limited edition M6 TTL

Why in the world would you want to sell it? What a great memento of your contest victory. It should surely be worth more to you than it could ever bring as a commodity on the market. You should either keep it as an ornament, or use it.

I would use it, myself, with great pleasure. What a great prize. You got it free, after all, right? So you shouldn't care what a few scratches will do to its theoretical value.

I use and prefer contax G2 and it takes a wealthy man to be able to keep a potentially multi-thousand dollar ornament around the house. That said, I'm just trying to find out what it's worth so I can make a decision.

The only way to really know its value is to put it up for auction and see what it brings. Set a minimum of $20,000 and see what happens.

PJW

I think Richard needs some idea of value for insurance reasons if he's to keep the thing on display. The insurance premiums alone might make it not worth having as a display piece. I sgree that you should just use it, dings and scratches be damned! It will always be just one of 16, and probably the only one really used. Enjoy it!

The man said he wants to sell his camera; why not take him at his word?

Richard, you might want to contact a dealer who trades heavily in Leica and Leica collectibles. Pick up a back issue of Shutterbug and check out some of the ads. A regular M6TTL/Summilux 50 combo would sell used for $2200-$2500 in minty shape and yours is obviously worth some multiple of that figure.

Richard, Leicas don't follow any logic. Logic would dictate that if a production of 1000 limited-edition Leicas with no more claim to fame than being the bastard child of an MBA in Leica marketing and one of the flamboyant couturiers at Hermes, can bring the suckers running with $8500 on fire in their pockets; then it should follow that your 1 of only 16 Leicas honoring a real accomplishment in photography should fetch several times as much. But yours being an M6TTL some people would find the rangefinder patch flares and the rewind crank is too easy to get bent, or perhaps an orange fell on their head when they were little and now they get a nervous tick whenever they see the color. So you've really got only two choices: either auction it yourself on e-Bay, and I'd put a minimum bid or a reserve (whichever will be cheaper according to eBay's fees) of $1000 more than street price for a stock model. Or, have it auctioned for you by Christie's or Sotheby's or some other auction house that attracts collectors of Leicas.

Could you post the winning photo?

I don't know what to say, Richard. Like you, I use a Contax electronic G camera, but the magic of manual focus...

I'd use it, Richard, or show it around before selling it. It won't be difficult for you to find someone interested on it. If I only had the funds...

Now, how did you find out about the contest? Can you post the winning photo? Thanks!

Hi Richard,

I read about Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Al Thani. There was an article about him and his Titanium M7 in the German Edtion LFI 09/2003. He orderd a M7 with 5 lenses completely made from Titanium. Not a Titanium layer. It's pure Titanium. There is not even leather on it. Leica needed a year and 12-16 employes for this project.

Well, more common Leica "Ein Stücke" (sp?) and "Hermes" cameras go for prices 2-4 times as much as the 'stock' models.

I can't even begin to guess where a 1-of-16 like this would end up. I suspect not less than $7000 US and probably not more than $12,000 US if you link up with the right buyer - but only the marketplace (via an auction) can really tell you.

You might talk to Sotheby's or (I forget the name of the other big 'fine-art' auction house - Christie's?). They do collectible-Leica auctions fairly often and can probably give you an educated guess based on their previous sales.

I reread Richard's post several times. He did not say he wants to sell the camera. He alluded to this, but did not state it. One can say to keep, if money is no object, but that is for each to decide. Offer it here and accept offers, or put it on the infamous auction site and see what it garners.

Along with others, I would like to see the winning photo.

What did you shoot the winning photo with?

Cheers.

Andy, it is "Ein Stück", anyway. But especially this model sells for less than a used stock model. Some dealer want to give me $800-$1300 for it. I will not imagine how much the 'Hermes' will be worth, later. The M6J, on the other hand, is running for $6000-$7000. They created 1640 cameras, in comparison to 996 of "Ein Stück". This whole collector stuff is just crazy. Especially with Leica.;)

Hi Richard,

I would definitely keep it. You will get a better value later anyway.

Please post the photo when you get a chance!!!

Richard, If I were you, I'll definitely keep it for the reasons that not too many things in life is a representation of "pride & joy" of owning something that firstly is unique and secondly is awarded to you and you alone. As much as I envy you in winning such a camera, there are things I like to own that money cannot buy even if you have it. I've bought a lot of things in my life, but those that I really want to possess just cannot be bought. Besides you will regret it for the rest of your life if you sold it. Having said all that, if and when you still decide to sell it, drop me a line.

Many thanks, everybody, for your advice and opinions. I guess I owe it to you all to display the winning picture, although now that I'm getting a true idea of the value of the prize, I'm feeling highly embarrassed about the humble photograph that won! The competition was for landscape photographs of the Arabian Gulf region (GCC countries) And mine was one of a series of shots I took a couple of years ago in the UAE and Oman, on my Toyo VX5x4 which is my main landscape and professional tool. I expect the shot did well as it had Islamic context, and also it avoided the usual cliches of sand dunes and blue seas. The Hajar mountains are a difficult subject as the are normally veiled in a gruesome haze, and a clear day with nice clouds is rarer than the proverbial rocking horse ****. Incidentally, I have now had an offer from a Leica museum of 10,000USD, but the jury is still out....!

" I'm feeling highly embarrassed about the humble photograph that won!"

Richard, few people have that kind of attitude in our world, and fewer yet for not touting it. Again, there are things in this world money can't buy -- its not about a mere camera.