Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/15

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Subject: Re: [Leica] M6 user/collectible!
From: lucien <lucien@ubi.edu>
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 16:22:37 +0100

"Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter)" wrote:

> Not always true Jim.  Check out their Einestuck (one piece) and various
> select models.

Peter,

Out of the +/- 130.000 M6 made between 1984 and 1998, 
I think that less than 7.000 were made specially for collectors.
And that quantity of normal M6 (more than the M2, 
much more than the M4 and much much more than the M4-2) 
don't make it a collectible IMO. 
Anyway, not before 30 years I guess.
The current second-hand price of the M6 reflect only 
its value as a really useable camera for the moment.

What is interesting is that Leica is now making lower 
and lower numbers of each new instant collectible:

"M6J" 1640 ex. (1994)
"Ein Stück Leica" 996 ex. (1996)
"Leica M6 Bhumiphol" 700 ex. (1998)
"150 Jahre Optik" 150 ex. (1999)

The "Ein Stück Leica" was not a big hit. 
I know several of them still collecting dust on 
dealer's shelves.

And I know a lot more M users than collectors.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For info: (from an old mail to the LUG)

Approximate production figures:

M3 = 235,000
M6 = 130,000
M2 = 85,000
CL = 65,000 (allocated serial numbers, real production unknown)
M4 = 60,000
M5 = 33,000
M4-P = 23,000
M4-2 = 16,000
MDa = 15,000
M1 = 10,000
M6 0,85 = 3130 ??
MD = 3,000
MD2 = 3,000
M6J = 1,640
MP = 442
MP2 = 15

M camera model longevity's:

M6 1984-98 = 15 years 
(but what about the M6 Titanium and 150 Jahre Optik? 1999 ?)
M3 1954-68 = 15 years (5 made in 1967 and 35 in 68 -German
army !)
MDa 1966-76 = 11 years
MD2 1977-87 = 11 years
M2 1958-67 = 10 years
M4 1967-75 = 9 years (almost stopped in 1972-73)
M4-P 1980-87 = 7 years
M1 1959-64 = 6 years
M5 1971-75 = 5 years
CL 1973-76 = 4 years
MD 1963-66 = 4 years
M4-2 1978-80 = 3 years
MP 1956-57 = 2 years
MP2 1959 = 1 year
M6J 1994 = 1 year
M6 0,85 1998 = 1 year
M6 TTL 1998-1999= 1 year for the moment. 


Lucien