Leica M6 TTL
The Leica M6 TTL is a Leica-mount film rangefinder camera, introduced in 1998. As of June 2026, it sells from €2,295 used across 34 listings, with a 30-day median of €3,490. Leica camera price index ↗
Reference maintained by Thomas Boots· prices updated June 2026
Prices for Leica M6 TTL
The lowest listing is 34% below the 30-day average — a good time to buy.
| Condition | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Mint | €10,880 | €11,690 |
| Excellent | €2,295 | €10,400 |
| Good | €3,222 | €9,697 |
| Fair | €3,000 | €3,000 |
| Heavily Used | €6,782 | €6,782 |
| Other | €2,999 | €3,544 |
Over the last 3 weeks the median price for the Leica M6 TTL has fallen, ranging from €3,490 to €7,526 (now €3,490).
Leica M6 TTL — frequently asked
How much does the Leica M6 TTL cost?
As of June 2026, the Leica M6 TTL sells from €2,295 used, with a 30-day median of €3,490, across 34 active listings.
Where can I buy a Leica M6 TTL?
As of June 2026, the Leica M6 TTL is sold by 5 sources (34 listings), from €2,295 used — all compared cheapest-first on this page.
General
- Release Year
- 1998
- Type
- Film
- Model Number
- M6 TTL (Available in 0.58, 0.72, and 0.85 variants)
- Serial Range
- Approx. 2,400,000 to 2,880,000 (Varies by batch)
Dimensions
- Weight
- 585g
- Length
- 138mm
- Width
- 33.5mm
- Height
- 79.5mm
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Magnification
- 0.58x
- Framelines
- **0.58x:** 28/90, 35, 50/75 <br> **0.72x:** 28/90, 35/135, 50/75 <br> **0.85x:** 35/135, 50/75, 90
- Shutter Speeds
- 1s to 1/1000s + Bulb
- Shutter Type
- Cloth
Features
- Hot Shoe
- Yes
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- No
- Flash Sync
- 1/50 sec
M6 TTL
The Leica M6 TTL represents the modernization of the wildly successful Leica M6 platform. Released in 1998, its primary upgrade over the 1984 "Classic" version is the inclusion of TTL (Through-The-Lens) flash metering. When paired with a compatible flash unit (like the Leica SF-20), the camera reads light bouncing off the film plane to automatically cut the flash output for perfectly exposed flash photography—a huge advantage for documentary and event photographers.
To accommodate the new TTL flash circuitry, Leica made the camera body approximately 2.5mm taller than the standard M6. Alongside this, Leica completely overhauled the shutter speed dial. It is significantly larger, making it easier to turn with one finger while looking through the viewfinder. Crucially, it rotates in the opposite direction of older M cameras; turning it right or left now intuitively matches the direction of the LED arrows inside the viewfinder.
The internal light meter was also refined. Instead of the two simple red arrows found on the Classic M6, the M6 TTL uses a 3-LED display (an arrow for under, a central dot for correct exposure, and an arrow for over). This makes finding the exact exposure much faster and more precise. Despite these electronic upgrades, the core of the camera remains a fully mechanical cloth focal-plane shutter, meaning it can fire at all speeds (except for the TTL flash functions and meter) even without batteries.
History
The M6 TTL was a relatively short-lived but highly impactful model that bridged the gap between Leica's mechanical past and electronic future.
The Viewfinder Revolution (1998 - 2000) The M6 TTL is historically significant because it established the modern standard of offering different viewfinder magnifications to suit specific focal lengths:
- 0.72x (1998): The standard all-rounder, excellent for 35mm and 50mm lenses.
- 0.85x (1998): A high-magnification finder. It drops the 28mm framelines but makes focusing 50mm, 75mm, and 90mm lenses incredibly precise.
- 0.58x (2000): Introduced two years later, this low-magnification finder is a godsend for glasses wearers and wide-angle shooters, allowing clear visibility of 28mm and 35mm framelines without the clutter of the 135mm frameline.
The Transition to the M7 Production of the M6 TTL ceased in late 2002 to make way for the Leica M7, which introduced a fully electronic shutter and Aperture Priority auto-exposure. To celebrate the end of the M6 TTL run, Leica produced a final batch of 999 cameras ("Die letzten 999 M6") featuring the solid brass top-plates that were about to be used for the M7 and MP [1].
Legacy Today, the M6 TTL is highly sought after. Many shooters actually prefer it over the newer Leica MP because of the larger, more ergonomic shutter speed dial and the superior 3-LED meter display, making it arguably the most "usable" mechanical Leica for fast-paced street photography [2].
Sources
- [1] Andrew Nemeth's Leica FAQ. M6 Variants and Differences. https://leica.nemeng.com
- [2] Emulsive. An In-Depth Guide to the Leica M6 TTL. https://emulsive.org
- [3] 35mmc. The Leica M6 Classic & Leica M6 TTL - A Review. https://www.35mmc.com
- [4] Flash of Darkness. The Leica M6 TTL 0.58 Review. https://flashofdarkness.com
- [5] Wikipedia. Leica M6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_M6
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