If someone were to give me $3000 to buy a camera, a modern-day mirrorless would make the most sense, right? But I’m a contrarian! Instead of buying a Sony, I bought a 23-year-old fully manual film camera. There’s not a single bell and whistle on this thing. Nothing at all automatic about it. And it’s only as fast as I am, which isn’t very fast at all. I’m going to share with you why I bought the Leica M6 and why I think it’s worth dropping some serious cash to own one.
For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted a Leica camera. Even as a kid Leica felt like it had this sense of legacy and prestige surrounding it. This sense of worth that meant if you had one, you were somehow one step closer to becoming one of the greatest photographers in history and one step closer to becoming a proud member of Magnum Photos. Right up there with Capa and Bresson… man, what an honor that would be. But obviously, as we get older, we realize that expectation doesn’t quite match up with reality. That yes, the history and legacy are there but like getting your hands on a brand new pair of P.F. Flyers, they can’t ACTUALLY make you run faster or jump higher, regardless of what The Sandlot made you believe when Benny laced up that fresh pair. (Leave a comment below if you agree that The Sandlot is the best summertime sports movie ever made)
Owning a Leica doesn’t make you a world-class photographer. It just doesn’t. That only comes with time and practice. About 10,000 hours according to some. It’s all just a figment of our imagination created by heirloom stories, by branding and marketing. However, even though I’m much older now and I've properly grieved my failure to get into Magnum, the allure of Leica still has a very special place in my heart ...and who knows, maybe there’s still a chance that P.F. Flyers can magically make me athletic. I like sportsball!
First and foremost, let’s just get this out of the way. Cameras are tools meant to help you accomplish your goals. Whether your goal is to take a photograph or just to it hang around your neck as a status symbol, there's a camera out there that will help you achieve your heart’s desire. And as always, the best camera is the one you have on you.
Now the Leica M6…why do I own one? Well, to be perfectly honest I fell for the hype, the status, the legacy and my childhood dreams but I don’t regret it for one minute. And I don’t think you would either if you had dreamed about it for 15 years as I did. Every moment you pick this camera up you get this feeling that nothing else in this world can give you. It’s almost like the Germans greased the gears with oxytocin when they manufactured it to make you fall more in love with every touch. Every time you take it out it’s like going on a date with your significant other. Wow, I’m sorry, this got really romantic really fast but I just don’t know how else to explain it!. All that to say, the Leica M is a dream to shoot and mechanically superior to any film camera I ever owned; and I’ve owned a lot. I bought mine in 2015 and this is actually my 3rd M body. I tried an M2 and an M4 before landing on the M6 TTL, which has the perfect blend of all I was looking for and I felt the same way about every other M it’s just that the M6 created a bigger spark for me.
Another reason I bought this camera is because I’m peculiar. As weird as it sounds, I like the idea that the photos I take, documenting my life, are shot on highly vetted cameras like the M. The M is so well known for it’s documentary work and it’s vast line-up of photographers. Did you know that Leica has documented almost every major conflict of the 20th century? I love history and I love documenting my life, my environment, the people and the time that I’m alive. And when I die and maybe they find my body of work, I’ll be more proud in my grave knowing that it was mostly shot with Leica and that I’ve contributed to that longstanding legacy. Honestly, it’s about contributing to the Leica legacy and doing what I love more than anything else.
Lastly, I bought the Leica M6 as an heirloom. I’m filled with so much joy knowing that I get to pass this camera down to my son when I’m gone. And I want it to be something he’s proud to receive and something that actually appreciates in value over time. Today this camera is worth $3000, but not when I bought it 6 years ago. I paid $1600 and it’s almost doubled in value since then. So I know, when I hand this well-cherished M6 over, not only will he have the history of his father but he’ll have something that may help him in hard times, but let’s pray that those hard times never come because I’d love it if he passed it down even further.
Maybe I’m old school, but let’s be honest. The world we live in today is so disposable, mass-produced, and overly digitized. Most folks these days are passing down debt rather than heirlooms, but hopefully, my old dude rambling will inspire you to find something cherishable to pass on to your next generation. Also, print your photos if you aren’t already. Let’s bring tangible back. You’ll be so glad you did 20 years from now.
Anyways, I could go on and on about my deep-seated emotional attachments…
If you’ve been considering a Leica and you have the cash, not credit...Dave Ramsey, then I highly recommend getting one and if you use the link below, it helps me keep the lights on and this channel running. But just remember, a Leica will not make you a better photographer. Only time and practice will. Keep shooting and keep living that creative life.