Did you know Leitz was sold to the Leica Firm?

Ok, but the rest sound very truthfull and fair.

"The things people will do to sell an item..."

Francisco, this seller isn't doing anything wrong. Yes, we knew that the first M6's were from Leitz. I don't think they are better in any way than the later post-Leitz M6 classic, but it will be as good. It might be nice to own one just for sentimental reasons, if one is looking for an M6 classic. The BIN price is a little high, but $1150 or so--even $1200--would be allright.

I don't think the seller is hyping the camera for being Leitz-made; I think he's just identifying it for what it is. I have enough M6's, but if I didn't, I might like to have this one.

In some ways it is correct. Originally E. Leitz, Wetzlar was a family owned enterprise. Eventually it went public and became GMBH (Gesselshchaft mit Beshrankter Hafftung). Finally the whole corporation became part of The Schmidtheiny combine (Wild instruments of Switzerland). Ultimately the camera and sporting optics divisions were split off and sold to a group from management and other investors. There is a detailed history of Leica history in Dennis Laney's "Leica Collectors Guide".

Francisco,

All statements look OK to me. We must remember that some possible bidders may not know of the Leitz to Leica corporate changes.

I really don'r know if a Leitz marked M6 is worth more or less than an equal condition Leica marked M6. Can any one tell me?

Jerry

I have had collectors tell me that from their viewpoint the M6's made in Wetzlar and which have the 'Leitz' meatball have a slightly higher premium over later models. This probably has little or nothing to do with their mechanical reliability but for some owners affords additional bragging rights.

You should see the premium paid for a "pre CBS" Fender guitar. Or for an M3.

Is this the same item featured in the FS posts - vendor Lacey Smith? You saw it here first . . .

Well, I simply found it a bit silly to offer a camera as "Leitz" like it's somehow better. Now, if I know it, every body here knows the same thing: Leitz was a lens maker and used Barnack's camera design under the name Leica (for Leitz and Camera). Hence, Leica isn't really an institution but a made-up name. The initial M6 bodies carried the firm's name on a red logo. The fact that Leitz went public and changed names doesn't mean there was a change of hands... necessarily.

In any event, I do know the camera description isn't wrong. It's just that the hype to promote it is kind of funny... Like offering a Ford vehicle from before Ford Motor became Ford Motor Inc. or something like that.

Otherwise, the camera looks very sellable.

Now, if I'm wrong, I'll learn about it sometime soon.

Leica cameras were made under three corporate structures: 1) Leitz (the Leitz family, the company found by Ernst Leitz), 2) Wild-Leitz ownership; and 3) Leica (Leica GMBH). The first two produced cameras with the Leitz label or the Leitz roundel (red dot), which was subsequently changed to Leica.

M6s with the Leitz roundel may be worth a little (but not much) more than those with the Leica roundel. Mostly for sentimental reasons. As far as quality, remember that Leica has continually improved the M6 over its tenure, including improved operation of the metering system and improved low light sensitivity, so the later M6s and TTLs are actually a little better than the earlier ones (just like the M6, which had a number of imporvements during its manufacture period). You can read on Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest website about some of these changes.

You should also be aware that if something happened to the roundel (which needs to be removed to get to the meter circuitry), it would be replaced with a Leica roundel (the Leitz ones being long gone), so I have seen a number of very early cameras with Leica (not Leitz) red dots, undoubtedly having been replaced at service.

As far as the auction, it's no biggy, some people do like the camera that says Leitz rather than Leica. It brings back memories of the glory days, when cameras and lenses were made by skilled craftsmen who took pride in their work. Plase don't bash me, but I still have a fondness for the label "Leitz Wetzlar" (or Leitz Midland Canada for you Canadians).