Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/07/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>>You praise the collectors, pretending that without them, Leica would >>probably not be alive. I don't think the esoteric Leicas and limited >>series, and the fact that some fortunate collectors buy them, will help >>Leica Camera to survive on a long term basis. I keep seeing posts blaming Leica for the limited edition M6 models. Most of these cameras did not originate with Leica; Leica made them to order for third parties who wanted to sell them to collectors. The green-leather Colombus commemorative M6 was ordered by a large Italian camera distributor; likewise the red leather "Year of the Rooster" M6, the LHSA 25 year M6 + lenses set, the Royal Photographic Society M6, etc. Leica did do a few of their own, like the M6J, and the M6 with a stock certificate to commemorate their first stock issue, but most of them are cameras they simply made to order for someone else. I find these cameras annoying, but I'm sure that the occasional order for 2500 custom-built M6 bodies and lenses helps Leica pay the bills. What I don't like is that they contribute to the Leica becoming a commodity to be bought and sold for investment, instead of a camera. - - Paul