Film photography has made an ineliminable comeback, and Leica is well-aware of that. While the standard-setting manufacturer’s widely-acclaimed M6 film camera has been out of production since 2002, the Red Dot has decided to revive it 20 years later with some notable upgrades.
The 35mm rangefinder couldn’t have been revived at a better time, seeing as the resurfaced admiration for film photography has come at a rapid pace. While the updated camera has missed out on some of the space’s advancements through the last two decades, it will not be changing as much as you’d think — after all, there was only so much room for improvement with this fan favorite. However, the new model is equipped with a lighter viewfinder and top plate milled from solid brass, then bolstered with an abrasion-resistant lacquer. This coating is similar to the one that appears on the M11 and will prevent unwanted patina.
That said, an element that remains the same is the latest M6’s red Leitz logo. While many of us know the manufacturer as Leica by default, the Wetzlar-bred camera maker changed its name from Leitz to Leica in 1986, four years removed from the original M6 model. Additionally, it features the modernized M rangefinder body, offers 0.72x magnification, and is operated by the nostalgia-inducing crank mechanism as the original iteration.
The Leica M6 will be available starting November 3 for $5,295.
