Sub13, the company which produces limited-edition underwater housings for Leica cameras, has announced its first model for a film Leica.
The new housing fits the M6 rangefinder, which was produced from 1984 until 2002, and then brought back into production in 2022 amid rising interest in Leica’s film camera range.
The housing – made of a single piece of sandblasted aluminium and sapphire glass – follows other short runs made for digital M-mount cameras and marks the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Leica M range.
The first of the M6 housing is currently in testing and the small production run of only 26 examples is expected to be available from October this year, and are likely to cost several thousand US dollars. Sub13 says there has been enormous interest in this housing so far.
Sub13’s Matt Draper gave Kosmo Foto more details about the new release.
Was this promoted by the return of the M6?
Yes, the relaunch of the M6 was indeed a significant inspiration, but it was also a response to the demands of our audience. SUB13 has been a passion project and labour of love for over seven years, now finally accessible to the public. Following the success of our digital M and Q builds, we received numerous enquiries about the M6. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the M system, we decided to produce a limited edition run of the M6.
How long did it take to design and build?
The design process has spanned over a year. Our prototype is currently undergoing testing, and we anticipate making a few adjustments. We expect the final production run to be ready for shipping sometime in October.
What is it made from?
The main body and backplate are machined from a single piece of billet 6061 aluminium, which is then sandblasted and anodised black. All hardware components are machined from titanium, sandblasted, hand-polished, and PVD coated in a bronze/brass colour. The viewing windows are made from sapphire glass.
Were underwater housings made for the M6 in the 80s and 90s?
Yes, there were likely custom-built underwater housings for the M6 in the 80s and 90s. However, this is the first time such a housing has been made available to the public as part of a production run. Our design incorporates modern materials and advanced engineering, setting a new standard in quality and performance.
How many are you planning to make?
We are planning to produce only 13 units of the M6 Classic and 13 units of the M6 TTL. Additionally, the M7 housing will also be compatible with the M6 TTL.
How much does one cost?
We have not yet determined a list price for the SUB13 M6 housings, as Prototype One is still in testing and may undergo material changes. For reference, our previous Production Run III for the digital Leica M, which has sold out, started at US$7,495 before shipping and optional features like the USB-C charging bulkhead.
Any plans for other analogue camera housings?
At this stage, the M6 housing is the only analogue model we plan to produce. However, this may change in the future, and if we were to develop another analogue housing, it would likely be for the Leica MP.
I'm a New Zealander who has been living in London since the mid-1990s, shooting film seriously since the year 2000. Kosmo Foto was launched in 2012 and has since become a film brand, with the release of my first films Kosmo Foto Mono 35mm (2017) and Kosmo Foto Mono 120 (2019).
I’m doing everything I can to promote film photography in the 21st Century, and help it survive and thrive. If you want to write something for Kosmo Foto, please drop me a line at foto.dowling@gmail.com.
“there has been enormous interest in this housing so far”… prompting a production run of 26 examples :))
An expensive novelty for rich people who like novelties. There are very, very few people who would actually use this enough to bring the cost-per-exposure down to something sensible.
Oh I’m sure. It will always be bespoke. But there’s a reason so many small companies target their accessories at Leica M users – they tend to have money.