M3 wind lever on an M6

[cbretteville]

Is changing the winding lever on an M6 to the kind used on the pre M4 and on the MP considdered a good idea or just snobbish?

Just curious.
- Carl

[TimF]

If you prefer the feel of the old-style wind-on lever (as I do) then that's not snobbish IMHO.

[kodaktrix]

I use the M3 style wind lever on my M6 TTL as I feel more comfortable with it than with the original one. Mine is a special version of this wind lever which is a little more bent than the original one, as the speed dial of the M6TTL is wider than the one of the M2/ M3. The original M3 fits on the classic M6 and was still available two years ago. But it is more expensive than the M6TTL fitting one (which was designed for the M6J then). Mine for the M6TTL (black paint) was about 25 Euros two years ago.

Best regards

Oliver

[leica_mage]

Originally Posted by cbretteville

Is changing the winding lever on an M6 to the kind used on the pre M4 and on the MP considdered a good idea or just snobbish?

Just curious.
- Carl

Friend Carl,

Please don't worry about what others may brand you. People brand other people every day. The people branding other people in this fashion are usually unimaginably stupid and have an emotional disorder consisting in an inability to mind their own business.

Do what what brings your M6 closer to being an extention of your mind and eye. Personally, I was on the verge of doing this along with the CLA I was planning for my M6. The old-style lever is perfect for me. The M4-onward one is not at all.

However, I ended up getting an MP and ditching the M6, which amounts to the same thing plus much more. That lever strengthens my relationship to the camera. It may be the same for you.

Cheers,

[lambroving]

Originally Posted by cbretteville

Is changing the winding lever on an M6 to the kind used on the pre M4 and on the MP considdered a good idea or just snobbish?

Just curious.
- Carl

Eccentric perhaps? The M4-type lever is functional for most as the plastic tip can remain "parked" outward of the body and makes winding very easy without removing the v/f from your eye. Personally, I find the lever on my MP fussy and the action less solid than with either my M5 or M7. The MP lever also feels "tinny" to me. I guess it just depends on what rings your bell...

[leica_mage]

Originally Posted by lambroving

Eccentric perhaps? The M4-type lever is functional for most as the plastic tip can remain "parked" outward of the body and makes winding very easy without removing the v/f from your eye. Personally, I find the lever on my MP fussy and the action less solid than with either my M5 or M7. The MP lever also feels "tinny" to me. I guess it just depends on what rings your bell...

Very interesting! The M4-type lever always felt "tinny" to me, the MP one serious and solid...

[lambroving]

Originally Posted by leica_mage

Very interesting! The M4-type lever always felt "tinny" to me, the MP one serious and solid...

Suggest you try one on an M4, M5 or M7, not an M6. Reassuringly solid at the end of its travel with a solid "thunk". NOT like my MP...

[leica_mage]

Originally Posted by lambroving

Suggest you try one on an M4, M5 or M7, not an M6. Reassuringly solid at the end of its travel with a solid "thunk". NOT like my MP...

William,

There was a solid "thunk" at the end of my M6's (1997 vintage) film advance lever travel, and I've got the same "thunk" at the end of my MP's when there's no film in the body. However, curiously enough, the solid "thunk" turns to a butter-smooth yet decisive "end-of-the-run-feeling" when film is inside. Even better!

All of this is the Arcana Minor of Leica lore. Almost just as fun as photography itself!

And I recall that a couple of M6 special editions (TTL and non) had the M3-style lever or one modified as Oliver points out.

Best,

[frc]

A wind lever snobbish?
The're there for use.
Use the one you feel comfortable with.
The one on my MP works well for me.
Snobbish isn't replacing a lever, it's doing it for a snob reason.

[doubice]

Originally Posted by lambroving

Suggest you try one on an M4, M5 or M7, not an M6. Reassuringly solid at the end of its travel with a solid "thunk". NOT like my MP...

The feel of the advance action has nothing to do with the type of advance lever attached to the camera, rather with the transport mechanism.

The choice of the plastic tipped or all-metal lever is a personal preferrence. I feel more comfortable using the all-metal lever, which is on my M6; unfortunately I was not able to do the switch on my M7. As far as 'stand-off' for left eye shooters, I see no problem with the metal lever.

All the best,

Jan

[nyrich]

I prefer my M2 lever to my M6 lever, but not enough to bother making a changeover.

[leica_mage]

Originally Posted by doubice

The feel of the advance action has nothing to do with the type of advance lever attached to the camera, rather with the transport mechanism.

The choice of the plastic tipped or all-metal lever is a personal preferrence. I feel more comfortable using the all-metal lever, which is on my M6; unfortunately I was not able to do the switch on my M7. As far as 'stand-off' for left eye shooters, I see no problem with the metal lever.

All the best,

Jan

Jan, most correct. But I don't think William meant that the levers themselves were responsible for the feel of the advance action. He was also referring to the differences in transport mechanisms. The shape of the levers is just a coincidence here, and a red herring in the main argument.

Cheers,

[lambroving]

Originally Posted by leica_mage

Jan, most correct. But I don't think William meant that the levers themselves were responsible for the feel of the advance action. He was also referring to the differences in transport mechanisms. The shape of the levers is just a coincidence here, and a red herring in the main argument.

Cheers,

Have to disagree. There must be a difference in resonance. The lever on my chrome MP .58 feels tinny by comparison and less solid in action. Maybe you can't feel it, but that is my perception. I am a traditionalist only to a very limited degree. There are always compromises, but function in my hands is the bottom line. Compared to my M5 or M7, the MP .58 is fussy to shoot, but it feels very compact with a 35/2 LHSA and the 35mm frame and bright viewfinder can't be beat. (It is brighter than a .72, BTW and I compared it to many examples of MP .72's.) That is mainly what my MP .58 has going for it. The M7 gives slightly more accurate exposures (with the same meter, but with an infinitely variable shutter) and the M5 does as well with the 50/1.4 ASPH mounted. Compromises and functions...

[leica_mage]

Originally Posted by lambroving

Have to disagree. There must be a difference in resonance. The lever on my chrome MP .58 feels tinny by comparison and less solid in action. Maybe you can't feel it, but that is my perception.

I feel the opposite when I compare the MP's to the M6's - but you already said not to do that and concentrate on the M4/M5. I don't remember the M4 now and I've not yet tried the M5.

I am a traditionalist only to a very limited degree. There are always compromises, but function in my hands is the bottom line.

Same for me. The solid lever functions much better in my hands the "broken" one of the M4, M6 and M7.

[...] the MP .58 is fussy to shoot, but it feels very compact with a 35/2 LHSA and the 35mm frame and bright viewfinder can't be beat. (It is brighter than a .72, BTW and I compared it to many examples of MP .72's.)

I do agree that the 0.58 viewfinder is brighter than the 0.72. And by the way, the 0.72 is brighter than the 0.85...

That is mainly what my MP .58 has going for it. The M7 gives slightly more accurate exposures (with the same meter, but with an infinitely variable shutter) and the M5 does as well with the 50/1.4 ASPH mounted. Compromises and functions...

Yes...

[cbretteville]

This has been the kind of thread I hoped it would be. I have an all metal leaver and I think I'll have it installed to see how it works for me. I can always have the original reinstalled should I preferr that.

Cheers,
- Carl

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by cbretteville

Is changing the winding lever on an M6 to the kind used on the pre M4 and on the MP considdered a good idea or just snobbish?

Just curious.
- Carl

Who's going to know, apart from you?

[doubice]

Originally Posted by andybarton

Who's going to know, apart from you?

Exactly......

[cbretteville]

Originally Posted by andybarton

Who's going to know, apart from you?

My apologies for trying to be witty in a language other than my own. I shouldn't have added the "snobbish" part. I really just wantet to know people's experience with the all metal wind levers on an M6.