Well it looks like we can expect a new M-series model coming out within the next 1-2 years.

ALEE wrote "Just heard from undisclosed "sources" that the new Leica M6A (M7?) will be out soon. This would be a M6 TTL with aperture priority shutter, using existing M lenses."

Luggers, Well, my undisclosed sources tell me wait until the 2002 PMA show for new developments from Leica. According to Rolfe Fricke, gentlemen, noted Leica collector, and VERY close friend of Leica AG told me in January, the automatic camera is nine month behind schedule. What schedule is he didn't know. One thing, I think I can safely say is it will not be called an M7. During the LHSA's trip to Solms a couple of years ago, I had dinner with Hans-Peter Cohn, (then the new Leica CEO). I casually (I thought) dropped the question, "When will we see an M7?" Herr Cohn responded "As long as I lead Leica you will never see an M7." After, I recovered from the shock, he said there would be a "family of M cameras." So, I think we will see an M6A. Now that I've made this statement, I will be proved wrong. Happy Snaps, Sal DiMarco, Jr. Philadelphia, PA

Sounds fairly good. Hopefully Leica will be smart not to automate everything too much :)

Alfie

-- Alfie Wang (albert.wang@ibx.com), October 11, 2001

Answers

I do hope one comes out soon and then all those users with money and the need for the latest kit will have to have one, and that will produce a glut of second hand 'user' rather than 'collectible' equipment on the market......luverly.

-- Richard Palmer (richard@designblue.co.uk), October 11, 2001.

How about an M6 with variable mag viewfinder? It's been done for Hasselblad XPAN so it should be technically possible.

Chi

-- Chi (chihuang@yahoo.com), October 11, 2001.

How about an M6 with a blender? I happen to a big fan of umbrella drinks.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), October 11, 2001.

John:

I understand they looked into it, but battery drain was an insurmountable problem ;-)

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), October 11, 2001.

Jack - further to your response, a reliable source has told me that Leica is looking into a folding portable solar panel (only 6X8in) that will fit in the hot shoe and run both the blender and the camera meter, saving a bundle on batteries.........

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), October 11, 2001.

Alfie, In relation to the proposed M6A, Leica may have to replace the iconic cloth focal plane shutter with a metal shutter.Perhaps no more burnt cloth shutters, but for me a further departure from the spirit of the original design. Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), October 11, 2001.

When was the last time you burned a cloth shutter in a leica....keep them cloth and keep them quite...

-- Tom (elizabethmmg@msn.com), October 11, 2001.

I think we need to have a seperate "Leica M7" category in the archives. I think one of the nice things about a Leica M is that it is so basic of a camera, it doesn't go out of style. Leica can leave the M6 as is as far as I'm concerned, and maybe come out with a few more sub models. I do wish Minolta would come out with a modern version of their CLE. I thought they might when all the new range finders came out the last few years, but it looks like they are more interested in the future than the past, and are putting big bucks into digital now. They are probably smart.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 11, 2001.

Or a separate "Where to now?" "What I would like to see in the future" category. A solar-charged digital multi-functional camera, with both blender and pop-up toaster, while still preserving the essential retro ethos. Or may be just one or two simple things. The perfect P/S. The ideal lens. The non-obselescent camera. Or are they there already?

-- David Killick (Dalex@inet.net.nz), October 12, 2001.

Andrew, "Right on!". It's funny but I read and reread a lot in our great forum here, whereby one of the themes I read the very least or not at all is what's up with an M7 or M6+. My M6TTL is my only M and I keep telling myself (and my wife) that my next body (as a camera) will likely be just an additional M6TTL.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), October 12, 2001.

Guys, I hate to point out the obvious but we have been expecting a new M model in the next one to two years for each of the last five years straight. We've gotten small changes and some very interesting cameras from Japan but no real true new M models.

-- mark (mramra@qwest.net), October 12, 2001.

Mark, I hate to point out the tradition, but expecting a new model in one or two years, even over five years straight will never assure us that this will happen here.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), October 12, 2001.

Actually Bob Leica Camera AG is working with Daimler to produce a tiny fuel cell, and of course seeing as the by-product of such a device is H2O, you can not only mix the drinks but make ice! Even better yet, a small JOBO attachment is said to be in the works as well. Now we can have it all!

-- Dave Doyle (soilsouth@home.com), October 13, 2001.

Yeah, I heard the same thing about the fuel cell but the water that is produced is emitted as a "cool mist" from the rangefinder eyepiece keeping your eyeball moistened and ready for action. Reduces the blinkage thus the potential for loss of the "decisive moment".

Quite ingenious.

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), October 13, 2001.

LOL! I love these "rumour" treads--they're the funniest! Anyway, I've read from local photo mags (Hong Kong) that Leica is likely to release a new Leica M model in the 2002 PMA.

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), October 13, 2001.

I would like to see a M6 without the light meter and without the TTL. Basically I would like to see an M4.

-- Russell Broks (russell@ebrooks.org), October 15, 2001.

"How about an M6 with variable mag viewfinder? It's been done for Hasselblad XPAN"

Huh? Last time I looked the viewfinder is fixed mag. You need a clip on v/f for the 30mmm or whatever it is....

-- Robin Smith (smith_robin@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001.