Leica M6A

Pre-production version of Leica M7²⁴⁰.

The accessory shoe was engraved with "M6A" and there was a small switch located below the shutter release. The speed dial also included an "auto" setting. Leica successfully integrated an excellent auto exposure system, a high-quality viewfinder display, and useful features such as DX film speed coding. Best of all, if the photographer desired, the camera could still be operated manually, just like the M6²⁴⁰.

Essentially, it was a Leica M6 with additional features. However, since the controls were electronic rather than mechanical, the Leica M6A allowed for step-less and longer shutter speeds, making the camera even quieter. Additionally, it offered two standby mechanical speeds of 1/60 and 1/125 seconds as a fail-safe in case the battery failed²⁴⁰.