Does and M6 that has just the larger "M6" on the front rather than the more common "Leica M6" carry any greater value or significance. I believe these are transitional cameras from when the factory moved to Solms from Wetzlar.....am I anywhere close to right?

-- Thomas M. Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), January 24, 2002

Answers

You are right.

But regarding the greater value, I don't think so.

-- Lucien (lucien_vd@yahoo.fr), January 24, 2002.

Purists seem to prefer the "Leitz" badge of honor. I personally don't care...they all do the same thing.

-- George L. Doolittle (geodoolitt@aol.com), January 24, 2002.

The "large M6" (without Leica) is just one of the many variations that turns up on Leica cameras, particularly those with long production runs. There are quite a few variations of the M6 (many of which are described and picture on Stephen Gandy's Camerquest website (see Classic Camera Profiles, scroll down to Leica). Other variations include:

Very early M6 camera external/internal variations (eg., no plastic strapwear protectors, metal VF eye ring w/o rubber cover, Made in Germany embossed on back cover, etc. etc.)

"Panda" variety: Chrome M6 with black fittings.

"Reverse Panda": Black M6 with chrome fittings

Ernst Leitz Wetzlar engraved on top plate + Leitz red dot of earlier cameras, Leica GMBH on back of top plate + Leica red dot later. Removal of film plane indicator on later cameras.

etc. etc. etc.

Some varieties may be worth a little more than others, but generally speaking, regular production M6s have not really caught on as collectors items, so the chances are the large M6 variety, while interesting, is worth about the same as any other M6 of the shae same vintage.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), January 24, 2002.

I'm still waiting for the Hoodlum special edition with red paint, skull-&-crossbones body covering, built-in switchblade in the baseplate, and Bad Motherfucker screen-printed across the top.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 24, 2002.

I'm case adverse...

But I'd reconsider if Mike's case had Guns, God, and Mom's Apple Pie tattooed onto it.

;-)

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 24, 2002.

Mike,

Get a RapidWinder - there's your switchblade in the base! :-)

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), January 24, 2002.

I thought that the "Reverse Panda" was a new dive by the Olympic Diving team of the People's Rebublic of China. If the "Leica GMBH" and strap rings were considered tatoos and piercings, that would make our Leicas pretty radical, dude!

-- Pat Dunsworth (pdunsworth@aryarch.com), January 25, 2002.