher Award for Photography,
One-unit each year edition, 1994~ # |
Leica
M6 Royal Photographic Society (RPS) Royal Centenary 100 units Edition, 1994 | Leica M6 HISTORICA e.V. Deutschland
(Leica Historical Society of Germany)
1975~1995 20th Anniv Special 150 units Edition, 1995 |
Leica
M6 Denmark Royal Wedding (Nordisk, Denmark) 200
units Edition, 1995 |
Leica
M6 Gold Dragon 300 units Edition**,
1995 | Leica M6 Demo for Polyphoto SpA, Italy, 1995 *** | Leica M6 Gold plated Jubilee set
black leather w/diamond,
1996 (Updated) |
Leica M6 Sultan of Brunei Special 50th Birthday Edition; Leica M6 Platinum w/diamond (150 units) / Platinum
(200 Units) / Gold plated (350 units), 1995 |
Leica M6
Gold Thai King Bhumiphol Adulyadej 50th Golden Jubilee 700 units Edition, 1996 | Leica M6 Platinum "Anton
Bruckner" (1824~1896)
200 units Edition, 1996 | Leica M6 Platinum Schmidt Group
Centenary 151
units Edition**, 1996 | Leica
IPO/Stock Listing M6 'Ein Stück Leica' 996 units Edition, 1996 | Leica M6 Black "Partner-Aktion" 500 units Edition, 1996 | Leica M6 Demo Ausrüstung
Benelux 70/90 units edition**, 1996 | Leica
M6 Switzerland 'Test of the Best' 40 units edition, 1996 | Leica M6 Platinum Henri Cartier-Bresson/Louis
Vuitton Special
Edition, 1998
** |
Leica
M6 Jaguar XK50 (1948~1998) 50th Anniv.
50 units/Kits**, 1998 | Leica M6 Platinum "150 jahre
Optik" Wetzlar Optisches Institute
30 units/Kits Edition, 1999 (assistance
required) | Leica M6 Black lacquer Leica Group
Photo, 17 units edition, 1996
# | Leica M6 TTL S/N 2,500,000 Vaclav
Havel special
presentation One-Unit Edition, 2000
**** | Leica M6 'Sheikh Al-Thani'
Special Photo Contest Award Model,
16 units edition per issue, 2002~ | M6
TTL Black Paint Millennium Kit (0.72x/0.85x x 300) 2,000 units edition, 2000 | Leica M6 TTL Black Paint 'Öresundsbron'
150 units Edition,
2000 (3 parts) |
Leica M6 TTL ICS
(Import Camera Society, Japan) 200 units Edition, 2000#
| Leica
M6 TTL "KANTO", Japan 150 units Edition, 2000
| Leica M6 TTL 0.85x Dragon 2000
Black Paint
500 units Edition, 2000 | Leica M6 TTL 0.72x LHSA Black
logo/Paint
350 units Edition, 2000***** |
Leica M6 TTL 0.85x LHSA Black Paint w/M-grip 300
units Edition (Updated)
| Leica M6 TTL 0.85x LHSA 500 units
Edition, 2000***** |
Leica
M6 TTL 0.85x Green lacquer /paint (Schmidt
Group), 300 units, 2000 (Updated) | Leica M6 TTL 0.85x Black NSH Japan
400 Units Special Edition, 2001 | Leica M6TTL 0.72x Martin Luther
King Jr.,
2 Units Edition, 2001 (info only) *** | Leica M6 TTL HANSA, 100 units Edition,
2001# |
Leica M6 TTL Switzerland 'Test of the Best' 40 units edition, 2001# |
Leica M6 TTL 1984~2002 999 units End of production Series Edition, 2002/3 | Leica M6 TTL William Klein-configured,
Anthracite-grey Finish
One unit Special Edition**, 2001 | LEICA M6 TTL 0.72x Titanium Finish
w/3-Titan lenses outfit,
2001 | LEICA
M6 TTL Chrome 1984~2002 Special Edition | Leica M6A (M7 Prototype) in black or Chrome version 2002 (Updated)
Others w/unclear info/uncertain
issued date(s): Leica
M6 Zurich Photographica 101
units Edition** |
Leica Partnership 500 units Edition* |
Leica M6 Canada 270 units Edition
** | Leica M6 Calf-leather 0.72X Edition
| Leica M6 TTL Titanium LHSA edition
| Leica M6 TTL 0.58 Sculpture Japan 50 units Edition (Updated) |
Leica M6 TTL 0.72x w/Black Leica logo/name Edition |
Leica author, Paul
Henry Van Hasbroeck's
M6 Titan | LEICA M6 TTL NOMI Baumgartl personal donated kit auctioned for
Charity, 2005
| mysterious snake-skinned LEICA M6 Titanium
w/1.4/35mm Summilux S/N 1900000
(Updated)
* Mentioned in Dennis
Laney's Leica Collectors' Guide; **
A
few of the highlighted M6 references are extracted from Wilkipedia; *** Mr. Hendrink (L-camera-forum.com); **** Mr. E.Reinecke <Krugerdorp Camera club, Souther Africa); # Mr. Giuseppe Ciccarella, Italy
<passione-leitz.iitalia.com>; ***** Mentioned as "LHSA Special Edition.
650 with viewfinder 0.72x 550 with viewfinder 0.85x"
Nomenclature / Main Reference Map for Leica M6 Standard Classic Model(s) | Leica M6 TTL Model(s)
Instruction
Manuals:-
Leica M6 Classic in PDF (3.8mb) by Niels H. S. Nielsen; Leica
M6 TTL
3.6
Mb PDF) by Joe
Chan
Main Index Page - Leica-M Series Rangefinder
Camera Models
| Message
Board |
lenses
| Message
Board |
RF cameras |
| Credit:- Co-developed with my web buddy Rick_Oleson. Mr. Denis
Pleic <denple@gmail.com> from Croatia who often spends his time patching up
my poor writing. THANKS to all the contributors, in particularly Mr. Peter Coeln
from LEICA Shop®; Mr. Liu Zan of DigifanCN®, Mr. Kelvin
LI & camera$@Ebay,
Edmond from L&H Auction, Hong Kong in the form of images/pictures acquiring as well as content
for their sales which had made up the basis of this visual library. NOTE: certain
content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing
leaflets, brochures, sales manuals or publications published by LEICA AG over the
years and/or individual contributions from surfers who claimed originality of their
work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible for
any discrepancies that may arise from dispute except rectifying them after verification."LEICA",
"Leitz", "E.Ernst Wetzlar", "Velostigmat" & other
related trade names used herein are registered trademarks of Leica AG, SOLMS, Germany. Site made with an Apple G5 IMac. |
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