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LEICA M6 TTL 0.85x Black Paint DRAGON Edition, 2000
Unlike the 1995's LEICA M6 Classic Gold Dragon Edition, the Leica M6 "Black Dragon" Edition issued
for Year 2000 has its differences in terms of the theme, specification as well as
in its issued quantity.
First of all, as I have highlighted to you, the Chinese Zodiac year rotates in a
12 years-cycle, every Zodiac sign (animal) will has its calendrical year once in
every twelve years. In Millennium year 2000, it actually coincided with Year of the
Dragon for the first time. During that time, it was about 4 years after Leica had
successfully seek its listing and became a PLC (Public Listed Company) entity; other
LEICA affiliates such as Leica Geosystem had also found its way into the mainland
China market.
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The Millennium Year was rather dramatic
and memorable. The Year 2000 problem (also known as the millennium bug, the Y2K bug)
has sucked entire world contributions in funds for tech stocks in US for "equations/solutions"
to neutralize the Y2K issue, to me it was one of the biggest corn job in modern history.
The enormous funds in hundred sof billions that flew into US continent had enabled
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 11,722.98 on January 14, which was the
peak of the Dot-com bubble.
On the other hand, the Millennium theme was a very successful tool for Companies
delivering merchandise goods all over the globe. In fact, Leica had issue a commemorative
Millennium Year M6 TTL 0.72x Black Paint Outfit which includes a two-lenses
package, Summilux-M 1:1.4/50mm and/or with a Summicron-M 1:2/35mm ASPH all in matching
black finishing. Guess what - that Edition perhaps was the largest single issue of
special edition Leica M6 had ever released - where a total of 2000 copies had been
produced in a single batch ! Further, that figure has not included with some of the
localized versions issued under the "Millennium" theme (such as this LEICA
M6 TTL Black Paint Dragon 2000 (500 Units) for China), others with similar issue
theme were Hong Kong Schmidt's (300 units) green leather M6 TTL ; Japanese domestic
version Millennium ICS black paint 200 units and even in some ways, the Japanese
M6 TTL NSH (400 Units) which carried almost identical * specification with
standard Leica Y2K edition except it was not being officially mentioned as a Millennium
model. The respective principal for each of these special releases had requested
some slight modifications to make them a little bit different from the LEICA standard
TTL 0.72x Black Paint 2000 edition.
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For an example, the ICS version has just
a logo/emblem imprinted on the camera body as well as the two Summilux/Summicron
lenses where they were engraved with a ICS engraving. The Hong Kong Millennium edition
has changed the leather work from Black Paint to green paint etc. Regardless the
evolved form, all these were categorized as Millennium issues. The LEICA M6 TTL 0.85x
Black Paint DRAGON 2000 here has a "dragon" word engraved in a raw Chinese
calligraphy as well as S/N underneath and this was the main difference of this edition
from LEICA 's standard Millennium Kit. While the NSH M6 TTL black paint has a 0.85X
finder.
<<<
--- The LEICA M6 TTL Black Paint Millennium Model has
a universal 0.72X finder magnification. * Finder
magnification differs and individually having their respective identifications.
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The LEICA M6 TTL 0.85x Black Paint DRAGON
2000 here actually was also instrumented by Schmidt Hong Kong, the active distributor
probably saw great potential with the ever growing enthusiasm of Chinese photographers
towards Germany optical products and thus, tailored-made a version specifically for
the China market. To offset domestic demand as well as from overseas Chinese collectors,
Schmidt actually had designed the alternate Hong Kong Millennium edition.
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To those who may be unfamiliar with Chinese
custom and belief, I will just outline a little information on the theme that relates
to YEAR OF THE DRAGON: The Chinese Zodiac is a 12 years cycle and refers
to a pure calendrical cycle only. Dragon is the only mythical creature in the Chinese
12 zodiac. In China, dragons sign which were often use by Emperors in various Dynasties
as sign of supremacy, power and respect. To the ordinary, the Zodiac sign associates
with strength, health, harmony, and good luck; to such extend sometimes Dragon signs
are placed above doors or on the tops of roofs to banish demons and evil spirits.
The Year of the Dragon is associated with the earthly branch symbol. Persons born
within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "year of the Dragon,"
while also bearing the following elemental sign: Years and the Five elements i.e.
*Venus = Metal; * Jupiter = Wood;* Mercury = Water; * Mars = Fire and * Saturn =
Earth. The year of the dragon which coincided with that Millennium year 2000 A.D.
actually were calculated from 5 February 2000 - 23 January 2001: It was referred
as a Metal Dragon that rotation; i.e. something interprets as a Metal Gold Dragon
More information for these can be found at: Dragon Zodiac
explained; Chinese Astrology.
On the other hand, technically a Millennium (1,000) year is once a life time passage
for all of us, a Year of the dragon may just rotates every 12 years, but to coincide
The Year of DRAGON with a Millennium year again, that will be a few thousand years
later. So, in term of business sense or tool for promoting a commemorative mechanize
goods, these LEICA are RARE pieces issued in accordance to an EXTREMELY RARE re-occurance
of such an event. |
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Finder Magnification
is a 0.85X for this Black Dragon Edition
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LEICA M6 TTL 0.85x Black Paint DRAGON
2000 here actually are virtually having same configuration with LEICA Standard Millennium
Edition (except for the Finder mangnification and a few minor differences). As I
don't intend to replicate similar resources within the M6 Series and I will only
addressing the differences between the two LEICA M6 TTL bodies. Well, there is only
few visible differences - Firstly, an added on special engraving at the rear; i.e.
a Dragon logo which has its design merging traditional Chinese calligraphy with numeral
of "2000". The graphical interface of the design has some similarity with
the 1995 Gold Dragon edition where the earlier issue sketchy dragon gold outlines
graphic which added with a hidden "China" word in it. The M6 TTL Black
Paint DRAGON uses a single Chinese character of dragon where the tail section followed
by a numeric "2000". The inscription of the graphic has been placed
at the rear section (as the top. left section of the top plate of the Standard Millennium
copies had a engraving on its own) ; I guess it was cheaper to do so by using a Standard
Millennium Edition and adding the changes. Next, the finder magnification uses was
a 0.85X in this Black Dragon edition, similar to the green leatherette Hong Kong
Millennium copies.
Thirdly, the Serial Edition Number i.e. xxx-500 was engraved just underneath the
DRAGON emblem which locates at the rear, right under the film advance lever. While
the Leica standard production S/N was not being engraved on traditional location
i.e. at the accessory shoe. So you will find an odd engraved numbering appearing
at the middle section of the camera's top plate. Technically, this edition probably
was the only LEICA M6 TTL body with a common Millennium theme issued that has NO
serial numbering appeared on the accessory shoe (Note:- the usual TTL flash icon
retains) this makes the M6 TTL Dragon Edition actually was quite unique in this area.
Other than these, other features are similar with the Standard LEICA M6 TTL 0.72x
Black Pant Millennium Kit. |
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Personally, I feel the LEICA M6 TTL Black
Paint Dragon Y2K Edition should has the basis to fetch an extra bit of premium over
some of the Millenium-theme M6 TTL edition. To the Chinese in particular, combining
a customary Chinese engraved character, meaningful and rarity in a rare double occurrence
of Dragon + Millennium year was a good-enough reason in its collectible status. To
Leica enthusiasts who are residing in the West, this edition equally presents itself
as good collectible LEICA as long as someone thinks the standard Millennium edition
has comparing basis. Despite the total quantity of 500 units, but you will seldom
see any of these unit with oriental favor appearing in the used equipment market
regularly - which indirectly reflects its current status in the mind of the owners.
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- LEICA M6 Classic Gold Dragon Edition, 1994/5 | 2/2
Main Index Page - Leica M6-series models / Main Index Page - Leica-M Rangefinder camera Models
Nomenclature / Main
Reference Map for Leica M6 TTL Model(s) applicable to this M6 TTL Black Paint DRAGON
2000 Edition
Instruction Manuals:- Leica
M6 TTL
(3.6
Mb
PDF) by Joe Chan in PDF
applicable to this M6 Black Dragon Edition
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