Lots of people are unloading M6's. Why?

[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]

Originally Posted by jarski

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]

Originally Posted by gilpen123

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]

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

Michael,

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

[loquax ludens]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Jani_from_Finland

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]

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!

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.

Originally Posted by loquax ludens

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]

Originally Posted by sdotkling

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]

Originally Posted by anjoca76

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]

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

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.

[Benjamin Marks]

Typically I sell gear when I need to raise cash. If I were to sell an M6, it would be 'cause . . . that's where the money was. The camera is still the best deal in Leica RF, in my opinion, in terms of capability vs. price. I will admit to MP lust, but that is purely aesthetic, from my point of view. Functionally, the MP is the same as an M6.

I have been using an M6 since 1994 -- the flare issue is overstated, again in my opinion. It has never kept me from taking a picture that I wanted to take. I currently have an 0.72 silver M6 and a 0.85 black TTL. Love 'em both.

[Murchu]

Lovely camera. With a non-chrome lens, it would just fade into invisibility against a dark jumper when slung across the chest. Only things I didn't like were the viewfinder flare, the slippery finish and the ease with which the meter would get activated in my bag. None were dealbreakers, and would love to buy another one in the future. Got mine mint for €750/ $950 about 4 years ago.

[john_s]

Originally Posted by Jubb Jubb

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.

Does anyone know if the M6 is more reliable than the M6TTL, perhaps because it's simpler?

[gnuyork]

Not that I would ever sell my M6 classic - never - I have not used it since I got a steal of a deal on an X1 a couple of months ago.

The X1, for a digital, is pretty sweet, and even more compact than the M6. The M6 does feel amazing in the hands, though - part of why I enjoy it so much.

[Murchu]

Originally Posted by filmfan

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

Sorry to hear about the health, I enjoy following your blog quite a lot. With health issues and medical bills, I've just about hung onto my M3 by the skin of my teeth, and after health, it is quickly realised everything else is secondary

[john neal]

are people selling the M6 to part-fund a M9?

I would swap my M3 for a 9, but probably not my MP