sksaito Posted October 9, 2011 Share #1 Posted October 9, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm trying to compare an MP vs M6 (non TTL). Besides the differences in rewind crank and some other cosmetic differences, is there a difference in the mechanics between the cameras? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 9, 2011 Posted October 9, 2011 Hi sksaito, Take a look here Leica MP vs M6. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Allen in Montreal Posted October 9, 2011 Share #2 Posted October 9, 2011 10 guys will give you 12 opinions. That said, here is mine. I love the M6 classic. Always works, it just never breaks down, battery dies, big deal, keep shooting. The M6 classic is the workhorse. It may not be as sexy as the MP, but it just goes and goes and goes! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan Posted October 9, 2011 Share #3 Posted October 9, 2011 Which ever you get, make sure it's properly CLA and someking of warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 9, 2011 Share #4 Posted October 9, 2011 A couple of differences to consider - the M6 top plate is made from alloy (MP is brass) and can suffer corrosion which results in the paint blistering, like lots of pimples. Also the MP rangefinder was upgraded and is less prone to flare out. Neither are significant problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted October 9, 2011 Share #5 Posted October 9, 2011 People freak out because the MP(lastic) has a plastic part in it. But the M6' Zinc top plate is always overlooked and yet it's a shame. Let me tell you the Zinc Top plate is the biggest Leica shame ever! And it's absolutely the ugliest thing when it starts to bubble. Skip the M6 at all cost. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted October 9, 2011 Share #6 Posted October 9, 2011 Here is a link to a post I wrote on the same subject back in the beginning of june: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/185682-mp-vs-m6.html#post1729037 There is also Andrew Nemeth's FAQ Leica FAQ — Main Topic Index Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan Posted October 9, 2011 Share #7 Posted October 9, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) M6 has paint blisters? I didn't even know M6 has paint... My first batch M6 black chrome is prestine... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted October 9, 2011 Share #8 Posted October 9, 2011 M6 has paint blisters? I've seen a couple like this on ebay. They look hideous as you can imagine. Like it's rusting (zinc oxide probably) My first batch M6 black chrome is prestine... So's mine. It's just starting to, well not brass, zinc! There's a hint of the grey showing through the black chrome as though it has a sheen. It's not unattractive but it's not as accepted as the brassing of a BP MP. My M6 just keeps going and going and going. I've declared it to be my "Winter camera" as an excuse not to sell it . My summer cameras are the MP and M2 LOL. My MP hasn't imploded since we've realised the frame counter is a plastic disc. I thought the "P" stood for Platinum. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
too old to care Posted October 9, 2011 Share #9 Posted October 9, 2011 My M6 black chrome still looks almost new, just a tiny bit of shine near the film lever. I bought the camera new in 98 and it is working perfectly. Never been repaired or adjusted, and I see no reason to do that until something needs it. Wayne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted October 9, 2011 Share #10 Posted October 9, 2011 I have two M6 cameras, bought new when first available. There is not one blister or mark of any kind , even dings scratches, or rub marks, on either. If there was going to be internal corrosion of the zinc, it would have happened already. I have seen pics though, and it is indeed very ugly, VERY UGLY. R cameras have the same and all of mine are perfect, 6 of them. Had the VF flare one time. Light seals around the shutter did go bad on both. Both were repaired. Light meter circuits were improved in later models, but mine are ok. Film transport has improved smoothness, like a well serviced early M , on the MP. Early M6 camera were the last ones that can take the brass film cassettes. I consider this very important. Others not so. I will tell you, once you master them, you will not use anything else. Check the inside of the base plate to see if the cassette opening mechanism is present. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest srheker Posted October 9, 2011 Share #11 Posted October 9, 2011 I've seen a couple like this on ebay. They look hideous as you can imagine. Like it's rusting (zinc oxide probably) No, ist not rust or an oxidation process it's called zinc pest (from the German Zinkpest), caused by the use of low quality alloy with lead impurities during WW II. Zinc pest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Articles made after 1960 are generally considered free of the risk of zinc pest. Use of purer materials and more controlled manufacturing conditions make it unlikely that modern zinc articles will encounter degradation by zinc pest Well, the wikipedia article refers mainly to toys like model trains and ships, somehow Leica managed to get some of that stuff in the 80's. The German version of the wikipedia article mentions that German model train manufacturer Märklin had Zinkpest-problems again in 2008 after outsourcing part of the production to China. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest srheker Posted October 9, 2011 Share #12 Posted October 9, 2011 Light meter circuits were improved in later models, but mine are ok. The metering cell of older M6 can grow a white layer rendering it useless, so when buying one, one should inspect this with open back an B. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sksaito Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted October 9, 2011 Very educational. Thanks all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan Posted October 10, 2011 Share #14 Posted October 10, 2011 No, ist not rust or an oxidation process it's called zinc pest (from the German Zinkpest), caused by the use of low quality alloy with lead impurities during WW II. Zinc pest - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Articles made after 1960 are generally considered free of the risk of zinc pest. Use of purer materials and more controlled manufacturing conditions make it unlikely that modern zinc articles will encounter degradation by zinc pest Well, the wikipedia article refers mainly to toys like model trains and ships, somehow Leica managed to get some of that stuff in the 80's. The German version of the wikipedia article mentions that German model train manufacturer Märklin had Zinkpest-problems again in 2008 after outsourcing part of the production to China. Thanks. Another point in the Leica 'shame' category Does Leica refinish it since it's a manufacturer defect? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukesatoru Posted October 10, 2011 Share #15 Posted October 10, 2011 I apologize if this was made clear earlier in this thread or another one but is there a particular batch that has this blistering problem? My M6 chrome classic was made in 1992. I bought it 'like new' and while I've only had it in my possession a few months, I've had no problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iphoenix Posted October 10, 2011 Share #16 Posted October 10, 2011 My M6 black chrome still looks almost new, just a tiny bit of shine near the film lever. I bought the camera new in 98 and it is working perfectly. Never been repaired or adjusted, and I see no reason to do that until something needs it. Wayne Ditto, with mine being from 1997 production. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted October 10, 2011 Share #17 Posted October 10, 2011 It certainly doesn't affect all M6's or R's. I have an R3MOT which is perfect. It would suggest that it's certain batches only. If I was looking for an M6 and I saw a 'blistered' one, it wouldn't stop me buying the camera as long as the price was right! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest srheker Posted October 10, 2011 Share #18 Posted October 10, 2011 It certainly doesn't affect all M6's or R's. I have an R3MOT which is perfect. It would suggest that it's certain batches only. Yes and No! The problem is that, as this is caused by impurities in the alloy during the molding, it is not really possible, as a buyer today, to say that a certain range of serial numbers is affected or not. I'd guess that even Leica doesn't know for sure wether the parts they got form their supplier in a single delivery came from the same melting crucible nor that they have records which part ended up in which camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oysterboy Posted October 10, 2011 Share #19 Posted October 10, 2011 is this something Leica can and does fix? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest srheker Posted October 10, 2011 Share #20 Posted October 10, 2011 is this something Leica can and does fix? They can exchange affected parts. I think I read somewhere that Leica did some M6 where they coated the parts with Teflon, but this was too expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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