p.2 #1 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Tina Kino wrote:
..I was looking around on eBay earlier today (for used M6's and M7's), and got the impression prices have actually gone down a bit, compared to half a year / a year ago.
Not sure why that is exactly - maybe the hype is cooling down, or maybe enough people have realized how screwed they are in case something breaks..
I contacted Leica customer support in Wetzlar the other day - and they told me that even if I buy a used M directly from them (which is about 3K for a M7 in good condition), it won't be CLA'd, thus there will be no service certificate, only 12 months warranty - and if there's a problem it'll be 6-12 months for a repair (even if it happens during the warranty period) - and little chance of getting a loaner in the meantime.. this is nuts! ...Show more →
True. I think it is a mix of all of this. The new M6 edition didn't seem to affect used M6 prices much if any since the new M6 edition was priced so high similar to the MP. Interested buyers are looking to more affordable M alternatives to M6 and M7 - M4-2 and M5 come to mind. Their prices have gone a bit up in recent months likely due to increased demand.
I am a bit more lucky living in the US with several third-party Leica repair shops being present which take good care of Leica LTM and M film gear. At least to this point - not sure what the future will bring when Leica stops supplying repair parts to third party shops. I had several CLAs done and one shutter replaced of my M film cameras with turn-around time of 4 weeks.
p.2 #2 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
While I was just looking up techs in Germany / Europe that do Leica M repairs / CLA's I once again came across Amsterdam Camera Repairs - check out their Instagram !
They (or somebody who works with them / for them - they don't disclose details) have built a replacement for the long obsolete Leica M6 light meter!
As many of you know, the M6 "classic" ie. non-TTL version are losing their meter function with increasing regularity. You also likely know that factory service and support for these cameras is woefully lacking.
This board is an example of the direction analog camera repair will continue to move (must move) as parts and materials dwindle with time and manufacturers grow stingier with their service support: independent ground-up solutions that bring new life into these cameras for the long run.
---
Here’s a quick FAQ
What is this? it’s a replacement for the long obsolete Leica M6 light meter.
Can I give you all my money now?- yes please
Where can I get one? Right now, just me. It will shortly be available to your local technician who can simply order and install one for you
How much does it cost? - loadsamoney ;-) … pricing TBC but I expect more than 500 and less than 800 to supply and fit.
Is it as good as the original M6 meter? I believe it’s better. It’s a direct replacement, with superior low light performance (allegedly), and other advantages. From a techs perspective, it’s easier when you consider you don’t have to worry about the pigs tail ;-) and calibration is far simpler. Just a few button presses on a calibrated light source and you’re done.
p.2 #4 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
catacore wrote:
I have just bought a Leica M3 a couple of weeks ago from Leica Shop Vienna. No mention about any CLA, but a 12 month warranty. I hope that, being a 100% (precision) mechanical thing, I should be fine for some time.
Congrats and best of luck! I had to send my M3 in a few years ago when its shutter suddenly broke. I was told by the repair shop, that they receive now an unusually high amount of M3 cameras with the same issue - after > 60 years, the shutters start breaking.
p.2 #5 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
catacore wrote:
I have just bought a Leica M3 a couple of weeks ago from Leica Shop Vienna. No mention about any CLA, but a 12 month warranty. I hope that, being a 100% (precision) mechanical thing, I should be fine for some time.
That's the appeal to the M2 for me as well. I should be able to keep it ticking for years and years to come. Enjoy the M3!
p.2 #7 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
catacore wrote:
Actually my post was intended to contain also the price, since you have mentioned "...under 2000 USD" in your post. I paid 1500 EUR for mine, and it is in a fairly good condition. Plus it was converted, at some point, from DS to SS given it has an earlier serial number and "Buddha ears".
I much prefer the SS to the DS. I had a DS M3 and sold it because I did not like that action. I also had a SS M3 at the same time, and only used that and frankly there was no need to pay for a conversion as I already had one!
p.2 #8 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Tina Kino wrote:
While I was just looking up techs in Germany / Europe that do Leica M repairs / CLA's I once again came across Amsterdam Camera Repairs - check out their Instagram !
They (or somebody who works with them / for them - they don't disclose details) have built a replacement for the long obsolete Leica M6 light meter!
As many of you know, the M6 "classic" ie. non-TTL version are losing their meter function with increasing regularity. You also likely know that factory service and support for these cameras is woefully lacking.
This board is an example of the direction analog camera repair will continue to move (must move) as parts and materials dwindle with time and manufacturers grow stingier with their service support: independent ground-up solutions that bring new life into these cameras for the long run.
---
Here’s a quick FAQ
What is this? it’s a replacement for the long obsolete Leica M6 light meter.
Can I give you all my money now?- yes please
Where can I get one? Right now, just me. It will shortly be available to your local technician who can simply order and install one for you
How much does it cost? - loadsamoney ;-) … pricing TBC but I expect more than 500 and less than 800 to supply and fit.
Is it as good as the original M6 meter? I believe it’s better. It’s a direct replacement, with superior low light performance (allegedly), and other advantages. From a techs perspective, it’s easier when you consider you don’t have to worry about the pigs tail ;-) and calibration is far simpler. Just a few button presses on a calibrated light source and you’re done....Show more →
p.2 #9 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
retrofocus wrote:
True. I think it is a mix of all of this. The new M6 edition didn't seem to affect used M6 prices much if any since the new M6 edition was priced so high similar to the MP. Interested buyers are looking to more affordable M alternatives to M6 and M7 - M4-2 and M5 come to mind. Their prices have gone a bit up in recent months likely due to increased demand.
I am a bit more lucky living in the US with several third-party Leica repair shops being present which take good care of Leica LTM and M film gear. At least to this point - not sure what the future will bring when Leica stops supplying repair parts to third party shops. I had several CLAs done and one shutter replaced of my M film cameras with turn-around time of 4 weeks. ...Show more →
Prices of the classic M6 have gone down. That hype bubble popped - for a while people were asking near $4000 for them!
Now a decent one is in the $2K range. What has pushed their price down are the USED prices of the new M6. I have seen those at $4k, for essentially still a brand new camera, here in the FM classifieds.
So if you can get like new M6 for $4K, a 30+ year old M6 needs to be significantly cheaper to be a smart buy.
p.2 #10 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Tina Kino wrote
1. Continuation of rising film prices -
Could be, but not by much more I think. Judging by what I see at my small local lab they sell way more Kodak Gold and ProImage, because a lot of people are not paying 17-20 for Portra any more (doesn't make sense to me at all if you break it down to cost per frame, but that's what's happening it seems, at least at this place)...
I do hope the peak hasn't been reached yet. Seing how the newly released cameras this year have basically been sold out immediately I think people are still hungry.. at least for one more year? We'll see.. : )...Show more →
At least here in the USA you can get film at cheap prices.
I just bought Fuji 200 36 exp rolls 3 pack for $18. So $6/roll. Filmphotographyproject was having a sale. Their regular price is $22/3 pack.
$6/roll for 36 exp IS cheap. Looking at an inflation calculator, that is the equivalent of $3.25 in 2000.
I bought a case as I like to stock up, even though I still have about 60 rolls of Fuji 200 in my freezer. I just like to know I can go to my freezer and grab film!
p.2 #11 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Desmolicious wrote:
So if you can get like new M6 for $4K, a 30+ year old M6 needs to be significantly cheaper to be a smart buy.
..saw a used new M6 in local classifieds for 3K and thought to myself "wow, that's not very expensive", but (after reading it's a unit produced in 2022) I dove into the rabbit hole of the "scratchgate" (an unknown number of those new M6's, also MP's, were apparently fittet with pressure plates that scratch the film)..
..haven't been able to find out yet whether this is limited to a certain range of serial numbers 🤷♂️
So watch out, they're probably going cheap for a reason..
p.2 #12 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Tina Kino wrote:
I dove into the rabbit hole of the "scratchgate" (an unknown number of those new M6's, also MP's, were apparently fittet with pressure plates that scratch the film)..
..haven't been able to find out yet whether this is limited to a certain range of serial numbers 🤷♂️
Leica never officially admitted it nor issued a recall for a specific batch or serial number range. It remains a gamble to get a good new M6. I suspect many more than known suffer from this issue but they are not being used for actual film photography (collector item purchase or keeping in the original box to resale). The issue was very well discussed here on FM, and shut down in the Leica Camera forum by admins after it caught momentum there.
Same when Leica ignored the patch flare issue in original M6 cameras which was only silently removed with the newer MP rangefinder and in few late M7 versions. The only time they did a recall was when they couldn't avoid it since it occurred on nearly every M9 camera severely affecting performance - the well-known sensor corrosion issue.
There are also less severe hiccups with other Leica M film cameras - but the one without fault is definitely the M3. It remains one of the best and well built M cameras Leica ever made and to this day the only one with 0.91x viewfinder magnification.
p.2 #13 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Tina Kino wrote:
..saw a used new M6 in local classifieds for 3K and thought to myself "wow, that's not very expensive", but (after reading it's a unit produced in 2022) I dove into the rabbit hole of the "scratchgate" (an unknown number of those new M6's, also MP's, were apparently fittet with pressure plates that scratch the film)..
..haven't been able to find out yet whether this is limited to a certain range of serial numbers 🤷♂️
So watch out, they're probably going cheap for a reason..
It's actually a super easy fix. If it does scratch you can send it to Leica and have them replace the pressure plate - wait six months to do that - or you can just polish the pressure plate with a polishing stone.
And yes, Leica has no idea how many cameras, or range of serial numbers that this are effected. I looked back and saw that people have been complaining for YEARS!!! that their new MP or M-A scratched film. The vast majority do not, but there are some that do and this was excarbated with the release of the new M6 when it seems that a majority of them did.
When I participated on l-forum, I started a thread asking people to say if their new MP/M-A/M6 scratched film or was ok. A whole lot of them did scratch film.
That thread really annoyed the fan-bois who refused to believe that was so, and tried to blame it on user error!
p.2 #15 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
retrofocus wrote:
Leica never officially admitted it nor issued a recall for a specific batch or serial number range.
Actually they did in the fact that I received an email from the senior product manager M division.
And even though I mentioned this on l-foum, there were fan-bois there who still did not believe me!!!
Which is why I no longer waste time there.
..but they (to my knowledge) never issued a recall or made a statement which range of serial numbers were affected.
retrofocus wrote:
The issue was very well discussed here on FM, and shut down in the Leica Camera forum by admins after it caught momentum there.
Can't seem to find the relevant thread on here - would you share a link if possible?
Yeah, the LUF forum is weird - there's some really nice, knowledgeable and helpful folk on there, but also quite a few that downplay or downright deny well documented issues..
retrofocus wrote:
There are also less severe hiccups with other Leica M film cameras - but the one without fault is definitely the M3. It remains one of the best and well built M cameras Leica ever made and to this day the only one with 0.91x viewfinder magnification.
The M3's get a lot of praise indeed.. yet I'm definitely a 35mm guy and I wouldn't go that route with the goggles etc. - also not a fan of needing an external meter to be honest, not having aperture priority AE would be enough of a hassle for me 😅
p.2 #18 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Desmolicious wrote:
send it to Leica and have them replace the pressure plate - wait six months to do that - or you can just polish the pressure plate with a polishing stone.
Yeah, not willing to do either, frankly 💁♂️
And it's more like 12 months of a wait with analog M's these days. Utterly ridiculous.
Also I'm not sure if they'll actually fix it for free if the camera's older than two years?
While we're at it do any of you know whether it's true that with Leica the warranty doesn't even transfer from person to person, if the camera is being re-sold?
p.2 #19 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Tina Kino wrote:
Yeah, not willing to do either, frankly 💁♂️
And it's more like 12 months of a wait with analog M's these days. Utterly ridiculous.
Also I'm not sure if they'll actually fix it for free if the camera's older than two years?
While we're at it do any of you know whether it's true that with Leica the warranty doesn't even transfer from person to person, if the camera is being re-sold?
The warranty transfers. It starts at the date on the sales receipt - it has nothing to do if the camera is registered or not (many people try to use that as a selling point - 'never registered!').
p.2 #20 · Film photography in 2024 and 2025 - where we're at, and where we're going?
Desmolicious wrote:
The warranty transfers. It starts at the date on the sales receipt - it has nothing to do if the camera is registered or not (many people try to use that as a selling point - 'never registered!').
