The Leica M6 TTL is an M6 with through-the-lens flash metering. A second sensor in the bottom of the body measures the flash light coming off the film during the exposure.
Leica M6 TTL
35mm film rangefinder, 1998–2002
Updated
Production
Leica made the M6 TTL from 1998 to 2002, selling it alongside the original M6 for the first year. It started out in black chrome, and silver chrome followed in 1999. The M7 replaced it in 2002, and Leica marked the end of the M6 line that year with a numbered edition of 999.
Production figures by year
As listed in the Leica Pocket Book. These probably count serial numbers Leica set aside each year rather than cameras finished that year, which would explain years with none.
- 1998
- 9,000
- 1999
- 10,001
- 2000
- 8,850
- 2001
- 11,172
- 2002
- 0
- Total:
- 39,023
Identification
Next to an M6, the TTL is 3mm taller. Its shutter speed dial is bigger and turns the other way, so you turn it in the direction the viewfinder LEDs point.
The viewfinder magnification is engraved on the silvered strip under the viewfinder window.
It takes the Leica SF 20 flash, and other SCA 3000 system flashes with the SCA 3501 adapter.
From late 2000, silver chrome bodies for Japan have the Leica script logo and “LEICA CAMERA AG GERMANY” on the top plate, with “Leica Camera – Made in Germany” on the back.
Models
- Leica M6 TTL 0.72
- Frames for 28, 35, 50, 75, 90 and 135mm.
- Leica M6 TTL 0.85
- Frames for 35, 50, 75, 90 and 135mm.
- Leica M6 TTL 0.58
- From September 2000. Frames for 28, 35, 50, 75 and 90mm.
Special editions
2000
Millennium Leica · 2,000 made
Black paint, for the year 2000 and 75 years of Leica. Serial numbers start at 2500000, with an edition number out of 2000 on the accessory shoe. The rewind knob and all-metal wind lever are the M3’s.
2000
Swiss demonstration cameras · 40 made
M6 TTL 0.72 bodies engraved with an outline of Switzerland and “Test the Best”.
2000
LHSA black paint · 650 at 0.72x and 500 at 0.85x made
Black paint bodies, without lenses, ordered by members. The society’s logo and “Special Edition” are on the back of the top plate.
Commissioned by Leica Historical Society of America
2000
Øresundbron · 150 made
Black paint M6 TTL 0.85 bodies for the opening of the Øresund Bridge, with the Danish half of the bridge engraved on the back. Fifty were sold body only, 25 with a black Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH and 75 with a black Summicron-M 50mm f/2.
Commissioned by Nordisk Foto Import, Denmark
2000
Black Paint ICS · 200 made
Millennium-style M6 TTL 0.85 bodies engraved “ICS” and numbered on the back of the top plate.
Commissioned by Kanto, a Japanese Leica distributor
2000
Dragon 2000 · 500 made
Millennium-style black paint M6 TTL 0.85 bodies for the Chinese market. On the back, a dragon forms the 2 of “2000”.
2001
Titanium · 1,000 made
Titanium plated M6 TTL 0.72 bodies with no top plate engraving, issued with 500 titanium plated Summicron-M lenses in 35, 50 and 90mm.
2001
Safari · 300 made
Green paint and green leather.
Commissioned by the Hong Kong Leica agency
2001
William Klein · 1 made
Designed by William Klein, in grey with his signature in red on the top plate. It sold at Christie’s in London for Reporters sans frontières, whose name and motto are engraved on the back.
2001
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. · 2 sets made
Engraved with Dr. King’s signature and paired with a Summicron-M 50mm f/2. One set was auctioned for charity with a portfolio of photographs by Benedict J. Fernandez, and the other was given to Martin Luther King III.
2002
M6 1984–2002 · 999 made
Marks the end of M6 and M6 TTL production. Black or silver chrome with a 0.58x or 0.85x viewfinder, engraved with the Leica script logo, “M6 1984–2002” and an edition number.
Specs
- Lens mount
- Leica M
- Shutter
- Mechanical cloth focal plane, 1 s to 1/1000 s, plus B, with an off position on the dial
- Flash sync
- 1/50 s
- Metering
- Center-weighted, with LEDs in the viewfinder, plus TTL flash metering off the film
- Viewfinder
- 0.58x, 0.72x or 0.85x
- Battery
- Two SR44 cells or one 1/3N lithium, for the meter and flash electronics
- Dimensions
- 138 × 80 × 38 mm (5.4 × 3.1 × 1.5 in)
- Weight
- 560 g (19.8 oz)
- Hot shoe
- Hot shoe with TTL flash contacts, plus a PC flash socket
- Flash compatibility
- TTL flash metering off the film with the Leica SF 20, or with SCA 3000 system flashes through the SCA 3501 adapter. Standard flashes work in manual or their own auto mode.
- Dimensions and weight: Kamerastore’s M6 TTL listing
Lenses for it
- Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH FLE · 35mm f/1.4 lens for Leica M, 2010–2022
Known faults and repairs
Rangefinder patch flare
In bright light, especially with the sun off to one side, the rangefinder patch can wash out to white and make the camera hard to focus. It’s a quirk of the viewfinder design, and Leica only fixed it with the MP in 2003.
Fix: Leica and independent repairers can fit the MP’s rangefinder optics, which add a small lens that stops the whiteout.
Source: Andrew Nemeth’s Leica FAQ
Where to get it repaired
- Leica Customer Care
Wetzlar, Germany. Leica’s own service. Book through the online form.
- Leica Camera USA
Teaneck, New Jersey, US. Leica’s own service in the US. Contact Customer Care before you send anything, and include Leica’s repair and service form.
- DAG Camera Repair
Wisconsin, US. An independent Leica and Minox repairer.
- YYE Camera
Massachusetts, US. Youxin Ye’s shop, which services Leica bodies up to the MP and fits the MP’s flare-free finder to M6s. Ask first whether your camera is covered.
We don’t have any arrangement with these shops. Ask about turnaround and price before you send a camera.
External links
Sources
- Leica Pocket Book, 9th edition, Red Dot Photo Books