The Leica M6 is a 35mm rangefinder film camera manufactured by Leica from 1984 to 1998, followed by the M6 "TTL" manufactured from 1998 to 2002. In 2022, Leica introduced a new version of the M6, based on the technology of the Leica MP, but staying true to the design of the M6.

The M6 incorporates a light meter within the body dimensions established by the previous Leica M3 and Leica M4 models. The light meter was operated by depressing the shutter halfway, had no moving parts, and used LEDs to display readings in the viewfinder. Informally it is referred to as the M6 "Classic" to distinguish it from the "M6 TTL" models, and to indicate its "Classic" M3 dimensions.

The top and bottom plates were made from lighter, cheaper magnesium alloy rather than the heavier machined brass of the M3 and M4. The M6 and M6 TTL are mechanical cameras; all functions except the light meter work without batteries, unlike the succeeding M7, which needs electrical power to operate the light meter or shutter speeds other than 1/60 and 1/125 of a second.

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Early leica m6 wetzlar with black dot.jpg|Early Leica M6 black dot

Early leica m6 with black dot back.jpg|Early Leica M6 black dot

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Leica M6J front.jpg|Leica M6J front

Leica M6J back.jpg|Leica M6J back

Leica M6J top.jpg|Leica M6J top

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Leica M6 TTL front.jpg|Leica M6 TTL front

Leica M6 TTL back.jpg|Leica M6 TTL back

Leica M6 TTL top.jpg|Leica M6 TTL top

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References

  • The Leica M-System page at Leica.
  • An article about the M6 at the Washington Post by Frank Van Riper.
  • Article by M. Feuerbacher
  • An article about the M6 at Photo.net