Leica M6 Review (Classic) (The Best Rangefinder Camera?)

Detailed Leica M6 review after I bought my M6 Classic (Now including YouTube videos).  If you are looking for impressive Leica M6 photos please skip down to the link below where I take the M6 head to head with my Hasselblad 6×6 for a model shoot.

Leica M6 film camera review – coming up

1. Buying a Leica M6 classic camera
2. Leica M6 frame lines
3. Leica M6 light meter
4. Portraits with Leica M6 – B&W
5. Leica M6 portraits in colour
6. Leica M6 Classic vs Leica M4
7. Leica M4-P vs Leica M6
8. New Leica M6 Re-Issue (2022)
9. Differences: Leica M6 vs Leica M6 TTL
10. Leica MP vs Leica M6
11. Leica M-A vs Leica M6
12. Is the Leica M6 worth it?
13. Replacement light meter for Leica M6
14. Leica M6 vs Voigtlander Bessa R3A
15. Leica M6 film camera for travel

1. Buying a Leica M6 Classic

1.1 – Black Leica M6 Classic 0.72x viewfinder

For Christmas I treated myself to a Leica M6 Classic 35mm film camera. It is one of the older versions with the Leitz red dot badge. It is black with the 0.72x viewfinder and looks in pretty mint condition for its age. The base plate still has the plastic on and it has the plastic bumpers on the edges. It came with box and I collected it from the private seller so I was able to see it before I paid which made a nice change to eBay!

I shot a test roll through the camera and the Leica M6 rangefinder seems spot on with my fast lenses shot wide open.

1.2 – Why another 35mm Leica film camera?

Why did I need another Leica film camera? The Leica M3 has been my favourite Leica camera since I discovered Leica but the camera only focus to 1m closest focus and my most expensive modern Leica glass work to 0.7m. It seems crazy I am not using my Leica Summilux ASPH 50mm f1.4 or the Leica Summicron 75mm f2 APO.

1.3 – Used Leica M6 price

Leica M6 price – Update: If you are looking to buy a used Leica M6 the current price is usually over £2K for a clean copy. I was fortunate enough to buy my M6 before film became popular again so prices were lower. The Leica M6 tends to be the most expensive older Leica M film camera. The cheapest is probably the Leica M4-P (which is very similar but has no light meter). See my Leica M4-P review.

2. Leica M6 75mm frame lines

The Leica M6 has 75mm frame lines (and 28mm) so that interested me straight away. The M6 will also let me use and compose 35mm lenses (like the Leica M2) whereas the Leica M3 has 50mm frame lines (widest).

3. Leica M6 light meter

For events such as a wedding it is useful if a film camera has a built in meter. I normally use a handheld Sekonic light meter or spot light meter but when I want to travel light it is nice not to need to carry one. The Leica M6 uses a lithium LR44 battery to operate the light meter but the camera is fully mechanical and can operate without a battery (just no light meter).

I am looking forward to using the Leica M6 for wedding photography and with my modern fast and sharp lenses. I will share some results as soon as I get chance!

4. Leica M6 portraits (B&W)

4.1 – Leica M6 Classic vs Hasselblad 501C Shootout

Here I did a comparison between the Leica M6 and the might Hasselblad!  The Leica M6 did surprising well! – Leica M6 Classic vs Hasselblad 501C . Sample photo from this article to wet your appetite! –

4.2 – Black and white portraits with Leica M6

5. Colour portraits: Leica M6 film camera

6. Leica M6 vs Leica M4

6.1 – Common features of Leica M6 and Leica M4 –

• Two-piece film advance lever 
• Fast “modern” film rewind crank
• Quick film load (no-spool design)
• 0.72x viewfinder / rangefinder
• Parallax corrected finder for accurate framing
• Viewfinder thread diameter for diopters/ 1.4x mag
• Both cameras have the Leica red dot logo
• Automatic frame counter
• Iconic Leica M form factor
• Leica M bayonet lens mount
• 0.7m close focus distance (MFD)
• Similar weight – M6: 575g / M4: 560g 
• Both cameras made in black + silver chrome

6.2 – M6 improvements over the Leica M2, M3, M4

• Additional 28mm/75mm lines (like Leica M4-P, MP, M-A)
• Hotshoe not coldshoe (no cables needed for flash)
• Built-in lightmeter (vs not)
• 1/4″ offset tripod socket verses older 3/8″
• M6 available in 0.58x, 0.72x, 0.85x viewfinder

6.3 – Other differences, Leica M6 vs M4

• M6 requires 2x LR44 batteries for lightmeter

7. Leica M4-P vs Leica M6 Classic

There are many similarities between the Leica M4-P and Leica M6 film cameras. The main benefit to get the Leica M6 is if you need a lightmeter.

8. New 2022 Leica M6 re-issue vs M6 Classic

Since buying my Leica M6 classic some years ago Leica re-issued the M6 in 2022. See video for full details.

9. Differences: Leica M6 TTL vs Leica M6 Classic

With the 2022 re-issue of the Leica M6 we now have three 35mm Leica M6 film camera versions. First the Leica M6 Classic I have, next the Leica M6 TTL that followed and finally the current production Leica M6 re-issue.

How does the Classic M6 compare to the TTL M6? Let’s make a list.

9.1 – Leica M6 TTL vs Leica M6 Classic

The main changes to the newer M6 TTL are:

• Larger shutter speed dial
• Lightmeter LEDs displays > o < not only > <
• Shutter dial turns in opposite direction
• Shutter rotation matches meter arrows for +/-
• TTL contacts added to hotshoe

9.2 – Flash with Leica M6

Unless you use flash there isn’t a huge difference between the two cameras. Even photographers that use flash like me, unless you use TTL flash you don’t see a difference. (I use manual triggers on my hotshoe and manual off camera flash so the M6 Classic is fine).

10. Leica MP or Leica M6

The Leica M6 re-issue is very similar to the Leica MP. Check out the Leica MP full review for all details about that cameras. I bought one.

11. Leica M-A or Leica M6 Re-issue

If you are looking at modern Leica film cameras you also have the option of a Leica M-A like I now use. The main difference is the Leica M-A has no light meter compared to the M6 and MP which both have meters.

12. Leica M6 worth it?

Is a Leica M6 film camera worth it or would you be better to buy a different analogue Leica M camera? It depends what you want. The older Leica M3, M2 and M4 are arguably better built. The modern Leica M-A, Leica MP and 2022 Leica M6 Re-Issue ironed out some of the issues found with the older Leica M6 Classic.

If you love the Leica red dot logo the only current production camera option is a Leica M6. (The Leica M-A and MP don’t have red dots). If you need a film Leica camera with build-in light meter then the M6 is probably your best option (hence the price stays high as everyone wants one!).

13. Replacement lightmeter for Leica M6

Thanks to ACR (Amsterdam Camera Repair) you can now fix broken lightmeters in a Leica M6. Check out this new video to get a replacement lightmeter for a Leica M6.

14. Voigtlander Bessa R3A vs Leica M6 Review

15. Leica M6 film camera for travel

If you want to buy an analogue Leica camera for travel, is the Leica M6 film camera a good option? If you plan to shoot only film then the built-in lightmeter is very useful in difficult lighting situations. I normally shoot Sunny16 style metering with my older film Leica cameras but if have the Leica M6 with me the meter is helpful in low light situations.

15.1 – Leica M6 travel photography

More related articles

• Leica M6 vs Hasselblad 501c!
• Leica M 50mm Lenses Compared + Leica Lens Guide!
• Leica M Film Cameras Buyer’s Guide!

You may also like… What Gear I Use for Portraits!

• See full details of my portrait photography lighting kit – HERE
• See full details of my portrait photography equipment kit – HERE