New M6AE

there seems to be an assumption that Leica will finally bring out an aperture priority verion of the M6 in the PMA in late February.

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Does anyone have any concrete information on this either directly or indirectly from Leica?

I'll have a complete, accurate answer for this rumor for

everyone...right after the PMA show.

I had a dream about this last night... I was at the PMA show, only it

was in the year 2024. Leica was promoting its new M7 with built-in AE

and a 1/250th flash synch, and new SF21 flash with bounce! Attendees

were somewhat puzzled however, because Fuji announced that they were

discontinuing all of their 35mm emulsions except Velvia IV, and Kodak

announced it would offer its remaining 35mm film, Tri-X, for at least

two more years...

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;-) Cheers,

I heard that Leica was going to bring out a world class 35-70mm f/2.8

zoom that would blow everyone away... oh wait, never mind. ;-)

It is the eternal rumor that we have on this site every month. God

knows - I doubt it, but they might...or they might not...

Sounds great, but it should have a shutter like the Nikon FM3a with

mechanical and electronic timing. Let's hope.

The FM3a was described, in a recent otherwise positive

review,as having a shutter so noisy you could hear it fire across

a noisy stadium. I have heard the M6AE rumour from a reliable

source. How reliable we will know in February. They have been

working the camera for a long time and a working, who knows

how well, prototype is known to exist. Wait and see.

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PS: The 35-70/2.8 has been reformulated so that it is not so

difficult to produce and will be reintroduced.....soon :-).

Jack, I too had a dream last night about the 2024 PMA show. In my

dream, after much fanfare and hoopla Leica finally rolled out its

long awaited new camera, code-named "Godot":

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The new miracle machine? An M6 with a .65 finder, to split the

difference between the .58 and the .72.

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Collectors were ecstatic; everyone else decided to keep waiting for

the M7.

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....

I also dream of a M7: brand new M3 with S.S metal or D.S horizontal

silk courtains choice of shutter to satisfy different taste$

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Happy Seasons, friends !

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-Iván

Well played Jack!

Thanks

I dunno. I'm beginning to dream of a Bronica RF645 and the

heck with it...

I doubt that the new Leica M camera will be called M7 something

unless it has 7 framelines. The number after M is refering the

number of the frame lines (more or less).

I've heard it will be "M7" because Leica has scruntched the viewfinder to include 24mm frame lines.

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Just kidding!

I'm looking into my chrystal ball, yes I see an M6AE! The camera will

be available for at a cost of $2795 for those who want to be

the "field testors" for whatever bugs need to be worked out. After a

year or so and a few tweeks, it wil sell for $2195 with a $200

rebate. Wait, I see more! I see a bunch of posters at different web

sites complaining that they liked the "old" M6 TTL better, and what

was Leica thinking when they brought this new electronic camera out

anyway..

RE: frameline number/camera number

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M3 - 3 framelines

M2 - 3 framelines (annnh! (disqualification buzzer sound!))

MP - 3 framelines (annnh! (and how many SHOULD it have??)

M1 - 2 framelines (annnh!)

M4 - 4 framelines

M5 - 4 framelines (annnnh!)

M4-2 - 4 framelines

M4-P - 6 framelines (annnnh!)

M6 - 6 framelines

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There is no (none, nada, zip) relationship except coincidence between

Leica-M model designations and the number of framelines. It's a myth.

Pass the word!

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The M6AE (or whatever), on the other hand, is not a myth. Or an

assumption. It's a rumor. Like the M7 designated for the 2000 PhotoKina

- which turned into a .58 body with a 24 frame - which turned out to be

a .58 body WITHOUT a 24 frame.

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Last word I got on this from a Leica source was - AE shutter within

existing Leica M6 body - in development - intended (but not guaranteed)

for 2002 PhotoKina.

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Save the anticipation for next Tuesday morning's stockings.

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As one Robert A. Heinlein character said about the question of life

after death: "Why the huhu? We'll all find out soon enough."

I'm looking forward to a new electronic M6 so that the market will be

flooded with like-new used M6 TTL's. It's like buying an S-Class

Mercedes, the only time you can get a low mileage used one is when a

new model comes out.

While waiting for PMA, ask yourself this: if Leica DOES ever introduce

an M that sets shutter speeds for you, how can/should they indicate the

chosen shutter speed in the viewfinder (if at all)?

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I didn't much like the Hexar RF's stack of separate discreet

illuminating numbers down the side. I would expect (and vote for) a

segmented LED readout at the bottom beside a slightly smaller set of >

o< indicators - like the Canon A1, e.g.. Whatever they use will

increase battery consumption, no doubt.

Perhaps they'll go the X-Pan route and stick a LCD on the body and

forget about shutter speed verification in the finder.

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Hmmmm? LCD on the body? Somehow the new AE Leica M is losing its

appeal!

Andy, As I remember correctly, the 'M' initial is related to a word

in Germany language of 'frameline'. I already said loosely speaking

(more or less) it is true that the number after M is related for

framelines. At least M3, the first one of Leica M, is true. I can

see the naming convention like this has no flexibility. For

the 'look and feel' sense, I can say M3/M2/M1 are in one class. M4x,

M6x, M5 are another classes. Only M5 is an exception and surprise

that it did not follow that convention.

Kenny:

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Yep; at BMW we had the 316, 318 and 320. These were 300

series with 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 liter engines. Except, that in the US,

the 320 had a 1.8 liter engine. Want to hear about Volvo. No one

really follows their own guidelines. ;o)))

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Art

Kenny:

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I suspect you're right regarding the original M3 designation relating

to frameline quantity - at least Erwin thinks so. But he also points

out the inconsistencies - that some models were numbered according to

the "sophistication" of features: i.e the M2 was a simplfied M3

(simpler exposure counter) while the M4 was more advanced than either

the 3 or the 2 (rewind crank, "easy" loading system).

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He also points out another anomaly I missed - the M6J has only four

frames. Just to emphasize Leica's attention to detail, he points out

that the "J" stands for Jubileum, which (in German) is supposed to be a

25th anniversary - but the camera was celebrating the 40th anniversary

of the M (?!)

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Oh well...

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I think it's kinda like the Nikon F serial numbers - which occasionally

start with two numbers that match the year of production - except that

all the cameras from 1959-63 are numbered 64xxxxxx. A coincidental

correlation in other years.

Andy: Maybe this is the perfect time for a Leica historian and

couple mathmatician (to count number of framelines of each model).

Anywany the information I got was from a article in a Phototechnique

(?) magazine about several years ago(do not have it on hand). I do

not claim the reliable of the source. But the clue is that what the

M stands for and why they choose '3' (not '1') for the first Leica M

camera.