A Love Letter to the Leica M6

So, I sold my Leica M6.

We had a good ride - I adored my M6; I didn’t get to shoot it as much as I’d like in the last few years with a pandemic and film prices constantly skyrocketing but I am thankful and blessed to own such a tool that was so barebone and perfect for what it’s supposed to be.

It’s the reason why I came back to and wanted to pursue a career in Photography after a hiatus from image capturing - it taught me how to think not just aim.

But like all good things, they must end at some point.

Why though?

Literally due to the fact it was collecting dust, underutilised and did not fit my purpose anymore.

the same reason why I’ve sold most of my Film cameras really. I genuinely had it all. Hasselblad Xpan, Contax G1, Mamiya RB67, Fujifulm GW690 III. All of them are gone. The prices were right but over time stopped using them because I needed to be faster, and I didn’t want to be limited by 8/12/16/28 or 36 frames anymore.

What film can reproduce can be done digitally. With the camera, Filters and a decent amount of Corrections - It’s a no-brainer for me. If I ever want to go back to film life, I probably won’t get a Leica again - more inclined to get a Nikon F2 or repurchase a Nikon F5.

Good thing have to end at some point.

Sometimes I wish it never did.
I did genuinely adore it, and it brought me to a technical level I didn’t know I could reach. One I certainly couldn’t reach with at the time was a Canon 50D. I wanted dials that were 1/3 stops. It’s why I shoot Fujifilm now. I find it rather hard to shoot without dials because when I shoot I think about it like I’m shooting at 400 ISO at 1/250 f/4 as my point of reference.

Should you get a Leica?

ABSOLUTELY NOT and you absolutely should.
Buy it if you must but know what you are getting yourself into.

Don’t let Instagram, fanboys and the price fool you.
You realistically do not need one in 2023 and beyond; except the Leica SL2 and maybe Leica Q2. even then, Fujifilm has its equals. XH2/S, GFX 50S II and the illustrious X100 V & F.

We do need brands like Leica to stick around as they are like the Nintendo of Cameras.
Absolute top tier but behind the time due to its history and company ethos.