Leica M6: used prices, Classic vs TTL and what to check
The short answer
The Leica M6 is Leica's 1984 35mm rangefinder: a fully mechanical shutter, a simple built-in light meter and a mount that takes nearly every Leica M lens, and reviewers such as EMULSIVE and Hawkesmill still rank it among the best-value Leica M film bodies.
In October 2026, used bodies in good to like-new condition were listed at $3,595 to $4,495 at the US dealers we could check, and the new 2022 M6 is $7,000 at Leica USA. Budget for a service (Youxin Ye in Massachusetts lists $325 for an M6 CLA) and check the rangefinder patch for flare before you buy.
- Made
- 1984-1998 (TTL to 2002, reissued 2022)
- Shutter
- Mechanical, 1 s to 1/1000 plus B
- Meter battery
- 2 x SR44 or 1 x CR1/3N
- Used price
- $3,595-$4,495 at US dealers
Built from 144 opinions from 31 pages and videos. Not yet tested by Camera Dojo. Updated .
The short version
Owners keep coming back to the same strengths. Build quality is the most praised topic in the research (11 of 16 comments positive), every owner who mentions size likes it, and most owners who mention the meter call it accurate. Because the batteries only run the meter, a dead cell never stops the shutter. KeithWee Photography found he shot faster with it than with his autofocus Yashica T4 once he got used to it, and owners pairing it with Summicron lenses and Kodak Tri-X are delighted with the results.
The complaints are specific. The rangefinder patch can flare or white out against strong light, glasses wearers struggle to see the 28mm frameline in the standard 0.72x finder, nothing in the finder shows the shutter speed you set, and prices keep climbing: EMULSIVE put a good M6 at about $1,800 on average in 2020. A few owners say a meterless M4-P, or a cheaper rangefinder, makes more sense if you can live without the meter.
Good fit if
- You want a mechanical camera that keeps working when the battery dies, with a meter for convenience
- You shoot 35mm or 50mm lenses and want a small, quiet body for street, travel or family photos
- You want Leica M glass, or cheaper Voigtlander and Zeiss M-mount lenses, on a metered body
- You can buy from a dealer with a warranty, or budget for a CLA
- Resale matters to you: Brooklyn Film Camera notes many Leica owners sell for close to what they paid
Think twice if
- You have never focused a rangefinder and want a cheap way to find out if you like it (see rangefinder vs SLR)
- You wear glasses and shoot 28mm a lot: the standard 0.72x finder hides part of the frameline (an M6 TTL 0.58 is the better fit)
- You need shutter speeds faster than 1/1000, flash sync faster than 1/50 or a self-timer
- You want the camera to set exposure for you: the M6 is manual only, and the M7 adds automatic exposure
- You want to see your shutter speed and aperture in the viewfinder
What owners and reviewers say, topic by topic
We sorted 144 opinions about the Leica M6 from 31 pages and videos on 22 websites and channels. Each row shows how many people raised a topic and how many of them were positive. Open a row to read short quotes, each linked to its source.
Owner voices come mostly from long-form blogs and editorial reviews (35mmc, EMULSIVE, The Phoblographer, Shoot It With Film, Japan Camera Hunter, Macfilos), their reader comments, two Flickr group threads and five YouTube reviews. Reddit, Photrio and Leica forum threads blocked our checker. Some voices describe the M6 TTL or the 2022 reissue rather than the original Classic.
Viewfinder and focusing47% positiveof 19
Praised for a bright finder and accurate focus with fast lenses, but this is also where the main complaints sit: patch flare or whiteout in strong light, and 28mm framelines that glasses wearers cannot see in the 0.72x finder.
“And, the rangefinder focusing is difficult to use. It will take some time for you to adapt to it.”
TahusaOwner
“The viewfinder is large and bright with frame lines clearly visible.”
“while the rangefinder feels like a panorama window on a rooftop suite.”
Sebastian Lehner: Honest Review, Leica M6 2020-10Owner
“However the patch is prone to flare or fade in poor light conditions and facing directly to the light source.”
Dacnard blog 2012-07Owner
Light meter and exposure56% positiveof 16
Mostly positive: most owners find the center-weighted meter accurate, even with slide film. The minority view is that the Classic's two-arrow display slows quick shooting or turns into chasing the LEDs.
“By comparison to the Voigtlander, the light meter made me work much slower than I liked.”
Hamish Gill, 35mmc 2015-07Owner
“In all of my testing with the Leica M6 TTL, I haven't once had a problem with the metering.”
Chris Gampat, The Phoblographer 2020-03Owner
“found the light meter to be very accurate in general, and pretty spot on when shooting slide film.”
“If I want to take a quick snap, I find it difficult to follow.”
TahusaOwner
Build quality69% positiveof 16
The most praised topic: owners describe a solid, quiet camera that handles rain. The negatives are about cost-cutting next to older M bodies, mainly a zinc top plate that can bubble or corrode and a plastic ISO dial.
“Tell that to the owners of a bubbling, tired and sad looking M6 Classic.”
Hawkesmill England, Hawkesmill blog 2019-11Owner
“Both of the M6s feel better than the MP ever felt”
Hokari57, 35mmc 2016-12Owner
“The camera has a very solid tactile mechanical feel with a quiet shutter.”
Nigel Williams, A Flash Of Darkness 2025-09Owner
“I regularly take my Leica M6 out into the rain to shoot, and it's never failed me.”
Chris Gampat, The Phoblographer 2022-10Owner
Controls and features31% positiveof 13
The most negative topic. The Classic's small shutter speed dial is awkward at the eye, the finder shows neither shutter speed nor aperture, and one owner calls 1/1000 too slow; owners do like the stripped-down layout and the TTL's flash metering.
“the one control that lets the M6 TTL down is the fiddly ISO dial on the back.”
Nigel Williams, A Flash Of Darkness 2025-09Owner
“some shots with shaky hands (because we couldn't see the shutter speed in the viewfinder).”
TahusaOwner
“All of these are a joy to use with one exception: the shutterspeed dial. It is too darn small.”
Sebastian Lehner: Honest Review, Leica M6 2020-10Owner
“With the Leica M6 TTL the ability to shoot at events with a flash becomes much easier due to the TTL flash capabilities.”
Chris Gampat, The Phoblographer 2020-03Owner
Price and value46% positiveof 13
Leaning positive but split: reviewers call it among the best-value Leica M film bodies and note it holds resale value, while others point out it is now the most expensive of the older M film bodies and that a far cheaper SLR takes pictures just as good.
“it has more than made its money back for me.”
Chris Gampat, The Phoblographer 2020-03Owner
“But, it is the best Leica rangefinder for the money.”
Hawkesmill England, Hawkesmill blog 2019-11Owner
“The Leica M6 tends to be the most expensive older Leica M film camera.”
MrLeica.com (Matt Osborne) 2015-12Owner
“The other USD 1800 you are paying is purely for the experience of shooting a Leica.”
Reliability today33% positiveof 12
Evenly split. Several owners report decades of regular use with little service, while others describe a rangefinder drifting out of alignment, stuck frameline levers and slow speeds that need a CLA.
“I have 2 M6 classic, both had this problem.”
“It has only needed one service by Aperture recently.”
“I got my M6 almost 20 years ago and have cherished it (and used it regularly) ever since.”
Jörg-Peter, Macfilos reader comment 2023-02Owner
“it requires more frequent servicing than say a Nikon F due to the need for rangefinder calibration.”
Joe Monat, 35mmc 2019-04Owner
Batteries and power42% positiveof 12
Owners like that a dead battery only kills the meter and that SR44 or LR44 cells are easy to find. The complaints are battery drain from a half-pressed release in a bag, since there is no off switch, and a battery cap that can jam or work loose.
“The battery cap is odd, can often be screwed down too tightly”
“I use the lithium batteries and have not looked back.”
“The M6 will not cease to work if the batteries give out”
Dan Castelli, 35mmc reader comment 2016-12Owner
“1 lithium battery (1/3 N) (Which I have never found in my local battery supply store)”
Dacnard blog 2012-07Owner
Size and weight100% positiveof 9
Unanimously positive: owners call it compact, discreet and easy to travel with, and one prefers the Classic because it is the same size as the M3, while the M6 TTL is slightly taller.
“The body, film and lenses took up little space in my pack”
Nigel Williams, A Flash Of Darkness 2025-09Owner
“I prefer the original M6 because it is identically sized to the M3.”
Ray Rapkerg, EMULSIVE reader comment 2020-06Owner
“Leica makes rangefinders that feel great in the hands and don't need grips.”
Chris Gampat, The Phoblographer 2022-10Owner
“My first impression was that it was a very well built, perfectly sized camera with an addicting film advance.”
Joe Monat, 35mmc 2019-04Owner
Repairs and servicing44% positiveof 9
Mixed: owners agree the mechanics can always be serviced and that flare-free finder upgrades exist, but repair bills vary widely, and M6 TTL meter repairs are much harder to get than Classic ones.
“For the first one, I took it to a claimed Leica dealer in NYC and fixed it, $249.00”
“Thanks to ACR (Amsterdam Camera Repair) you can now fix broken lightmeters in a Leica M6.”
MrLeica.com (Matt Osborne) 2015-12Owner
“For this reason I sent my M6 to DAG to install flare-free optics that will improve the flare up to the levels of MP viewfinder”
Dacnard blog 2012-07Owner
“Meter repairs/replacements are widely available for the classic M6 but not for the M6 TTL.”
Ease of use50% positiveof 8
Split: owners who stick with it say the M6 stays out of the way and even feels faster than an autofocus compact, but first-time Leica users and DSLR converts describe a learning curve, and some find the bare body slippery without a grip.
“My first-hand experience was that this camera is so slippery. How should I hold it properly without a grip?”
TahusaOwner
“Everything about it feels natural and it just works as it should.”
William Fagan, Macfilos reader comment 2023-02Owner
“There is nothing that stands out about it at all, which is a huge complement. I can simply shoot, worry free.”
Hokari57, 35mmc 2016-12Owner
“If you've never used a Leica before, then so much about it will annoy you.”
Chris Gampat, The Phoblographer 2020-03Owner
Lenses75% positiveof 8
Positive: owners love the small M lenses and point out that Voigtlander and Zeiss M-mount lenses cost far less than Leica glass. The mixed notes concern a handful of older lenses that block the meter.
“it works wonderfully with the M6, goggles and all, and is a joy to use.”
Hokari57, 35mmc 2016-12Owner
“Like all other Leica M cameras, the smaller the lens, the better it is.”
Chris Gampat, The Phoblographer 2022-10Owner
“Perhaps best of all, those jewel-like miniature lenses are a joy to use.”
Nigel Williams, A Flash Of Darkness 2025-09Owner
“there's little practical difference between optics from Nikon, Canon, Zeiss and Leica these days.”
Image results80% positiveof 5
Positive, with a caveat owners repeat: the body adds nothing to image quality, so results come from the lens and the film. Owners pairing it with Summicron lenses and Tri-X are very happy with what they get.
“The Leica M6 did surprising well!”
MrLeica.com (Matt Osborne) 2015-12Owner
“The only problem is there are really no excuses left for a bad shot!”
James King, EMULSIVE: 5 Frames with Kodak Tri-X 400 (Leica M6 TTL)Owner
“I often have people ask if my images are medium format, and I put it down to the lenses.”
“Film cameras have no impact on image quality. This is dictated by the film and the lens.”
Film availability25% positiveof 4
Few comments, and they are about film in general: rising film prices and lab closures are the worries, while one reader sees Kodak's extra film production as a good sign.
“purchasing a roll of film and a camera to run it through isn't quite as affordable as it once was.”
Drew Evans, Shoot It With Film 2022-02Owner
“I'd argue that film prices are keeping it a fad and, as a result, the Leica M6 2022 edition is a passion product.”
Chris Gampat, The Phoblographer 2022-10Owner
“I love the fact that Leica are leading the way again with film cameras, that Kodak have employed 300 more people to up film production”
“While it is true that film labs are closing, you can always develop yourself”
PositiveMixedNegative
Leica M6 Classic vs M6 TTL vs the 2022 M6
Three cameras are sold as an M6. The original, now called the M6 Classic, was made from 1984 to 1998, first in Wetzlar and then in Solms from 1988. The M6 TTL replaced it in 1998 and ran until 2002, adding TTL flash metering and a 0.58x finder option. Leica brought the camera back in 2022 with milled brass top and base plates and coated finder optics.
One EMULSIVE reader prefers the Classic because it is the same size as the M3, and EMULSIVE says meter repairs are widely available for the Classic but not for the TTL (Macfilos adds that Leica itself ran out of parts for the Classic's meter some time ago). EMULSIVE's reviewer likes the TTL's bigger shutter dial, which turns the same way as the meter arrows, and Hawkesmill points out that the TTL's OFF setting stops the meter, so a pressed release cannot drain the battery. The TTL is 2 mm taller, which matters if you want to use goggled lenses.
| M6 Classic | M6 TTL | M6 (2022) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made | 1984-1998 | 1998-2002 | 2022 to now |
| Finder options | 0.72x; 0.85x in 1998 (3,130 made) | 0.58x, 0.72x or 0.85x | 0.72x only, coated optics (less stray light) |
| Shutter dial | Small, turns opposite to the meter arrows | Larger, reversed, with an OFF position | Classic style; set B to turn the meter off |
| Meter display | Two arrows | Two arrows plus a center dot | Two arrows plus a red center dot |
| Top plate | Die-cast zinc | 2 mm taller than the Classic | Milled brass |
| Meter repairs | Still offered by independent techs; Leica itself may lack parts | Not possible, per EMULSIVE | New camera |
| Launch price | About $1,695 (1984) | About $2,195 (1998) | $5,295 (2022) |
| Price checked | 0.72x like new: $3,595 (Igor Camera) | 0.72x: $3,795 to $3,895 (Camera West listing out of stock, Igor Camera) | $7,000 new (Leica USA) |
Quick way to tell them apart: the M6 TTL's shutter speed dial is larger, turns the other way and has an OFF setting.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, emulsive.org, emulsive.org, camera-wiki.org, leicacamerausa.com, flashofdarkness.com, macfilos.com, igorcamera.com, camerawest.com, hawkesmill.com, mrleica.com
Which viewfinder to get: 0.58x, 0.72x or 0.85x
The standard M6 finder is 0.72x and shows three pairs of framelines: 28/90, 35/135 and 50/75. It is the all-rounder, but glasses wearers at Shoot It With Film and 35mmc say they can barely see, or cannot see, the whole 28mm frame, and EMULSIVE's reviewer finds the 28mm and 35mm lines hard to take in at once. One 35mmc reader also finds the paired, unlabeled framelines confusing.
The 0.85x finder shows a bigger image and has a longer effective rangefinder base (58.86 mm against 49.86 mm on the 0.72x). Wikipedia says it was offered for easier and more accurate focusing with long or wide-aperture lenses. It drops the 28mm frameline and shows 35/135, 50/75 and 90. It was a regular M6 Classic option only in 1998, when 3,130 were made, and the M6 TTL offered it too. The 0.58x finder, offered only on the M6 TTL, was designed for wide-angle lenses; the 35mmc owner who wears glasses says it would have suited his 28mm shooting better.
Pick the finder by the lens you use most: 0.58x if you live at 28mm, 0.72x as the all-rounder, 0.85x if you mostly shoot 50mm or longer.
Sources: emulsive.org, 35mmc.com, shootitwithfilm.com, 35mmc.com, en.wikipedia.org
How to load film and set exposure on a Leica M6
The M6 loads from the bottom like the M4 and later Leica M film bodies, and the meter is the only part that needs a battery. For a general walkthrough, see how to load film in any camera.
- 1
Fit the batteries
Unscrew the small battery cap on the front of the body and fit two SR44 cells or one CR1/3N lithium cell. Screw it back snugly but not hard: EMULSIVE warns the cap can jam if overtightened, or work loose and fall out.
- 2
Set the film speed
Turn the ISO dial on the back to the speed on the film box. It runs from ISO 6 to 6400 and there is no DX coding, so it is easy to forget when you change film.
- 3
Load the roll
Remove the baseplate, open the hinged back, drop the cassette in and push 6-8 mm of film leader into the three-pronged take-up spool. Check the sprocket holes engage, close the back and refit the baseplate.
- 4
Wind to the first frame
Fire and wind twice until the frame counter shows 0. Watch the rewind crank as you wind: if it turns, the film is catching; if it does not, open up and reload.
- 5
Meter the scene
Half press the release to wake the meter, which stays on for about 10 seconds, then turn the shutter dial or the aperture ring until both triangular LEDs glow equally. On the Classic the dial turns opposite to the arrows, which trips up new owners at first.
- 6
Focus
Turn the focus ring until the double image in the bright center patch lines up. If the patch washes out against a bright light, shift your angle slightly.
- 7
Use a flash
Set the shutter dial to the notch between 1/60 and 1/30, which is the 1/50 sync speed, and use the flash in auto or manual mode. Only the M6 TTL meters flash through the lens.
- 8
Rewind and put it away
Flip the R lever on the front down toward the engraved R, unfold the crank and turn until it spins freely, then remove the baseplate and the cassette. When you store the camera, leave the shutter uncocked or set the dial to B so a pressed release cannot drain the battery.
Sources: emulsive.org, emulsive.org, camera-wiki.org, shootitwithfilm.com
Leica M6 batteries: which cells and how long they last
The meter takes two SR44 silver oxide button cells (also sold as PX76) or one 3 V lithium cell sold as CR1/3N, DL1/3N or CR11108, which measures 11.6 x 10.8 mm, twice the 5.4 mm height of an SR44. The 2022 reissue uses the same types. LR44 alkalines fit and are sold almost everywhere, but silver oxide holds a steadier voltage, which is why camera meters usually specify it.
Leica rates a fresh set at about 4,800 exposures, roughly 133 rolls of 36. The LEDs blink when the cells are low or when there is too little light, and the meter stays accurate until the cells are nearly dead. If readings turn erratic, fit fresh cells that read the same voltage and clean the contacts with a pencil eraser before suspecting the meter.
A dead battery never stops the camera: every shutter speed still works, so you can carry on with the Sunny 16 rule. For equivalents and where to buy them, see the film camera battery finder.
The Classic and the 2022 M6 have no off switch, so a release pressed in a bag keeps the meter on; store the camera uncocked or set to B. Spare Leica battery covers cost $30 at Leica Store Miami.
Sources: leica-camera.com, emulsive.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, flickr.com, sebastianlehner.photography, hawkesmill.com, leicastoremiami.com
Lenses for the Leica M6
Nearly every Leica M lens fits, and older thread-mount (LTM) lenses work with an LTM-to-M adapter matched to the focal length, so the right framelines appear. A few lenses mount but block the meter: the Hologon 15mm f/8, the Super-Angulon-M 21mm f/4 and f/3.4, and Elmarit-M 28mm f/2.8 copies up to serial number 2314921.
Goggled lenses such as the 50mm Dual Range Summicron work on the Classic (a 35mmc owner uses one, goggles and all) but can foul the taller M6 TTL. Collapsible lenses are fine once you pull them out before shooting. The Phoblographer's reviewer says the smaller the lens the better, because a big one obstructs the view in the finder.
Leica glass is not required. Shoot It With Film's reviewer says Voigtlander and Zeiss make wonderful M-mount lenses at a fraction of the cost, and EMULSIVE's reviewer argues there is little practical difference between optics from Nikon, Canon, Zeiss and Leica these days. Because the meter reads through the lens, filters are compensated automatically, which EMULSIVE says makes infrared film unusually easy.
| Lens | Price | Seller |
|---|---|---|
| Voigtlander VM 35mm f/1.4 Nokton Classic II, used | $450 | Camera West |
| Leica Summicron-C 40mm f/2 (1973, serviced in 2025) | $795 | Igor Camera |
| Leica Summicron-M 50mm f/2 (version 5), used | From $1,599 | Camera West |
Sources: emulsive.org, 35mmc.com, thephoblographer.com, shootitwithfilm.com, emulsive.org, camerawest.com, igorcamera.com, camerawest.com
What to check before buying a used Leica M6
A good dealer inspection covers film advance, a clear finder, accurate shutter speeds, a working meter, a bright and accurate rangefinder and a corrosion-free battery compartment. Check the same things yourself.
- 1
Buy where you can return it
At these prices a warranty matters: Camera West gives 90 days on used gear, and Sebastian Lehner advises buying in a shop, where you can check for flaws, rather than at auction. More options are in where to buy used film cameras.
- 2
Look through the finder
The view should be clear and the patch bright. Point the camera near a bright light to see how much the patch flares, and focus on something distant to check the two images line up at infinity.
- 3
Test the meter
With fresh batteries, half press and watch the LEDs respond as you change speed. If they flicker or stay dark, turn the ISO dial end to end a few times: Adam Insights says an oxidized carbon track under that dial is a common cause.
- 4
Run the shutter
Fire through every speed and listen: slow speeds that drag or hang point to old lubricants and a CLA. Check the cloth curtains for pinholes or burns, which happen when a camera sits facing the sun without a lens cap.
- 5
Work the frameline lever and battery compartment
The frameline preview lever should switch framelines cleanly; a stuck one cost one Flickr owner $249 to fix at a New York dealer, in a thread from around 2009-2010. Make sure the battery compartment shows no corrosion.
- 6
Treat cosmetics as bargaining points
Bubbling on the zinc top plate is harmless according to EMULSIVE, and such cameras sell for less.
- 7
Budget for a service
Youxin Ye in Canton, Massachusetts lists a CLA for the M6 and M6 TTL at $325 on a price list effective May 1, 2021, with the service warrantied for six months. Leica itself will inspect a camera and issue a service certificate for 330 EUR plus VAT.
Sources: camerawest.com, camerawest.com, sebastianlehner.photography, adaminsights.com, flickr.com, emulsive.org, yyecamera.com, leica-camera.com, yyecamera.com
Known problems and what fixing them costs
Most M6 problems come from age and wear rather than design faults, and a CLA cures many of them; these are the ones owners and US repair shops mention most.
Rangefinder patch flare (whiteout)
Raised in 5 opinions
- How you notice
- With bright light from the side or behind, the focusing patch washes out and you cannot focus. Owners call it occasional but real, and one says it has cost him shots.
- Fix
- Change your angle to the light, or have a technician fit the Leica MP anti-flare kit and coated finder windows. One owner had DAG Camera install flare-free optics. The 2022 reissue has coated finder optics from the factory.
- Typical cost
- $485 for the anti-flare kit and coated windows, or $430 if done during a CLA (Youxin Ye, Canton, MA, price list effective May 1, 2021).
Sources: yyecamera.com, japancamerahunter.com, emulsive.org, dacnard.wordpress.com, shootitwithfilm.com, yyecamera.com
Meter LEDs flicker, give odd readings or stay dark
Raised in 6 opinions
- How you notice
- The LEDs work on and off or the readings look wrong, often after years on one ISO setting, with a weak battery or with a loose battery contact.
- Fix
- Turn the ISO dial end to end several times to clean its carbon track, fit fresh matched cells and clean the contacts. If that fails, Classic meters can be repaired (EMULSIVE), and MrLeica.com reports Amsterdam Camera Repair offers replacement meters, though Macfilos says Leica itself ran out of parts for the Classic's meter some time ago; M6 TTL meters cannot be repaired, according to EMULSIVE.
- Typical cost
- Free if the dial or contact fix works; otherwise quoted after inspection (Brooklyn Film Camera charges a $50 inspection fee, credited to the repair).
Sources: adaminsights.com, filmstillphotography.com, flickr.com, emulsive.org, mrleica.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com
Battery drains in the bag
Raised in 3 opinions
- How you notice
- One owner ran his first battery on a 2022 M6 flat in a couple of days. The Classic and the 2022 M6 have no off switch, so a release pressed slightly in a bag, or a soft release button resting on it, keeps the meter running.
- Fix
- Store the camera with the shutter uncocked or the dial on B, which disables the meter, and skip soft releases that press the button. The M6 TTL has an OFF position on the dial.
- Typical cost
- Nothing beyond a new set of cells.
Sources: emulsive.org, hawkesmill.com, macfilos.com, shootitwithfilm.com
Battery cap jams, loosens or gets lost
Raised in 2 opinions
- How you notice
- The screw-in battery cover is easy to overtighten, or it works loose and falls out, leaving the meter dead.
- Fix
- Check it before you head out and keep a spare.
- Typical cost
- $30 for a standard Leica cover or $45 for a slotted one at Leica Store Miami; $38 for an original-style cover at Camera West.
Sources: emulsive.org, leicastoremiami.com, camerawest.com
Frameline preview lever sticks
Raised in 4 opinions
- How you notice
- Moving the preview lever or changing lenses no longer changes the framelines.
- Fix
- A technician cleans and lubricates the frameline mechanism; one Flickr member blamed an old or dry spring and advised against a home repair.
- Typical cost
- $249 at a New York dealer in one owner's report, or about $70-80 in Hong Kong in another's (both in a Flickr thread from around 2009-2010); it is also covered by a full CLA ($325 at Youxin Ye).
Sources: flickr.com, yyecamera.com
Slow speeds act up or the rangefinder drifts
Raised in 4 opinions
- How you notice
- Slow shutter speeds stick or run inaccurately, exposure is uneven, or the rangefinder no longer lines up at infinity. One 35mmc owner notes the M6 needs servicing more often than a Nikon F because the rangefinder has to stay calibrated.
- Fix
- A CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust); a rangefinder-only adjustment is sometimes enough.
- Typical cost
- $325 for an M6 CLA at Youxin Ye; Brooklyn Film Camera's CLAs for film cameras in general run $325-850 with a 6-12 week wait. Leica quoted one M6 TTL owner over $1,000 for a full CLA, but a rangefinder cleaning and adjustment alone cost him about $100.
Sources: yyecamera.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, thephoblographer.com, hawkesmill.com, 35mmc.com
Rewind knob washers loosen and jam the advance
- How you notice
- One 35mmc commenter, who read that it is a common M6 problem, says the washers under the rewind knob can back off and jam the film advance after 10 to 12 frames. His own rewind knob had been knocked out of shape and was catching on the body, which gave tight spots when winding.
- Fix
- He removed the knob and pressed it back into shape, and recommends a service before a big trip.
- Typical cost
- No separate price found; a full CLA is $325 at Youxin Ye.
Sources: 35mmc.com, yyecamera.com
Burned or pinholed shutter curtain
- How you notice
- Light streaks or spots on negatives after the camera sat pointed at the sun without a lens cap; the cloth curtain can burn through in seconds.
- Fix
- Replace the damaged cloth curtain, and keep a lens cap on when the camera is not in use.
- Typical cost
- $100 per curtain (long or short) on Youxin Ye's price list; labor for the M6 is not listed, and the shop says to inquire about jobs not on the list.
Sources: emulsive.org, yyecamera.com, yyecamera.com
Bubbling top plate and worn black chrome (cosmetic)
Raised in 3 opinions
- How you notice
- Bubbles in the finish on the zinc top plate; black chrome wears to silvery spots rather than brass. Humid storage in a fitted case can make the zinc oxidize.
- Fix
- None needed: EMULSIVE calls the bubbling harmless. Store the camera somewhere dry.
- Typical cost
- No repair cost; use it as a bargaining point, since such cameras sell for less.
Sources: emulsive.org, hawkesmill.com, shootitwithfilm.com
Photos taken with a Leica M6
Black and white frames shot on Leica M6 cameras by Wikimedia Commons contributors, most with a Summarit 35mm f/2.5 and Kodak Tri-X.
Leica M6, Summarit 35mm f/2.5 and Kodak Tri-X, 2017Photo: madras91, CC BY 2.0 
Leica M6, Summarit 35mm f/2.5 and Kodak Tri-X, 2017Photo: madras91, CC BY 2.0 
A barbershop in Belleville, Leica M6 with Kodak Tri-X 400 (TX400), 2018Photo: madras91, CC BY 2.0 
Leica M6, Summarit 35mm f/2.5 and Kodak Tri-X 400 (TX400), 2018Photo: madras91, CC BY 2.0 
Leica M6, Summarit 35mm f/2.5 and Kodak Tri-X 400 (TX400), 2019Photo: madras91, CC BY 2.0
What a Leica M6 costs today
Used M6 bodies in good to like-new condition were listed at $3,595 to $4,495 at the US dealers we could check in late October 2026, and the M6 TTL listings sit in the same range. A new 2022 M6 is $7,000 at Leica USA, and two other sellers show the same price but list it as unavailable. Prices keep rising: EMULSIVE put a good M6 at about $1,800 on average in 2020, and Macfilos's June 2025 price guide gave $3,000 for an M6 0.72 and $3,500 for an M6 TTL 0.72.
Igor Camera (New York)
Used, like new, with warranty, M6 0.72 chrome, 1988 Wetzlar, strap and case
$3,595
See listingIgor Camera (New York)
Used, like new, M6 TTL 0.72 chrome, 1998, strap, case and manual
$3,895
See listingCamera West
Used, grade 9+ (excellent), boxed; out of stock, M6 0.85 black, body with box and papers
$4,495
See listingCamera West
Used, grade 9 (good cosmetic condition, minor edge wear); out of stock, M6 TTL 0.72 black, body only
$3,795
See listingMacfilos price guide (June 2025)
Used, typical price at the time of writing, M6 0.72, body price listed by Macfilos
$3,000
See listingMacfilos price guide (June 2025)
Used, typical price at the time of writing, M6 TTL 0.72, body price listed by Macfilos
$3,500
See listingLeica Camera USA (online store)
New, M6 (2022 reissue), black, body
$7,000
See listingNelson Photo & Video
New, shown unavailable, M6 (2022 reissue), body, SKU 10557
$7,000
See listingLeica Store Miami
New, out of stock, M6 (2022 reissue), black
$7,000
See listing
Prices checked on October 28, 2026. They move every week, so treat them as a range, not a quote. eBay, KEH, B&H and Adorama blocked our price checks, and MPB listings could not be verified automatically, so they are not listed. Camera West listings marked out of stock show their last asking prices; the Macfilos figures are from June 2025.
Video reviews worth your time
Why is the Leica M6 so popular?
The Leica M6 is an exceptionally well-built and enjoyable mechanical rangefinder with an excellent viewfinder and meter, though its high market price is a major downside.
Leica M6 | Review & Sample Photos
The reviewer considers the Leica M6 an ideal everyday rangefinder camera that combines classic mechanical design with practical internal light metering.
New Leica M6 film photography. Camera review and story by photographer Thorsten Overgaard
The re-released Leica M6 is an exceptionally compact, durable, and rewarding mechanical film camera that combines classic rangefinder simplicity with a built-in light meter.
The New Leica M6
The Leica M6 is an iconic and intuitive 35mm film camera whose tactile, mechanical workflow provides an intentional shooting experience.
I Bought a Leica M6 - My New Favorite Camera
The reviewer finds the Leica M6 to be a refined, well-built rangefinder camera with an exceptionally bright viewfinder, making it ideal for fast-paced street and travel photography.
Specifications
Camera and history
- Number made (Classic)
- About 132,000 M6 Classics, 1984-1998
- Number made (all versions)
- Almost 175,000 by the end of production in 2002 (camera-wiki, which counts through the TTL years)
- Launch price (Classic)
- About $1,695 in 1984
- Launch price (M6 TTL)
- About $2,195 in 1998, $100 more than the Classic at the time
- Launch price (2022 reissue)
- $5,295 in October 2022
Shutter and meter
Viewfinder
- Standard finder
- 0.72x with paired framelines for 28/90, 35/135 and 50/75mm
- Effective rangefinder base
- 49.86 mm (0.72x, 79% of the M3); 58.86 mm (0.85x)
Power and body
Questions people ask about the Leica M6
Is it worth buying a Leica M6?
For many owners, yes: Red Dot Camera calls it absolutely worth it if you want to shoot film, and Hawkesmill calls it the best Leica rangefinder for the money. The counterpoint comes from Film Still Photography, which says a $200 Nikon F2 takes pictures just as good and the extra money buys the Leica experience. At $3,595 to $4,495 used, it makes most sense if you want a mechanical rangefinder with a meter and plan to keep it, since Leica bodies tend to hold their value.
Sources: reddotcamera.net, hawkesmill.com, filmstillphotography.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com
Why is the Leica M6 so expensive?
Supply is fixed and demand is high: Red Dot Camera puts it down to supply and demand for a camera seen as one of the best film cameras, and MrLeica.com notes the M6 is usually the most expensive of the older M film bodies. It launched at about $1,695 in 1984; EMULSIVE put a good one at about $1,800 in 2020, and US dealers now ask $3,595 to $4,495. Leica prices also hold up, so many owners resell for close to what they paid, according to Brooklyn Film Camera.
Sources: reddotcamera.net, mrleica.com, emulsive.org, igorcamera.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com
How can you tell if a Leica M6 is a TTL?
Look at the shutter speed dial: the M6 TTL's is larger, turns the opposite way and has an OFF position. The TTL's top plate is also slightly taller (2 mm according to Wikipedia, 2.5 mm according to camera-wiki), its meter display adds a center dot between the two arrows, and it meters flash through the lens.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, camera-wiki.org, flashofdarkness.com, emulsive.org
Does the Leica M6 work without a battery?
Yes. The shutter is fully mechanical at every speed from 1 s to 1/1000, and the batteries only power the light meter. With dead cells you lose the meter LEDs, so carry a spare set or estimate exposure with Sunny 16. The battery-dependent Leica is the M7: Wikipedia says it needs power for the meter and for every shutter speed except 1/60 and 1/125.
Sources: emulsive.org, sebastianlehner.photography, reddotcamera.net, en.wikipedia.org
Why does my Leica M6 battery keep dying?
The Classic and the 2022 M6 have no off switch, so a release half pressed in a bag keeps the meter on. Jonathan Slack at Macfilos ran down his first battery on a 2022 M6 in a couple of days, and Shoot It With Film's Drew Evans had the same problem with a soft release. Set the dial to B or leave the shutter uncocked when you put the camera away; the M6 TTL has an OFF position.
Sources: macfilos.com, shootitwithfilm.com, hawkesmill.com, emulsive.org
Why did my Leica M6 meter or LEDs stop working?
Start with the cheap fixes: fresh batteries that read the same voltage and clean contacts. Then turn the ISO dial end to end several times; Adam Insights says oxidation on its carbon track is a common cause of meter and LED faults, especially if the dial stays on one setting for years. If that fails, Classic meters can still be repaired, but M6 TTL meters cannot, according to EMULSIVE.
Sources: adaminsights.com, flickr.com, emulsive.org
What makes the Leica M6 so good?
Owners point to a fully mechanical shutter that keeps working with a dead battery, a tough body (Japan Camera Hunter's author does not worry about it in the rain), a quiet shutter, small M lenses and a built-in meter that is accurate enough to trust. Japan Camera Hunter calls it the ultimate user experience in a Leica, and Hawkesmill calls it the best Leica rangefinder for the money. The counterpoint is that the body adds nothing to image quality: Film Still Photography says results come from the film and the lens.
Sources: japancamerahunter.com, flashofdarkness.com, hawkesmill.com, filmstillphotography.com
What is the difference between the 2022 Leica M6 and the original?
The 2022 M6 keeps the original's mechanical design and meter, but has milled brass top and base plates instead of die-cast zinc, coated finder optics that resist stray light, and a red dot in the meter display. It launched at $5,295 in October 2022 and lists at $7,000 at Leica USA in October 2026. A June 2025 Macfilos visit to Tamarkin Camera said the reissue costs about double what an original M6 would.
Sources: camera-wiki.org, leicacamerausa.com, en.wikipedia.org, macfilos.com
What people compare it with
Leica M4-P or M4-2
EMULSIVE calls the M6 essentially an M4-P with a meter, and says the M4-P and M4-2 are the way to go if you want the same camera without one. 35mmc's Joe Monat said in 2019 that at the M6 prices of the day he would buy an M4-P or M4 instead.
Leica M7
Adds automatic exposure for people who want the camera to set the speed, but it needs batteries for every shutter speed except 1/60 and 1/125, according to Hawkesmill and Wikipedia.
Leica MP
Fully mechanical apart from the meter, with the anti-reflection finder that M6 owners have fitted to cure flare. It costs much more: Leica USA lists the MP 0.72 at $7,100 new.
Leica CL or Canon 7
Cheaper rangefinders that EMULSIVE suggests for finding out whether rangefinder shooting suits you before spending M6 money.
Every source behind this page
Read them yourself. How we pick and count them is in our methodology.
Show all 53 sources
Manuals and references 22
- brooklynfilmcamera.com: Leica Film Cameras for Sale
- brooklynfilmcamera.com: Camera Repair NYC: Film Camera Repair in Brooklyn + Mail
- camera-wiki.org: Leica M6
- en.wikipedia.org: Button cell
- en.wikipedia.org: Leica M6
- en.wikipedia.org: List of battery sizes
- igorcamera.com: Leica M Film & Digital Cameras
- igorcamera.com: Leica M Lenses
- leica-camera.com: Leica Service Certificate
- leica-camera.com: Technical Specs - Leica M6
- leicacamerausa.com: Leica M6
- nelsonphotoandvideo.com: Leica M6 Camera
- camerawest.com: Leica M6 0.85 Black, Boxed 2433214 · Camera West
- camerawest.com: Leica M6 Classic Black, Wetzlar Overhaul 1709132 · Camera West
- camerawest.com: Leica M6 TTL 0.72 2473402 · Camera West
- camerawest.com: Search: 31 results found for "m6 classic" · Camera West
- camerawest.com: Search: 522 results found for "summicron 50mm" · Camera West
- camerawest.com: Search: 147 results found for "voigtlander 35mm" · Camera West
- leicastoremiami.com: Search: 1001 results found for "leica m6"
- macfilos.com: Leica M: A Starter Guide to Leica M Rangefinders
- yyecamera.com: M Bodies
- yyecamera.com: SERVICE PRICE
Independent blogs 16
- Shoot It With Film: Leica M6 35mm Film Camera Review by Drew Evans
- Film Still Photography: Leica M6
- A Flash Of Darkness: The Leica M6 TTL 0.58
- Sebastian Lehner: Honest Review, Leica M6: Honest Review: Leica M6
- KeithWee Photography: Review of the The Leica M6 Film camera & 35mm ...
- Hawkesmill blog: Is the Leica M6 Classic the Best M Film Camera Ever Made?
- 35mmc: Leica M6 - In Praise of the Classic
- Tahusa: Leica M6 - Best Rangefinder to Begin Film Photography?
- Japan Camera Hunter: Why I think the M6 is the best Leica rangefinder
- 35mmc: Leica M6 (yet another) Review
- Adam Insights: Quick Fix for Leica M6 Meter and LED Display Failures
- Shoot It With Film: 6 Tips for Buying and Shooting the Leica M6 » Shoot It With Film
- MrLeica.com: Leica M6 Review (Classic)(Best Rangefinder Camera!?)
- 35mmc: The Leica M6 Classic & Leica M6 TTL - A Review of Both Variants
- EMULSIVE: 5 Frames with Kodak Tri-X 400: 5 Frames... With Kodak Tri-X 400 (EI 400 / 35mm format / Leica M6 TTL)
- Dacnard blog: Happiness is a warm M6 (a tribute) - Dacnard
Editorial reviews 8
- The Phoblographer: Review: Leica M6 TTL (The Best Film Camera They Ever ...
- Red Dot Camera: Leica M6 review: 16 things you must
- EMULSIVE: An in-depth guide to the Leica M6: An in-depth guide to
- EMULSIVE: Five years with the Leica M6 TTL 0.85: Five years with the Leica M6 TTL 0.85
- Macfilos: The New Leica M6
- The Phoblographer: The Leica M6 2022 Edition
- Red Dot Camera: Is the Leica M6 still worth it? [2026][Sample images]
- EMULSIVE: An in-depth guide to the Leica M6 TTL: An in-depth guide to: The Leica M6 TTL
Video reviews 5
- grainydays: Why is the Leica M6 so popular?
- Benj Haisch: Leica M6 | Review & Sample Photos
- Magic of Light by photographer Thorsten Overgaard: New Leica M6 film photography. Camera review and story by photographer Thorsten Overgaard
- Joe Greer: The New Leica M6
- Willem Verbeeck: I Bought a Leica M6 - My New Favorite Camera
Forums 2
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