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LEICA AG, in conjunction with
LHSA (Leica Historical Society of America ) had released a limited edition of a LEICA
M6 with 3 lenses in 1996. The limited edition which was issued in 151 set only and
was offered as kit to mark the 25th Anniversary establishment of the this Leica user's
group. From observation for the last 10 years and tracking activities of LHSA, I
guess the society can be easily ranked as the most influential among all Leica user
groups existed today. Technically, LHSA has around 2,000 subscribed members, although
that not exactly very big in number but over the years, LHSA has been working rather
closely with Leica AG and had resulted in the releasing of a series of special edition
LEICA bodies. I am not sure if ever LHSA had any form of influences over eventual
decision in a Leica photographic product BUT one thing is for sure, Leica AG has
actually benefited from specific request on some of those LHSA special editions because
LHSA actually represents how a LEICA user would have in mind what to expect from
a collector's point of view in a LEICA that other than equal in quality and performance
as a photographic tool, as well as added value to its collectible appeal . Well,
I do know Leica don't just live with collectible special editions all these years,
but in many ways I felt LHSA special edition models were often very well configured
camera(s)/lens(es) and they usually came with good collectible elements in their
releases.
I am not a LHSA member but from I can gather LHSA had their first attempt of a special
edition in a LEICA M6 back in 1988. That was to commemorate their 20th Anniversary
of successful establishment. The unit has a black body LEICA M6 as the basis and
has a small LHSA emblem engraved and painted in white on the back with the year 1968~1988
printed at each side of the small emblem. I don't have one to show (but I'd love
to offer a specific featured M6
LHSA 1968~1988 site - if you have one)
. James L Lager An Illustrated History of Leica cameras Vol. . 1 page 260 has a tiny picture. It illustrates
the camera with an encoded number 20-21. Could that be indicating there are only
21 set/unit being produced in that first LHSA-M6 series? Anyway, in 1983, exactly
five years later and coincided with LHSA's 25th Anniversary, the society again had
released another limited edition LEICA M6 to commemorate the sentimental occasion.
This time around, LHSA committee member(s) who might have involved in the project
were much better prepared and thoughtfully configured the release along with three
companion lenses - covering the most frequently used focal lengths in rangefinder
system of 35mm, 50mmm & 90mm. The entire package of this special M6 edition had
a traveler kit kind of theme; even a relatively new LEICA rangefinder camera user
can easily find all the basic needs to startup with a LEICA rangefinder camera system.
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At left, shown the revised design of the engraved LHSA
emblem with the corresponding year 1968~1993 located at the top left hand section
of the chrome bodied LEICA M6. To add a little attention to this special release,
the engraved emblem and numbers were painted in red.
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One way or another, I couldn't recall what has happened
during that time, somehow this LHSA edition was not exactly being released in the
exacting anniversary year 1993 as I got an offer by someone in US where he asked
if I am interested in a new, special release of a LEICA limited edition body with
three lenses back in 1995/6. I thought the emailed given spec sheet was interesting
and had committed - not one but TWO of these sets. The two purchased kit was meant
for personal while another as a gift to my business partner. I can remember exactly
how much I paid, somewhere around the region of USD6,000-00~7,000-00 per set.
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When I took the pictures of this camera
for this site, I was trying to recall what actually has prompted to buy this kit
during that time. The LEICA M6 LHSA 1968~1993 kit featured here actually was my third
LEICA, after the Leica M4 Black enamel and the LEICA M6 COLOMBO '92 (also had bought two units of that). The M4 I had came with a Leitz
Canada Noctilux-M 1:1/50mm Prototype lens; while the M6 Colombo '92 has a matching
1:2/50mm Colombo edition lens.
So, I was actually a LEICA owner who has not other lens to use because the mentioned
optic was not-so-nice to be used for general photography (you probably know what
I mean..). So, this kit with three lenses actually fits my requirement during that
time where I initially thought I can have a "normal" LEICA set for day
to day photographic use. Well, when the consignment eventually arrived, suddenly
I felt a little stupid - with the "SPECIAL EDITION OF 151 CAMERAS for LHSA 25th
ANNIVERSARY.." engraved at the rear, I realized this couldn't be a camera that
I can simply chuck under my car seat everyday.
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I guess most LEICA enthusiasts may be having the same
kind of mental block when it relates to a special edition camera series. Most of
the time we just let the "potential appreciation in value for well preserved
condition" element to override our basic logical thinking. I wasn't too
mature that time but somehow I have decided to acquired a LEICA M6/T for day to day
use. Yes, for a bout 5 years, it was placed along with my SLR, a Nikon F3/T and two
lenses hiding under my car seat in the intense tropical heat. Today, the M6/T was
placed right behind my seat in the office as display, while the LEICA M6 LHSA 1968~1993
was all along placed in my living room as display set for the last 10+ years. Sinful,
huh ? barely few years later, I had adjusted my thinking and seldom concluded with
any new purchases with "special editions" again.
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The LEICA M6 LHSA 1968~1993 Special
Edition includes a wooden display case. Red velvet covered internally with 4 slots
to house the camera and the three lenses. There wasn't any wood carving externally
except for a tiny Leica sticker at th front and a plated metal piece that has LHSA
emblem and 1968~1993 engraving, and red painted in showing the outlines. The wooden
display case has an uncommon push-and-lock mechanicm, a much improved design from
other simpler lock mechanism found on other M6 collectible wooden case.
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Shown above was a LEICA SUMMICRON-M 1:2 f=50mm lens attached
onto a LEICA LHSA 1968~1993 Special 25th Anniversary kit camera body. The 3 SUMMCRON
f/2.0 lenses each can be regarded as the companion lens to the edition share identical
lens features with standard issues in silver chrome finishes to match the silver
chrome body. No known black body was issued with this special edition. The related
lenses as illustrated with the 2/50 above has one thing that separates them from
normal production optic, i.e. the lens data ring was engraving of "LHSA 25TH
ANNIVERSARY" and followed with an encoding with this special release.
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Each component in the kit has a unique serial number
on its own. I am not too sure how the S/N coding works and if it ends in XX-151 that
is easier to explained but it appears on all the three 35, 50 & 90mm. So, the
25-050 is not referring to the focal length after all. This is not particularly
an important issue but just brought the matter up in search for input by others to
satisfy curiosity and/or broaden my knowledge with Leica.
<<<--- The serial code for this special edition engraved
on one side on the camera's accessory shoe which matches with the S/N s appeared
on all the three lenses while a normal LEICA production serial number is engraved
at the other end of the accessory shoe.
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From a logical point of view, the LEICA M6 1968~1993 LHSA 25TH ANNIVERSARY edition
has carefully being configured in this area. Although this was not the first time
in such an attempt in a LEICA-M e.g. Leica M3 Olive/Olive-green Bundeseigentum outfit issued in 1957 with various matching lenses and system
accessories. " 'Bundeseigentu' can mean Federal/Governmental property and/or
'Military'). But definitely camera with provision of lenses as a kit can be easily
ranked among the earliest with a LEICA M6 series model. I don't conclude it is innovative
but rather as a very thoughtful defined spec for wider appeal esp. for people who
intends to look for a valued package in entering the Leica rangefinder system as
well as serving desire for a complete setup of a collectible piece. Why ? firstly,
I can't imagine a LEICA fanatic couldn't had camera without any optic attached to
his built-up system. The accompanied lenses that offered along with this special
edition are easily the most frequently used focal lengths and could minimize such
a possibility. Perhaps, what it has in the setup partially was aiming to satisfy
Leica photographers who may be having an inner desire to own a collectible with all
these basic offerings from the usual system he uses for day to day photography. Besides,
any original idea is always having its own appeal to people who thinks it deserving
a look as investment and simply for personal usage.
Regardless, what I am doing here was just to provide an introduction in featuring
a LEICA M6 Special Edition camera that was issued during the '90.
previous
| Next
| 1/4 Outline its basic features on this Leica M6 Classic special edition
camera body by LHSA.
Part 1 - Introduction | Part 2 - camera body LHSA 1968~1993 Edition
Lenses: Part 3 Summicron-M
35/50mm 1:2 LHSA edition |
Part 4 - Summicron-M 90mm
1:2 LHSA edition / other issues
Main Index Page
- Leica M6-series models
Main Index Page - Leica-M Rangefinder
camera Models
Nomenclature / Main Reference Map for Leica M6 Standard Model(s) applicable for this Leica M6 LHSA 1968~1993 25th
Anniversary Edition Kit
Instruction Manuals:- Leica M6 Classic in PDF (3.8mb) also applicable for this Leica M6 Leica M6 LHSA 1968~1993 25th Anniversary
Edition by Niels H. S. Nielsen
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