Lots of people are unloading M6's. Why?

sdotkling · 07-31-2012

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!

Jani_from_Finland · 07-31-2012

I just actually got one M6 (Wetzlar) and having used one before i sold it, i can only say that this is an awesome camera, much prefer the "classic" over the TTL version, actually i like the M6 better than the M2 i have, but then they are a little different.
Well, if people are letting a fine Leica go for peanuts, its good for those of us who likes them and even better so for people who always dreamed about getting a Leica and now maybe getting them for a little less.

Keith · 07-31-2012

From my observations there's always been a steady stream of M6s going through the classifieds ... though they do seem pretty cheap at the moment. The camera had a very long production run and there's a lot of them out there!

I'd like an MP but in reality what does it offer over the M6?

jarski · 07-31-2012

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

loquax ludens · 07-31-2012

I bought one recently, just a few weeks ago, but it wasn't from the classifieds here. I would have liked that. I posted a WTB, but at the time there was nothing but black M6 and M6 TTL bodies listed. I got a couple of PMs wanting to sell an M6, but they were for black bodies and/or with TTL. I specifically wanted a chrome classic M6.

The one I found on another site was extra clean, a beautiful camera. The previous owner had a CLA and an MP finder modification done by Sherry Krauter. I paid $1200 for it. I mention this because searches of this forum turned up prices for similar cameras that were $200 to $400 more than that just four years ago, and those were usually without the MP finder. So that does suggest that prices have dropped quite a bit for the M6 in the last few years.

bananasplit · 07-31-2012

I am selling one right now because I already have one and I need to fund a new project.
No other reason...coincidence?

Jubb Jubb · 07-31-2012

I bought an M6 TTL a few weeks ago for under $1000 in great condition (except that the meter doesn't work). I only got to shoot one roll and am offloading it as I had a Leica rep look at it and it needs a circuit repair for the meter to work.

I will difinately purchase another one in the weeks to come, with a working meter.

Mackinaw · 07-31-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

.......I'd like an MP but in reality what does it offer over the M6?

An honest-to-God brass top plate inscribed with the name "Leica." No die-cast zinc, no acre-upon-acre of black nothingness, like on the M6.

"So what?" some may argue. To me, the inscribed brass plate makes all the difference in the world.

Jim B.

Keith · 07-31-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mackinaw

An honest-to-God brass top plate inscribed with the name "Leica." No die-cast zinc, no acre-upon-acre of black nothingness, like on the M6.

"So what?" some may argue. To me, the inscribed brass plate makes all the difference in the world.

Jim B.

True ... in a perfect world (financially) I'd have the MP any day.

back alley · 07-31-2012

i have not seen any m6 go for peanuts...where can i find these?

Jubb Jubb · 07-31-2012

Keh has a few with lowered prices.

ajramirez · 07-31-2012

I bought a M6 TTL from the RFF classifieds earlier this year for a very reasonable price for its mint condition. However, I think that M6 prices have held up and are certainly higher than they were last year or a couple of years ago.

Pablito · 07-31-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mackinaw

An honest-to-God brass top plate inscribed with the name "Leica." No die-cast zinc, no acre-upon-acre of black nothingness, like on the M6.

"So what?" some may argue. To me, the inscribed brass plate makes all the difference in the world.

Jim B.

Yes, the inscribed brass plate makes the pictures so much better!

Frontman · 07-31-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mackinaw

An honest-to-God brass top plate inscribed with the name "Leica." No die-cast zinc, no acre-upon-acre of black nothingness, like on the M6.

"So what?" some may argue. To me, the inscribed brass plate makes all the difference in the world.

Jim B.

I have a Zorki I with a brass top plate inscribed with the name "Leica". Unfortunately, it seems to make little difference to most people

michaelbialecki · 07-31-2012

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

Jubb Jubb · 08-02-2012

One of my first images from my new(used) M6 TTL

gilpen123 · 08-02-2012

I picked up here a nice black big M6 logo a few weeks ago.

boomguy57 · 08-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelbialecki

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

If I were to grab an M6, it would be the TTL version with the 0.58x. I tried one once and loved that magnification. For those who wear specs, it's perfect.

burancap · 08-02-2012

And here I am sorta' on the opposite side of the fence... I have a beautiful M6C that I can NOT sell!

This particular camera (~1991) came to me about a year and a half ago as being basically unused in the original box. I paid a bit more to secure it because of this. After a few rolls, I noted an issue with the curtains and so it went off to DAG for a full CLA and the MP upgrade -adding to my already healthy purchase price.

So, I have a beautiful, basically new, perfectly functioning M6C that is worth maybe 2/3 what I have invested in it. Big deal, I suppose, because I love the camera and have no interest in selling it off (yet)... certainly not after selling my M8 at 1/2 my investment!

thegman · 08-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mackinaw

An honest-to-God brass top plate inscribed with the name "Leica." No die-cast zinc, no acre-upon-acre of black nothingness, like on the M6.

"So what?" some may argue. To me, the inscribed brass plate makes all the difference in the world.

Jim B.

Technically, I'd say the MP is no better than an M6, but if you're planning on using it for a long time, the price difference is not that much, offset over the years. I much preferred my MP to my M6, but in the end, neither were worth keeping for me. If I want classic, I'll get an M3, if I want modern, I'll get a ZI, the M6 and MP are a bit "in the middle" for me, not classic or modern.

umcelinho · 08-02-2012

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 · 08-02-2012

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 · 08-02-2012

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

.... _ · 08-02-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdotkling

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 · 08-02-2012

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.