Ruhayat Posted July 17, 2010 Share #1 Posted July 17, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just wondering: is it possible to simply swap the chrome top of the M6TTL for a black one? You'd need to also change the bottom plate, I imagine. Any idea how much it would all cost? My dealer won't entertain me (he's not an official Leica dealer, just sells them secondhand). Not that it's such a burning desire, but a black M6 is just too sexy for words. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 17, 2010 Posted July 17, 2010 Hi Ruhayat, Take a look here Swapping M6 chrome top for black. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
250swb Posted July 17, 2010 Share #2 Posted July 17, 2010 Sell your silver camera and buy a black one? Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 17, 2010 Share #3 Posted July 17, 2010 To answer the question, yes it can be done and it isn't that difficult. However it requires a set of special flexi clamps (micro-tools.com sells them, or at least they did). The retainer surrounding the flash socket and then the socket itself has to be removed. There is a retainer for the advance lever, and another one beneath it (that one has very fine threads and is very easy to x-thread when replacing, so requires a deft touch and finesse). The hot shoe spring clip has to be carefully pryed off and then the screws underneath removed so the hot shoe assembly comes loose. The rewind knob has a tiny grub screw perpendicular to the shaft that must be loosened a little, and then a driver is held in the slot on top of the shaft while the shaft fork is held from inside (a soft wood dowel works), while the rewind knob is unscrewed. (Sometimes it's on very tight, and the fork can come unscrewed instead.) Finally, the top plate fits quite snug, and you don't want to pry it with a metallic object, so a rubber kitchen glove gives a better grip as you gradually work the top plate loose. Installation is the reverse. In addition to the top plate and base plate as you said, to make a complete change from a silver to black, you would also need to buy a black advance lever and rewind knob, plus those retaining rings mentioned above, plus the frame selector/preview lever and it's retainer. The cost of those parts, purchased new from Leica, would be far more expensive than selling your camera privately and purchasing a black one in like condition. IIRC the top plate itself is in excess of $500. And if you need a pro to do the swap, add that cost as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted July 17, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted July 17, 2010 The cost of those parts, purchased new from Leica, would be far more expensive than selling your camera privately and purchasing a black one in like condition. IIRC the top plate itself is in excess of $500. And if you need a pro to do the swap, add that cost as well. That much, eh. Ouch. Oh, well. Maybe I'll just trade it in for the black M4-P the dealer has for sale at the moment. Now that I have the Leica R-E I don't really need a metered M anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted July 19, 2010 Share #5 Posted July 19, 2010 You should stop thinking about this swap, learn to live with your camera. A "silver" LEICA is cute, simply classic ! And a TTL is just wonderful. Your M6 TTL should be rated much higher as far as functionality is concerned. Only in case you REALLY do not need the meter, the M 4-P can be o. k. But a LEICA M of the older types - without the meter - is so much slower and you get a higher rate of uncorrect exposures unless you are a little genius and not prone to this. An M 4-P might need a CLA in due course, the TTL is a pretty recent camera and could go strong for while ... Best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 19, 2010 Share #6 Posted July 19, 2010 ...........or if it bothers you that much just do what some press photographers used to with their chrome cameras and cover it with black gaffer tape. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted July 19, 2010 Share #7 Posted July 19, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Damaged the top plate of a M9, and while it doesn't bother me, it bothered Leica when they checked focus on the camera. They quoted me $800US to replace the black top cap. Needless to say, I declined. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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