Leica M6 TTL "William Klein"

35mm MF film rangefinder camera • Discontinued • Collectible

  • Announced:
  • · 2001
  • Production type:
  • · Small-batch production: 1 (one) unit
  • Availability:
  • ● Sold out
  • Country of design:
  • · FRG (Federal Republic of Germany)
  • System:
  • · Leica M (1954)

Specification

Format:
35mm full frame
Film type:
135 cartridge-loaded film
Leica M [27.8mm]
Shutter:
Type:
Focal-plane
Model:
Mechanical
Speeds:
1 - 1/1000 + B
Exposure:
Exposure metering:
Through-the-lens (TTL), stop-down
Exposure modes:
Manual
Physical characteristics:
Weight:
<No data>
Dimensions:
138x79.5x38mm

Manufacturer description

2001-02-10 -- On 28 November 2001, Christie's will be auctioning a unique Leica M6 TTL rangefinder camera designed by William Klein, along with one of the artist’s Painted Contact works. Proceeds from the joint event will be donated to the French foundation 'Reporters sans frontières' (RSF).

Painter, photographer, filmmaker and graphics designer William Klein chose an anthracite finish, combined with snakeskin of a protected Asian species for which a limited catch is authorised, for the camera body and the LEICA f 1.4/35mm SUMMILUX-M ASPH. lens. Klein's name is engraved in red on the top plate of the camera, which was supplied by the French representation of Leica Camera AG. The motto of the organisation: "ll n’y pas de liberté sans liberté de la presse" (There is no freedom without press freedom) is engraved on the back of the camera in black.

This camera is the second custom-made Leica to bear the name of a celebrated photographer and be donated for a charity auction. In June 1998, a Leica M6 bearing the signature of Henri Cartier-Bresson sold for 240,000 French francs (about € 37,000).

William Klein is one of the most controversial and influential artists of the 20th century. Born in 1928, Klein began as a painter before taking up photography. In the mid Fifties he invented a new, shocking style of photography. With his explosive and iconoclastic approach, he captures the chaos and madness of a city, breaking all the rules of conventional photography in the process. Klein goes after the urban crowd with a wide-angle lens, with confrontational close-ups, instinctive grab shots, high contrast and harsh printing methods. Klein has always taken photographs for books for which he conceived the original graphics.

Since 1956 he has been publishing such classic photobooks as "Life is Good and Good for You in New York", "Rome", "Moscow", "Tokyo", "Close up" and "In and Out of Fashion", besides making 12 films, including the famous "Who are you, Polly Maggoo?", "Mr Freedom", "Muhammed Ali, the Greatest" and in 1999, "Messiah".

"Reporters sans frontières" (RSF) is an international organisation which has been promoting and defending press freedom around the world for over 15 years, campaigning for journalists who have been arrested, injured or killed while doing their job. RSF now has offices in Belgium, Germany, the Ivory Coast, the UK, Italy, Japan, Canada, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain and the USA and correspondents in over 100 countries.

Leica Camera AG is a world famous manufacturer of precision optics for professional and leisure use. The company has a workforce of 1,450 employees and made a turnover of € 157.8 m in the business year 2000/2001 (as per March 31).

The launch of the first Leica camera in 1925 was a worldwide breakthrough for 35 mm photography. The Leica brand is closely associated with 20th century photojournalism. As early as the Thirties, the Leica was already a favourite tool of such important photographers as Robert Capa, W. Eugene Smith, Dr. Erich Salomon or Alfred Eisenstaedt. This tradition is continued by contemporary photographers like Sebastião Salgado or the World Press Photo winner of 2000, Claus Bjørn Larsen.

Launched in 1984, the LEICA M6 has a classic design that is immediately reminiscent of the first cameras of the German manufacturer. With a share of over 30% of total sales, the cameras and lenses of the Leica rangefinder system are the company’s most important business.

Christie’s, whose name is synonymous with the international art market, was the first auction house to develop an interest in cameras as collectors' items in 1971. It now dominates the market with transactions totalling almost £ 2m. Among the most precious are the LEICA Luxus, a very limited series made in 1929, the Leica M3 in black lacquer from 1963 and the Leica 72 from 1955. For the past 12 years, Christie's South Kensington has held an auction for historic cameras every year. A gold LEICA Luxus went for £ 39,600 on June 9 1994 and a Leica MP no. 9 sold for £ 37,800 on June 12 1977.

From the editor

Leica M6 TTL "William Klein" No. 2555500, anthracite-grey metallic finish, snake leather body covering, the top plate with red-painted filled engraving "William Klein" facsimile signature and "ll n’y pas de liberté Sans liberté de la presse. Reporters Sans Frontières", with a Leica Summilux-M 35mm F/1.4 No. 3906333. Sold at Christie's on June 3rd, 2003 for GBP 9,400.

Other Leica M6 TTL special editions (13)


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